On Feb 24, 10:35 pm, "J." wrote:
The following hyperbolic ad copy is from Gurney's latest catalog, page
23, for the "Better Boy" tomato:

"Guinness record holder -- 342 pounds of fruit from one plant!"

The Guiness World Records web site doesn't report anything, and I don't
have their book.

But, I've grown Better Boys every year for the past 10 years and in my
best seasons I haven't come remotely close to anything like that. A
bushel or two maybe, but nothing near 342 lbs.

Assuming the claim is true, how do they do it?

J.

If you don't stake your tomato and give it lots of room the vine can
take over a large area. As it spreads it also takes root so you end
up with a giant plant with massive root system. In a warm climate on
rich soil you can get that from one plant but it's more efficent to
stake many plants in the same area.