When you Should Plant Tomatoes

When you grow your own tomatoes, you will be surprised at the flavor and quality you find. Heirloom tomatoes are probably the most flavorful and very easy to grow.

Tomato seeds must be started indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. You can easily start them yourself or buy plants at your local greenhouse or garden center. If you wish to start them, plant seeds in a starting mix in small pots (peat pots work very well) and place them in a sunny window. Be sure to keep the soil moist, but not wet. For family use, figure two plants for each person in the family and twice that for canning or salsa making.

As the weather warms, place them in a sunny area outside during the day. When night temperatures reach fifty degrees, allow them to remain outside at nighttime. When it appears temperatures at night will remain over fifty degrees and blossoms appear, tomatoes plants can be set out in the garden. If night temperatures fall below fifty degrees and have not warmed above that by 8 A.M., tomatoes continue in "night time" mode and will only produce forty percent of their capacity.

To transplant in the garden, dig a hole approximately the size of a soccer ball. Be sure the soil is rich and organic. Plant the tomato deeper than the depth in the pot. To insure root growth, plant it so four branches appear above ground level. Place paper collars or aluminum foil collars around the stem at ground level to deter cut worms. Water the plants regularly and pick fruits as they ripen for flavor.