Growing Tomatoes

Anyone who has ever tasted a fresh-picked tomato knows why it is grown in so many home gardens – the juicy sweetness can't be found in the grocery store or even at the produce stand.

And with over 2,500 varieties to choose from, who could resist growing a few at home.

The shapes, sizes and even colors available are amazing, making it easy to find a few varieties that would be perfect for your garden.

Growing tomatoes isn't difficult, requiring only a few tips for great results.

Seeds or Plants?

If you start growing tomatoes from seeds, you'll have a greater assortment to choose from, and you can get quite a few plants of one variety from a single pack of seeds.

But if you'd rather have only a few of one type, or an assortment of different types of tomato plants, buy small container plants at the garden center.

When you grow tomatoes from seeds, use a sterile potting soil rather than garden soil, which may be too heavy or could harbor insects or disease.

Start them about eight to ten weeks before last frost date in your area. You can use any container with adequate drainage and keep the containers in a tray to catch runoff.

Poke two or three holes in the top of the soil, about half an inch deep, and put a seed in each hole. Water just enough to moisten the soil.

Keep them in a warm area of your home, at about 75 degrees, and in about a week your seeds will sprout. If it's too cool, sprouting will be delayed.

If you don't have a sunny area in the house, you can keep a lamp on over the plants to provide warmth and light.

Keep the seedlings damp, but don't overwater. Soggy roots will drown and rot.

When the seedlings are about 3 inches tall, transplant them into individual pots and provide as much sun or artificial plant lighting as possible.

The seedlings will grow in these containers until they're ready to be transplanted in the garden.

If you choose to buy plants rather than start with seeds, there are a few options. Six-packs of a single variety are available as small seedlings.

Usually these are in pots that can be transplanted directly into the ground; but if it's too early to transplant them into the garden, move them to larger pots that allow room for growth.

Larger containers are also available at garden centers, with plants that are much larger and ready to be placed in the ground.

Transplanting

Prepare the garden bed by adding good soil and compost. Dig holes about six inches deeper and wider than the container the plant is in.

Gently remove the plants from their pots and separate the roots, especially if they've become pot-bound. Bury the plant to the lowest set of leaves and backfill the hole.

Water them gently and don't start fertilizing until the plants are at least two feet tall, then every two to four weeks with a fertilizer made specifically for tomatoes. Follow the seed packet or plant tag directions for spacing.

Maintenance

Depending on the varieties of tomato plants you are growing, you may need to provide some support.

Large, heavy plants should be staked and tied at intervals to allow all the tomatoes to get sunlight.

An alternative to staking is to use tomato cages to support the plants. These will also keep the fruit off the ground where it will rot.

It is better to water deeply than to water often, so the roots can continue to absorb moisture. Do not water the leaves, as this can lead to disease.

Watch for cutworms, snails and slugs and eliminate them organically to avoid chemicals on the tomatoes.

Growing tomatoes is fun and rewarding. Once you harvest your first tomato plant, you'll want to try other varieties.

A good tip – when planning your vegetable garden design, always allow a little extra space for adding new varieties of vegetables, especially tomato plants!

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