Better Boy Tomato in Zone 10B — Florida

Better Boy Tomato is a classic choice for Florida gardeners. Its delicious, balanced flavor makes it perfect for slicing, sauces, and everything in between. The satisfaction of harvesting your own juicy tomatoes, especially during our mild winters and early springs, is hard to beat.

Growing tomatoes in Florida comes with its share of challenges, like humidity and pests. But with the right timing and a few smart strategies, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest. Our 360-day growing season gives us plenty of opportunity to get it right.

Starting Better Boy Tomato seeds indoors gives you a head start on the season. Begin in early to late December, about six weeks before you plan to transplant. This aligns perfectly with our reversed spring.

Use seed trays or small pots filled with a good seed-starting mix. Keep them warm (around 70-75°F) and provide plenty of light, either from a grow light or a very sunny window. Bottom watering is a great way to keep the soil evenly moist without damping off issues – just set the tray in a shallow pan of water until the surface soil is moist.

Transplant your Better Boy Tomato seedlings outdoors from mid January through mid February. This avoids the hottest part of the year. Before transplanting, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week.

Choose a sunny spot and space plants 24-36 inches apart. Our weather can be unpredictable this time of year, so keep an eye on the forecast and protect your seedlings from unexpected cold snaps.

Better Boy Tomatoes need consistent watering, especially in our Florida climate. While we get plenty of summer rain, it's often followed by dry spells that can stress your plants. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.

During the cooler months (late January through March), you may only need to water once or twice a week, providing about 1-2 inches of water each time. As temperatures rise (April through May), increase watering to 2-3 times a week, ensuring the soil stays consistently moist. Use the finger test – if the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, it's time to water.

Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage fungal diseases in our humid environment. Mulching around your tomato plants with straw or pine needles helps retain moisture and suppresses weeds. Watch for signs of underwatering (wilting, yellowing leaves) or overwatering (yellowing leaves, edema).

Better Boy Tomato is an indeterminate variety, meaning it will keep growing and producing fruit all season long. These vigorous vines get heavy with fruit, so sturdy support is essential. Cages or stakes both work well, but cages are generally easier to manage.

Install your chosen support at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently weave the stems through the cage or tie them to the stake with soft twine.

Pruning Better Boy Tomatoes helps improve air circulation and fruit size. Focus on removing suckers, which are the small shoots that grow in the "V" between the main stem and a branch. Removing these directs the plant's energy into fruit production.

Prune suckers early in the morning on a dry day to minimize the risk of disease. You can also remove the lower leaves as the plant grows to improve air circulation and prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing onto the foliage. Since Better Boy is disease-resistant, you don't need to be as aggressive with pruning as you might with other varieties. As the end of our growing season approaches around late December, you can top the plant to encourage the remaining fruit to ripen before any frost.

You can expect your first Better Boy Tomato harvest from early April through mid May, about 72 days after transplanting. The tomatoes are ripe when they are a deep red color and have a slight give when gently squeezed.

To harvest, gently twist the tomato until it separates from the vine. Avoid pulling, which can damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. As the weather cools in late December, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and ripen them indoors.

Here are some common problems you might encounter with Better Boy Tomatoes in Florida:

• Blossom End Rot
• What it looks like: A sunken, dark brown or black leathery patch on the bottom of the tomato.
• What causes it: Calcium deficiency due to inconsistent watering. Our alternating periods of heavy rain and drought stress the plant.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently, especially during dry spells. Mulch heavily. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Remove affected fruit.
• Cracking
• What it looks like: Splits in the tomato skin, either concentric circles around the stem or lines radiating from it.
• What causes it: Rapid changes in soil moisture, often after heavy rain following a dry period. The fruit expands faster than the skin can handle.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently. Mulch to maintain even moisture. Harvest ripe tomatoes promptly.
• Hornworms
• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. You might spot the large green caterpillar with white stripes and dark droppings.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths. They can defoliate plants quickly in our warm climate.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick them (they're easy to spot). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is effective. Leave any hornworms with white cocoons on them – those are beneficial parasitic wasp eggs.
• Early Blight
• What it looks like: Brown spots with concentric rings on the lower leaves, spreading upward. Leaves yellow and drop.
• What causes it: A fungal disease that thrives in our warm, humid conditions. It spreads through soil splash.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Water at the base. Improve air circulation. Copper fungicide can help.

Florida Specific Challenges: Our hot heat, very-high humidity, and wet-summer rainfall create ideal conditions for fungal diseases and pest infestations. Consistent monitoring and proactive measures are key to success. Also, be mindful of nematodes in our sandy soil and consider nematode-resistant rootstock if it becomes a recurring issue.

Companion planting can help your Better Boy Tomatoes thrive in Florida. Basil is a great companion because it repels tomato hornworms and other pests. Carrots improve the soil around the tomato plants, and parsley attracts beneficial insects. French marigolds deter nematodes.

Avoid planting brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli) near tomatoes, as they can stunt their growth. Fennel is also a bad companion, as it inhibits the growth of many plants. Corn competes for nutrients and can also attract pests.