If you want to learn how to grow Big Boy tomatoes, you’re aiming for one of the most classic and rewarding garden varieties. Growing Big Boy tomatoes to their famous, hefty size requires attention to soil nutrition, consistent watering, and strong support. This guide provides the complete, step-by-step process to get those iconic, one-pound fruits from your own backyard.
These hybrid tomatoes are known for their vigorous growth and delicious, meaty slices. With the right care, you can expect a bountiful harvest all season long.
How To Grow Big Boy Tomatoes
Success with Big Boy tomatoes starts long before you put a plant in the ground. It begins with understanding what they need and preparing your garden space accordingly. This section covers the foundational steps for a strong start.
Understanding The Big Boy Tomato Plant
Big Boy is an indeterminate, hybrid tomato variety. This means the plants continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season until frost kills them. They can easily reach 6 to 10 feet tall and require sturdy staking or caging.
The fruits are typically large, often weighing over a pound, with a classic rich, balanced tomato flavor that’s excellent for sandwiches and slicing. They usually mature in about 78 days from transplant.
Selecting The Right Plants Or Seeds
You can start Big Boys from seed indoors or purchase young plants from a nursery. Starting from seed gives you more control and variety choice, while buying transplants saves time.
- If starting seeds: Begin them indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. Use a sterile seed-starting mix and provide plenty of light.
- If buying plants: Choose stocky, dark green plants without any yellowing leaves or signs of pests. Avoid plants that already have flowers or fruit, as they may be root-bound and stressed.
Choosing The Perfect Garden Location
Tomatoes are sun worshippers. The single most important factor for a good harvest is sunlight.
- Full Sun: Select a spot that receives a minimum of 8 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. More is better.
- Soil Drainage: The area must have well-draining soil. Tomatoes will not thrive in soggy, waterlogged conditions.
- Air Circulation: Good airflow around plants helps prevent fungal diseases like blight. Avoid overly crowded planting.
- Crop Rotation: Do not plant tomatoes in the same spot where tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or potatoes grew the previous year. This helps prevent soil-borne diseases.
Preparing The Soil For Success
Rich, fertile, and slightly acidic soil is the bedrock of giant tomatoes. Preparing your soil properly is one of the best investments you can make.
Soil Ph And Testing
Tomatoes prefer a soil pH between 6.2 and 6.8. You can test your soil with a home kit or through your local cooperative extension service. If your soil is too acidic (low pH), add garden lime. If it’s too alkaline (high pH), amend with sulfur.
Amending The Soil
Incorporate plenty of organic matter into the planting area. This improves drainage, aeration, and nutrient retention.
- Dig a hole approximately 12-18 inches deep and wide for each plant.
- Mix the native soil with 2-3 shovelfuls of well-rotted compost or aged manure.
- Add a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer or a tomato-specific fertilizer according to package instructions into the bottom of the hole.
Planting Your Big Boy Tomatoes
Timing and technique are crucial when moving your plants into the garden. A strong start here prevents setbacks and encourages rapid root development.
When To Plant Outdoors
Tomatoes are warm-season crops intolerant of frost. Patience is key.
- Wait until all danger of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50°F (10°C).
- The soil temperature should be at least 60°F (15°C) for optimal root growth. Cold soil will shock the plants and stunt them.
The Deep Planting Technique
Tomatoes have a unique ability to grow roots along their stems. You should use this to your advantage to create a stronger, more extensive root system.
- Gently remove the lower leaves from the seedling, leaving only the top 3-4 sets of leaves.
- Dig a deep hole or a shallow trench laid on its side, deep enough to bury the now-bare stem.
- Place the plant in the hole or trench, bending it gently if necessary. Cover the stem with soil, leaving only the leafy top above ground.
- This buried stem will develop into roots, giving the plant better access to water and nutrients.
Spacing For Optimal Growth
Big Boy plants get very large. Crowding them invites disease and reduces air circulation and sunlight penetration.
Space your plants 24 to 36 inches apart in rows that are at least 36 to 48 inches apart. This generous spacing is non-negotiable for healthy, productive plants.
Essential Care And Maintenance
Consistent care throughout the season is what separates a mediocre harvest from an exceptional one. This involves watering, feeding, and supporting your plants properly.
Watering Strategies For Big Fruits
Inconsistent watering is a leading cause of problems like blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Your goal is steady, even soil moisture.
- Water Deeply and Infrequently: Provide 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall and temperature. It’s better to water thoroughly a few times a week than to sprinkle daily.
- Water at the Base: Use a soaker hose or water directly at the soil line to keep foliage dry and prevent disease.
- Morning Watering: Water early in the day so any splashed leaves have time to dry before evening.
- Mulch Heavily: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (straw, shredded leaves, wood chips) around the base of each plant. This conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and keeps soil temperature even.
Fertilizing For Maximum Yield
Big Boy tomatoes are heavy feeders, especially when they start setting fruit. A two-stage feeding approach works best.
Early Growth Stage
For the first month after transplanting, focus on balanced growth. Use a fertilizer with a slightly higher nitrogen content (the first number in the N-P-K ratio) to encourage strong stems and leafy growth.
