Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Garden Articles >> About Garden

Frugal Tomato Growing: Seeds vs. Plants, Varieties, Tips & Recipes

Frugal gardening means maximizing harvests while minimizing costs. With countless tomato varieties, should you buy cheaper seeds or faster-producing plants? The answer depends on your timeline.

I buy two new plant varieties each season for early harvest, plus start seeds saved from last year's best tomatoes.

Top Varieties to Grow

Cherry Types (Great for Salads & Snacking)

Sweet Bite – prolific clusters of sweet tiny fruits
Tommy Toe, Gardener's Delight, Tiny Tim

Large Fleshy Types (Sandwiches, Sauces, Canning)

Apollo Improved – keeps longer, excellent flavor
Yellow Delicious, Rouge de Marmande

Roma Types (Oblong, Meaty, Perfect for Preserving)

Roma – solid red flesh, ideal for canning/drying
Yellow Egg – similar shape, great for juicing

Planting & Care Essentials

Choose healthy green plants; avoid yellowing/early flowering.
Plant after last frost in wind-protected, sunny (not scorching) spots.
Amend soil with compost/well-rotted manure; fertilize regularly.
Trim lower leaves/shoots to encourage top growth. Pinch side shoots (suckers) between finger and thumb.
Bury a water bottle/tube near roots for deep watering.
Stake/tie as plants grow. Train along fences if space is tight.

Common Problem Solutions

Holes in fruit: Snails/caterpillars – pick immediately.
Blossom end rot (brown bottom): Calcium deficiency – apply lime, water consistently.
Blight: Water roots only, never leaves. Worsens in wet seasons.
Split skins: Inconsistent watering – maintain even moisture.
Aphids: Plant nasturtiums, marigolds, poppies nearby to attract beneficial insects.
Green tomatoes: Ripen off-vine if glossy-skinned; use rest for chutney/pickles.
Crop rotation: Never plant tomatoes in same spot yearly.

Save Seeds for Free Future Plants

Scoop seeds from a tasty, healthy tomato onto paper towel. Dry on a windowsill, store safely. Ask neighbors to share their best seeds too!

Recipes for Tomato Gluts

Barbecue Tomato Sauce

Ingredients: 30g butter, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp malt vinegar, 1 large diced onion, 1 cup seeded/peeled/chopped tomatoes.
Method: Fry onion in butter until golden. Add remaining ingredients, boil, simmer 15 min. Serve hot/cold with grilled meats or burgers.

Tomato & Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients: 1 rasher bacon, 1 large onion, 2 cups mashed cooked pumpkin, 20g butter, 3 cups beef stock, 400g cooked/canned tomatoes, salt/pepper, pinch ground cloves, 1 cup milk, chives/parsley for garnish.
Method: Fry bacon/onion in butter. Add pumpkin, tomatoes, stock; simmer 15 min. Blend to purée. Return to pan, season, add cloves & milk, simmer briefly. Garnish.

Minted Tomato Juice

2 cups tomato juice, 1 tsp white wine/apple cider vinegar, ½ lemon (rind & juice), 1 tsp chopped mint, salt/pepper/nutmeg. Combine, chill, remove rind, serve.

Sherry Tomato Juice

¾ cup tomato juice, 1 tsp dry sherry, salt/pepper, Tabasco, Worcestershire, lemon wedge. Chill juice, season, stir in sherry & Worcestershire, garnish.