Better Boy Plus

Annual                                                                                                                    24-36 wide

Full-sun                                                                                                                      4-8 ft tall

Better Boy Plus Hybrid Tomato

The Better Boy Plus Hybrid is an upgraded version of the classic Better Boy, one of America's most popular slicing tomatoes. This indeterminate beefsteak hybrid retains all the beloved traits of the original—heavy yields, adaptability to various climates, and classic tomato flavor—while offering improvements in sweetness, fruit quality, and disease resistance. It produces large, bright red, globe-shaped fruits averaging 8–16 oz (often reaching 1 lb), with firm, meaty, juicy flesh and a higher sugar content (Brix around 6.6) for enhanced sweetness and rich, balanced flavor. The vigorous vines grow 5–8 feet tall, providing good foliage cover to protect against sunscald, and deliver abundant harvests starting midseason (around 75–80 days from transplant) and continuing until frost. Ideal for fresh slicing, sandwiches, canning, sauces, or salads, Better Boy Plus stands out for its crack resistance and exceptional productivity Key improvements include added resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), Fusarium Crown and Root Rot, and Tobacco Mosaic Virus (ToMV), on top of the original's resistances to Verticillium Wilt (V), Fusarium Wilt (F), Alternaria Stem Canker (A), Gray Leaf Spot (St), and Root-Knot Nematodes (N). This robust package makes it especially reliable in regions prone to thrips-transmitted viruses or soil-borne issues.

1. Transplanting: Harden off seedlings and move outdoors after all frost risk has passed, when soil warms to at least 60°F (15°C). Select a full sun location (minimum 6–8 hours direct sunlight) with well-drained, fertile soil (pH 6.0–6.8).
2. Spacing and Support: Space plants 24–36 inches apart in rows 4–5 feet apart. As an indeterminate variety, provide strong staking, caging, or trellising from early on to support heavy vines and fruit load while improving airflow.
3. Soil and Fertilizer: Amend soil with compost or aged manure before planting. Apply a balanced fertilizer at transplant, then shift to higher phosphorus/potassium formulas during flowering and fruiting. Avoid excess nitrogen to promote fruit over foliage.
4. Watering: Provide consistent moisture (1–2 inches per week), watering at the base to keep leaves dry and minimize disease. Mulch heavily to conserve water, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
5. Care and Harvest: Optionally prune suckers for better circulation. Fruits ripen in about 75–80 days from transplant. Pick when fully red for best flavor; frequent harvesting encourages more production. Thin 3-4 tomatoes per cluster to get larger tomatoes. 

With its enhanced disease resistance and superior flavor, Better Boy Plus is a top choice for dependable, bountiful harvests of premium slicing tomatoes all season long!