Flowering And Fruiting Stage
Once flowers appear, switch to a fertilizer lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus (the middle number) and potassium (the last number). This promotes blooming, fruit set, and overall fruit development. Many gardeners use a dedicated “tomato fertilizer” or an organic option like bone meal and kelp meal.
Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen later in the season, as this can lead to lush foliage at the expense of fruit production.
Staking And Supporting Your Plants
Due to their indeterminate growth and heavy fruit, Big Boy tomatoes require robust support. Installing it early prevents root damage later.
- Strong Stakes: Use 6-8 foot tall wooden or metal stakes driven at least a foot into the ground near the plant at planting time.
- Heavy-Duty Cages: Use the largest, sturdiest tomato cages you can find. Store-bought cages are often too flimsy; consider making your own from concrete reinforcing wire.
- Trellis Systems: A horizontal or vertical trellis system works well for multiple plants.
- Tie plants loosely to their support every 12-18 inches of growth using soft cloth strips, garden twine, or tomato clips. Never use wire or string that can cut into the stem.
Pruning And Suckering For Better Fruit
Pruning indeterminate tomatoes like Big Boy helps direct the plant’s energy into fruit production rather than excessive foliage. The main technique involves removing “suckers.”
Suckers are the small shoots that grow in the “V” between the main stem and a branch. If left to grow, they become new stems, creating a dense, tangled plant.
- Check your plants weekly for suckers.
- When suckers are small (2-4 inches long), you can simply pinch them off with your fingers.
- For larger suckers, use clean, sharp pruners to avoid damaging the plant.
- A common method is to prune to one or two main leaders (stems). This is especially useful in smaller spaces.
Always remove any leaves that touch the ground to prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing up onto the plant.
Protecting Your Plants From Problems
Even with great care, tomatoes can face challenges. Proactive monitoring and simple solutions can save your crop.
Common Pests And Organic Controls
Several insects are attracted to tomato plants.
- Aphids: Blast them off with a strong jet of water or use insecticidal soap.
- Tomato Hornworms: These large green caterpillars can defoliate a plant quickly. Hand-pick them off (they are camouflaged) or use an organic Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray.
- Whiteflies: Yellow sticky traps and insecticidal soap are effective controls.
- Flea Beetles: Use floating row covers when plants are young to prevent access.
Identifying And Preventing Diseases
Fungal diseases are the most common issue, often exacerbated by wet foliage and poor air circulation.
Early Blight And Late Blight
These cause dark spots on leaves and stems, which can spread rapidly. Remove affected leaves immediately. Prevent by watering at the base, providing good spacing, and using a preventative organic fungicide like copper spray.
Blossom End Rot
This appears as a dark, leathery spot on the bottom of the fruit. It is caused by a calcium deficiency in the fruit, often due to irregular watering that prevents calcium uptake. The solution is consistent, deep watering and maintaining even soil moisture with mulch.
Fusarium And Verticillium Wilt
These soil-borne diseases cause yellowing and wilting. The best defense is to choose disease-resistant varieties (Big Boy has some resistance) and practice strict crop rotation.
Harvesting And Storing Your Big Boy Tomatoes
The moment of reward! Knowing when and how to pick your tomatoes ensures you enjoy them at their peak flavor.
When And How To Harvest
For the best flavor, allow tomatoes to fully ripen on the vine. A ripe Big Boy tomato will be fully colored (a deep, uniform red) and will feel slightly soft when given a gentle squeeze. It should come off the vine with a slight twist.
If frost threatens or pests are damaging fruit, you can harvest mature green tomatoes (those that have reached full size and have a slight glossy sheen) and ripen them indoors. Place them in a paper bag with a banana or apple, which emits ethylene gas to speed ripening.
Best Practices For Storage
Never refrigerate ripe, uncut tomatoes. Cold temperatures destroy their flavor and texture, making them mealy.
- Store ripe tomatoes at room temperature, stem-side down, out of direct sunlight. Use them within a few days.
- For longer-term storage, consider canning, making sauce, or freezing your harvested tomatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take For Big Boy Tomatoes To Grow?
Big Boy tomatoes are typically listed as maturing in about 78 days from the time you transplant a young seedling into the garden. From seed, you would add 6-8 weeks for starting indoors.
What Is The Best Fertilizer For Big Boy Tomatoes?
A balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer at planting is good. Once flowering begins, switch to a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus and potassium number, like a 5-10-10 formula. Many gardeners also add a handful of bone meal or worm castings to the planting hole for extra phosphorus and calcium.
Why Are My Big Boy Tomatoes Not Getting Big?
Several factors can lead to small fruit: inconsistent watering, insufficient sunlight (less than 8 hours), overcrowded plants, lack of pruning, or a nutrient deficiency—particularly not enough phosphorus or potassium during the fruiting stage. Over-fertilizing with nitrogen can also cause lots of leaves but small fruit.
How Often Should You Water Big Boy Tomato Plants?
Aim for 1 to 2 inches of water per week, provided through deep watering sessions. This usually means watering thoroughly 2-3 times a week during hot, dry weather. Always check the soil moisture; it should feel moist like a wrung-out sponge a few inches down.
Are Big Boy Tomatoes Determinate Or Indeterminate?
Big Boy tomatoes are an indeterminate variety. This means they continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season until killed by frost, rather than producing one large, simultaneous crop. They require tall, sturdy support for their vining growth habit.