Quezi

from my garden - courtesy Zanastardust - CC-BY

Do you have a garden?  Then you can grow tomatoes.

Do you not have a garden?  Well, you can grow tomatoes too.

A few plants in pots in a sunny location can supply you with a summer of good eating.

There many varieties of tomatoes, each of which differs from the others in taste, size, and ripening time, along with disease resistance factors.

In order to decide what to grow, select varieties known to do well in your area.

Tomatoes are classified as either determinate or indeterminate. Determinate tomatoes, grow to a set height (from 18 to 36 in.) and all fruits ripen during a short time, usually a few weeks. Size wise they are perfect for pots.  Indeterminate tomatoes grow and fruit all through the season, but they have fewer tomatoes at any one time. Plants may reach 3 to 6 ft. or more and need staking.

The initials V, F, N, T and A after a variety name on plants or seed indicates the tomato is resistant to certain diseases such as, verticillium wilt (V), fusarium wilt (F), nematodes (N), tobacco mosaic virus (T) and alternaria (A).

Tomatoes will grow best in full sun (at least 8 hours a day) and a well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Plant seedlings in the ground deeper than they were growing in their pots so that the lowest leaves are just above the soil level. Roots will develop along the length of the buried stem.

Stake or cage indeterminate plants (which develop long stems) at the time of transplanting.

Tomatoes aren’t one of those vegetables you can plant and just forget. Check soil moisture and give plants 1 to 1 1/2 inch of water weekly, if rain does not do the job.

Pick tomatoes when they are firm and fully ripe. Taste one while it’s warm from the sun and you’ll know why tomatos are a gardeners favorite.

For more information about growing tomatoes