Better Boy Tomato in Zone 4A — Mountain West

Better Boy Tomato is a classic for a reason, and it’s a fantastic choice for us Mountain gardeners. The reliably delicious, juicy fruits are perfect for slicing, sandwiches, and sauces. Plus, the plant's strong disease resistance helps ensure a worthwhile harvest, even with our brief but intense growing season.

Our high altitude, intense sun, and cool nights can be tough on warm-season crops. But with careful timing and a few tricks, you can absolutely enjoy homegrown Better Boys. We only have about 118 days from our last spring frost to our first fall frost, so let's make them count!

Starting your Better Boy Tomato seeds indoors is essential to get a jump start on our short season. Aim to sow your seeds mid April through early May, roughly six weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. This gives the seedlings a head start before our sometimes-late spring finally arrives.

Use seed starting trays or small pots filled with a good seed starting mix. Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy) – bottom watering is a great way to do this. Place the trays in a warm spot, ideally around 70-75°F, and provide plenty of light. A sunny south-facing window often isn’t enough at our latitude, so consider using grow lights for best results.

Transplanting your Better Boy Tomato seedlings outdoors should happen early to late June, once the danger of frost has truly passed. Before you plant them in the ground, harden them off over about a week. This means gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing periods each day.

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and space your plants 24-36 inches apart. Even in June, our nights can still get surprisingly cold, so consider using Wall-O-Water or similar plant protectors for the first few weeks to shield the young plants from temperature swings and intense UV.

Consistent watering is key to getting a great harvest of Better Boy Tomatoes in our dry Mountain climate. Inconsistent moisture leads to problems like blossom end rot and cracking. While this hybrid is disease-resistant, it still needs consistent care.

During the hottest part of the summer, you'll likely need to water deeply a few times a week, providing about 1-2 inches of water each time. Use the finger test: stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, as this can still encourage fungal issues even with our low humidity.

Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and slow growth. Overwatering, on the other hand, can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. A good layer of mulch, like straw or wood chips, will help retain moisture and keep the soil temperature consistent.

Better Boy Tomato is an indeterminate variety, which means it will keep growing and producing fruit all season long. These vigorous vines need sturdy support to handle the weight of all those tomatoes.

Cages or stakes both work well, but cages are generally easier to manage for such large plants. Install your chosen support at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently guide the vines to stay within the support structure.

Pruning your Better Boy Tomato helps improve air circulation and focus the plant's energy on producing larger, better-tasting fruit. The standard approach is to remove the suckers that grow in the "armpit" between the main stem and branches.

Prune these suckers regularly throughout the growing season, especially when they are small. You can also prune away the lower leaves as the plant matures to improve airflow and reduce the risk of soil-borne diseases. As our first frost approaches around mid- September, you might want to top the plant (cut off the growing tip) to encourage the remaining green tomatoes to ripen.

You can expect your first harvest of Better Boy Tomatoes from mid August through mid September, about 72 days after transplanting. Look for large, red fruit that has a slight give when gently squeezed.

To harvest, simply twist the tomato until the stem snaps off near the fruit. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to keep producing more tomatoes. If a frost is predicted, harvest any remaining mature green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They will ripen best in a single layer, not touching, in a cool, dark location.

Even with Better Boy Tomato's disease resistance, a few common problems can pop up in our Mountain gardens. Here’s how to tackle them:

• Blossom End Rot
• What it looks like: A sunken, dark brown or black leathery patch on the bottom of the tomato.
• What causes it: Inconsistent watering leads to calcium deficiency. Our dry climate and potential for drought spells make this common.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently, especially during fruit development. Mulch heavily to maintain even soil moisture. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.
• Cracking
• What it looks like: Splits in the tomato skin, either in concentric circles around the stem or radial lines radiating from the stem.
• What causes it: Sudden changes in soil moisture – heavy watering after a dry spell.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently and mulch well. Harvest ripe tomatoes promptly to prevent cracking.
• Hornworms
• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. You might also see large green caterpillars with white stripes and dark droppings.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths and they can defoliate a plant quickly.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick them off the plants (they are easy to spot). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is also effective.
• Early Blight
• What it looks like: Brown spots with concentric rings on lower leaves, spreading upwards.
• What causes it: A fungal disease that thrives in warm, humid conditions.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Water at the base of the plant. Improve air circulation through spacing and pruning.

Mountain West Specific Challenges: Our intense sun can sometimes exacerbate cracking, so providing some afternoon shade during the hottest part of the day can help. The low humidity is generally a plus, reducing fungal diseases, but it also means you need to be extra vigilant about watering.

Companion planting can really boost your Better Boy Tomato crop here in the Mountain West.

Good companions:

• Basil: Repels tomato hornworms and whiteflies.
• Carrots: Improve soil aeration and deter nematodes.
• Parsley: Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies, which prey on aphids.
• French Marigolds: Repel nematodes and other soil pests.

Bad companions:

• Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower): Inhibit tomato growth.
• Fennel: Inhibits the growth of many plants, including tomatoes.
• Corn: Can attract tomato pests like corn earworms.