Tomatoes: The King of the Home Garden

A favorite of home gardeners, tomatoes are easy to grow—just a few plants supply an abundant harvest.

About This Plant

With hundreds of varieties and more introduced yearly, there's a tomato for every garden and taste. Fruit size doesn't indicate plant size—tiny "currant" tomatoes can grow on huge indeterminate vines, while large "beefsteak" types can be on manageable determinate bushes. Newer hybrids offer disease resistance; don't overlook heirlooms famous for rich flavor. Plant early-, mid-, and late-season varieties to extend harvest.

Site Selection

Choose a site with full sun and well-drained soil. In very hot climates, light afternoon shade may prevent blossom drop. Loosen soil to 12–15 inches and mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost.

Planting Instructions

If not buying plants, start seeds indoors in flats/pots 6–7 weeks before the average last frost; transplant when soil is warm and frost danger has passed. Set up trellises, cages, or stakes at planting. Dig holes 18–24 inches apart for staked/trellised plants, 36–48 inches for untrained. Pinch off 2–3 lower branches on the transplant and set root ball deep so remaining lowest leaves are just above soil—buried stem forms additional roots. Water generously and keep well-watered for a few days.

Care

Provide even water supply all season. If staking/trellising, prune suckers to allow 1–2 central stems (staked) or 2–3 (trellised). Apply thick organic mulch 4–5 weeks after transplanting. Contact your extension office for tomato hornworm and whitefly controls.

Harvesting

For best flavor, harvest when firm and fully colored. Fruits ripen off-vine if picked half-ripe, but vine-ripened flavor is often superior.