Try backing off on watering while they are ripening. They usually have more
flavor and will be less watery tasting. Some people also water with a
little sugar added to their water to sweeten them. I've only read this and
have not tried it. I grow Better Boys every year and have not had any issue
with flavor. I, unfortunately, planted my garden extremely late this year
and still have green tomatoes. I've finally got baby cucumbers and green
beans coming.

Penny
Zone 7b - North Carolina
"Dawn" wrote in message
om...
I'm looking for suggestions on what to improve or change for next
year.

This spring we planted 6 nursery 'Better Boy' plants, in clay soil we
amended with manure and peat moss. I got huge plants and tons of fruit
coming.

Unlike last year, the squirrels aren't all over them. Last year I lost
most of my tomatoes to squirrels. This year I haven't seen a single
one. The new neighbor's large dogs may have something to do with that.

Also last year the yield wasn't very good to start with, we have heavy
clay soil here, which is why we added to it this spring. Last year we
broke ground on the garden at this house, so we have a fair amount of
work to do to improve the plot.

I've got beautiful plants. Lots of blooms until it got hot, lots of
fruit coming along, I had mites right after I planted (in April) but I
sprayed and they've been pest free ever since. I've got a drip hose on
the garden now that it's staying hot and they get sun from morning to
early evening. It would seem I've never had a better year for
tomatoes.

The problem is my tomatoes have very little flavor. Is it just this
variety? I prefer to plant Romas, but couldn't get them this spring
and I had heard Better Boy was a good variety. Could it be something
in the soil? Is there something I could do to get better tasting fruit
next year? I'm not sure anything can be done this year....



Dawn

d duperault at ay oh el dot com