Better Boy Tomato in Zone 6B — Southeast

Better Boy Tomato is a classic for a reason, and it really shines in the Southeast. The flavor is that perfect balance of sweet and tangy, and they're so versatile—great for slicing, sandwiches, or sauces. Plus, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of biting into a juicy, homegrown tomato after our long summer.

Our hot, humid summers can be tough on tomatoes, and we definitely have to watch out for fungal diseases. But with a little planning and attention to timing, you can absolutely grow a bumper crop of Better Boys during our long, 208-day growing season.

Starting your Better Boy Tomato seeds indoors is the way to go around here. You'll want to get those seeds going in early to late March, about six weeks before you plan to put them in the ground. This gives them a good head start before the heat really kicks in.

Use a seed starting tray with a good seed starting mix. Keep them warm, around 70-75°F, and provide plenty of light—a grow light works great. Don't forget to water from the bottom to keep the soil evenly moist without encouraging damping off. The spring weather here in the Southeast can be moderate, so indoor starting helps keep them safe from any late cold snaps.

Transplanting time is usually mid April through mid May once the danger of frost has passed. Before you put them in the ground, harden them off for about a week by gradually exposing them to the outdoors. This will help them adjust to the sun and wind.

Plant your Better Boy Tomato plants 24-36 inches apart in a sunny spot. Keep an eye on the weather forecast around transplant time; a late cold snap can still happen, so be ready to cover them if needed.

Better Boy Tomatoes need consistent watering, especially with our hot and humid summers. They aren't drought-tolerant, so don't let them dry out. The goal is to avoid those boom-and-bust cycles of drought then deluge, which can cause problems.

During the hotter parts of the summer, you'll probably need to water deeply a couple of times a week, giving them about 1-2 inches of water each time. Stick your finger about 2 inches deep into the soil—if it feels dry, it's time to water. Watering at the base of the plant is best to keep the leaves dry and reduce the risk of fungal diseases that thrive in our humidity.

Watch out for signs of underwatering, like wilting leaves, or overwatering, like yellowing leaves. A good layer of mulch will help retain moisture and keep the soil temperature more even.

Better Boy Tomatoes are indeterminate, meaning they'll keep growing and producing all season long, and they can get pretty big. These vines need sturdy support because they get loaded with heavy fruit. Cages or stakes both work well, but I prefer cages for Better Boys because they offer more support as the plant gets larger.

Install your support at planting time to avoid damaging the roots later on. As the plant grows, gently weave the stems through the cage or tie them to the stake.

Pruning your Better Boy Tomatoes helps improve airflow and fruit size. Focus on removing the suckers that grow in the "armpit" between the main stem and branches. These suckers will just create more foliage and fewer, smaller tomatoes.

You can also remove the lower leaves that are touching the soil to help prevent disease. Start pruning a few weeks after transplanting, and continue throughout the season. As we approach the first frost in late October, you can top the plant to encourage the remaining green tomatoes to ripen.

You can usually start harvesting Better Boy Tomatoes in late June through mid August, about 72 days after transplanting. Look for large, red fruit that has a slight give when you gently squeeze it. The strong disease resistance of this variety means you should get a pretty reliable harvest, even with our humidity.

To harvest, gently twist the tomato until it separates from the vine. Be careful not to damage the plant. Keep harvesting regularly to encourage the plant to keep producing. As the first frost approaches in late October, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them inside to ripen. They'll ripen on a windowsill, although the flavor won't be quite as good as vine-ripened.

Better Boy Tomatoes are fairly disease-resistant, but they can still run into problems in our Southeast climate. Here are a few to watch out for:

• 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, leading to calcium deficiency. It's not a disease, but a nutrient uptake problem made worse by our cycles of heavy rain and then dry spells.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently and mulch heavily. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen, which can interfere with calcium uptake. Remove affected fruit.
• Cracking:
• What it looks like: Splits in the tomato skin, either in circles around the stem or lines radiating from the stem.
• What causes it: Rapid changes in soil moisture, like heavy rain after a dry spell. The fruit swells faster than the skin can expand.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently and mulch to keep soil moisture even. Harvest tomatoes promptly when ripe.
• Hornworms:
• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. You might see large green caterpillars with white stripes and dark droppings on the leaves.
• What causes it: These are the larvae of hawk moths, and they can defoliate your plants quickly.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick them (they're easy to spot). Bt spray is effective and organic. If you see hornworms with white cocoons on them, leave them alone—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 via soil splash onto the lower leaves.
• 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. Copper fungicide can slow the spread.

Southeast Specific Challenges: Our hot, humid summers and wet-summer rainfall create ideal conditions for fungal diseases like early blight. Consistent watering is crucial to prevent blossom end rot and cracking. Regular monitoring for pests like hornworms is also important.

Companion planting can really help your Better Boy Tomatoes thrive. Basil is a great choice—it repels pests and is said to improve the flavor of the tomatoes. Carrots and parsley also make good companions, attracting beneficial insects. French marigolds are known to deter nematodes and other soil pests.

Avoid planting tomatoes near brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli), fennel, or corn. Brassicas can stunt tomato growth, fennel inhibits growth for many plants, and corn can attract pests that also bother tomatoes.