Early Boy Bush Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, sowing them 1/4 inch deep in warm soil around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the seed bed moist but not soggy, and provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge. Transplants are ready to move outdoors once they have their first true leaves and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees.

Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before planting out, gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant into the garden once soil temperature reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit and all frost danger has passed. Space plants 24 inches apart, setting them slightly deeper than they grew in pots to encourage a stronger root system.

Pick fruits once they achieve full bright red color, which typically signals peak ripeness and flavor. The 50-59 day timeline from transplant to first harvest gives you a reliable window; check plants regularly once you hit day 50, as the compact growth habit concentrates ripening into a shorter period than indeterminate varieties. Twist or cut tomatoes gently from the vine to avoid damaging branches.

Early Boy Bush is determinate, meaning it grows to a fixed height and sets all its fruit within a concentrated window, so extensive pruning is unnecessary. Remove only lower leaves once plants are established to improve air circulation around the base and reduce disease pressure, especially important in humid climates.