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Growing Tomatoes

Big Boy vs Better Boy

8 years ago

I rcently iscovered this BB when looking or details about some o the newer cultivrs of tomatoes that I am growning this year. Love it, and have gotten some really ood info. BUT, I am really confused with o many posts referring to Better Boy. I have always considered it a very low-quality tomato compared with Big Boy. I have tested it several times right betwen the wonderful Big Boy plants (same growing conditions exactly), and it never, ever comes close to Big Boy. Taste is no comparison, and I see that also in published taste tests. I consider Big Boy, Constaluto Genovese, and Brandywine to be the three best-tasting tomatoes that I have ever grown. Better Boy is no where near them in taste. I know that Better Boy (i.e. "Worse Boy") is supposed to be disease-resistant. But the plant is never as profuse and prolific as Big Boy. Plus the inferior taste of Worse Boy means that I rarely plant it. It has failed several tests against Big Boy in my garden.

I wonder why people on this BB seem to compare other cultivars against Worst Boy instead of against Big Boy.

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Comments (3)

aruzinsky
8 years ago
" I know that Better Boy (i.e. "Worse Boy") is supposed to be disease-resistant. But the plant is never as profuse and prolific as Big Boy."

Are you aware that the World's Record Production was held by Better Boy? Google ' "charles h. wilber" Guinness '.

Have you tried Best Boy? It's a determinate that keeps on growing.
johnfromzone3
8 years ago
I would agree and prefer big boys, I also like beef master and Wisconsin 55. We have such a short growing season I need to start them in the Greenhouse mid-Apri and get them in the ground June 1st. This year we had two frosts the first week of June. I start harvesting the 1st or 2nd week of August.
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Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I have not grown them side by side, myself to review them. One season ( long time ago ) I grew one of them. Can't remember which one. The plant was not very fast growing. The fruits were round ( ~ 4 -6 oz) grown in cluster. The taste was fine.

But recently I have read quite a few reviews here and there. The general consensus ( ~80% ?) was that Better Boy is superior. Better Boy has been also compared to Big Beef and Brandy Boy but has not come out as the winner . YMMV

Sey

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