Tomatoes: How to Grow Your Own

Tomatoes are always a welcome addition to a meal. Whether sliced into a salad, chopped over a casserole, or as paste or sauce in an Italian or Spanish main dish, tomatoes are a staple for most cooks. Fresh tomatoes are always better than store bought which have been picked green and shipped halfway across the country. Some varieties, such as Tiny Tim, Patio, or Small Fry can be grown from seed to maturity in six-inch pots in front of a window in the winter. They are indeterminate, which means that they fruit on a continual basis. These tomatoes need lots of sunlight and frequent watering, as they will dry out quickly especially when winter humidity is low.

For growing your tomatoes out doors, there are several things to consider. You must choose a variety suitable to your climate and the length of your growing season. This is usually printed on the seed package, but seed catalogs, (free for the asking online) can tell you which varieties are ideal for your area. Then, you must prepare the soil. It should be rich and black, with good drainage. Start your plants indoors in small starter pots six to ten weeks before the last fronts in your area to give them a head start and good roots. Transplant them once or twice to larger pots. Then, bring them out into the sunlight, only for a little while the first few days, slowly lengthening the time.

Space your plants in the garden according to the package directions, giving each plant enough space to get sun. Mulching and fertilizing are often recommended. Staking some varieties gives you better access to the fruit and keeps it off the ground. Finally, save the seeds from the best tasting, non-hybrid tomatoes for next season’s garden.