Better Boy Tomato in Zone 8A — Florida

Better Boy Tomato is a fantastic choice for Florida gardens. Its classic tomato flavor makes it perfect for sandwiches, salads, and sauces. This disease-resistant hybrid offers reliable harvests even with our challenging humidity, and nothing beats the satisfaction of picking your own juicy tomatoes in late spring.

Florida gardening is a bit different – our summer is the slow season. But with a long 283-day growing season, we can plant in fall, harvest in winter, and get a jump start on spring tomatoes. By starting seeds indoors and timing your planting right, you can enjoy a bountiful Better Boy Tomato harvest before the worst of the summer heat hits.

Starting your Better Boy Tomato seeds indoors from late January through mid February gives them a head start before our transplanting window. You have about a 3-week window to get these started. 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 using grow lights or a sunny windowsill.

Bottom watering is key to avoid damping off. Set your seed trays in a shallow tray of water and let the soil absorb the moisture from the bottom. This encourages strong root growth without soaking the leaves and stems. Remember, our spring is reversed, so starting early indoors is essential to beat the heat!

Transplant your Better Boy Tomato seedlings outdoors from mid March through early April. Before planting, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This prevents transplant shock. Start with an hour or two of shade, gradually increasing sun exposure each day.

Space your plants 24-36 inches apart in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Even though it's spring, you might still get a cool snap, so be ready to cover them if temperatures dip unexpectedly. Our sandy soil benefits from adding compost or other organic matter at planting time.

Better Boy Tomatoes need consistent watering, especially in Florida's heat. Aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall. The "finger test" is your friend: stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water.

In the spring, water deeply every few days. Once summer hits, you might need to water daily, especially if it's not raining. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal diseases in our humid climate. Overhead watering is generally a bad idea.

Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and dry soil. Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. Mulching around your tomato plants with pine straw or wood chips helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Our wet-summer rainfall can be unpredictable, so monitor your soil moisture closely.

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

Install your chosen support at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. For stakes, drive them firmly into the ground a few inches from the plant. As the tomato grows, gently tie the main stem to the stake with soft twine or plant ties. Cages should be large enough to accommodate the mature plant.

Pruning your Better Boy Tomato can improve fruit size and air circulation. Focus on removing suckers, which are the small shoots that grow between the main stem and the branches. Pinch them off when they're small to redirect energy to fruit production.

Also, remove the lower leaves that touch the soil, as these are most susceptible to fungal diseases. You can start pruning a few weeks after transplanting and continue throughout the season. As the first frost approaches in early December, you can pinch off the top of the plant to encourage the remaining green tomatoes to ripen.

You can expect your first Better Boy Tomato harvest from late May through early July, about 72 days after transplanting. The best sign of ripeness is a deep red color and a slight give when you gently squeeze the fruit. The fruit should easily come off the vine with a gentle twist.

Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Leaving ripe tomatoes on the vine signals the plant to slow down. If a frost threatens in early December, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. Place them in a paper bag with a ripe apple or banana to speed up the process. Better Boy's strong disease resistance makes for reliable harvests.

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. The sandy soil in Florida dries out quickly, and our heavy rains can leach calcium from the soil.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently, especially during dry spells. Mulch heavily to maintain even soil moisture. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.

Cracking

• What it looks like: Splits in the tomato skin, either concentric circles around the stem or radial lines radiating from the stem.
• What causes it: Heavy watering or rain after a dry spell. Our wet-summer rainfall can cause rapid water uptake.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently. Mulch to maintain even moisture. Harvest 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 caterpillars are the larvae of hawk moths and can defoliate plants quickly.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick the hornworms. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is effective and organic.

Early Blight

• What it looks like: Brown spots with concentric rings on lower leaves, spreading upward. Leaves yellow and drop.
• What causes it: Fungal disease that thrives in our warm, humid conditions. Spreads via 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 slow the spread.

Florida Specific Challenges: The combination of hot heat, very-high humidity, and wet-summer rainfall creates a perfect environment for fungal diseases and makes consistent watering crucial. Our sandy soil also requires frequent fertilization and amendments to retain moisture and nutrients.

Companion planting can help your Better Boy Tomatoes thrive in Florida.

Good companions:

• Basil: Repels tomato hornworms and whiteflies.
• Carrots: Improve soil drainage and deter nematodes.
• Parsley: Attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests.
• French Marigolds: Repel nematodes and other soil pests.

Bad companions:

• Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower): Compete for nutrients and attract pests.
• Fennel: Inhibits tomato growth.
• Corn: Can shade tomatoes and compete for resources.