Some Knowledge

The tomatoes you buy in a store have almost no flavor and a texture that is much like styrofoam.  All it takes to get good tomatoes is a small patch of sunny ground and some time and effort.  If you want gourmet tomatoes for your salads and sauces, there is no better way to get them than to grow your own.

There are two ways to start tomato plants, from seeds or from sets.  The seed method is less expensive but takes longer.  To start tomatoes from seeds you will need planting cubes, trays or even just empty egg cartons and potting soil.  Plant your seeds in the planting medium and place them in a warm area and keep them watered.   Provide plenty of light so your plants are short and stocky and deep green.  If you buy sets, your plants will be ready to transplant as soon as you bring them home.  This is the simplest way to grow tomatoes.

Something should be said about the types of tomato plants you might want to grow.  If you like salads and snacking on sweet tomatoes try a cherry tomato variety.  Sweet 100s is a popular variety.  If you plan on making a lot of sauces get Roma or San Marzano tomatoes.  These are small oblong tomatoes that are very meaty and cook up well.  If you like sliced tomatoes or general purpose try Better Boy or Early Girl.  Then there are the beefsteak tomatoes.  These huge tomatoes can provide a meal in themselves and are juicy and delicious.  The seed packet or planting stake in the sets you buy will have a short description of the variety you are considering.  You can also get books on tomatoes or look them up online.  There are literally thousands of different varieties available.  There are also many old fashioned tomatoes that you can grow, which are generally labeled as heirloom varieties.

Once you get your tomato sets and all danger of frost is past it is time to work the soil.  If you have a small area you can just clear any sod, then dig over the soil to break it up and incorporate air for good root growth.  If you are planning on a bigger garden you might want to get a rototiller.  When you work the soil incorporate some 5-10-5 fertilizer.  You do not want too much nitrogen or your tomatoes will be very leafy and not have a lot of fruit.  This fertilizer is usually labeled as “garden fertilizer”  in stores.  If you want to grow organic use compost made from fallen leaves and grass clippings as fertilizer.   The important thing to remember is that tomatoes need full sun and will not do well in shade.

Dig holes for your plants and plant them deeply.  You will want to set a good portion of the stem underground.  This is how you plant tomatoes.  The stem will send out roots and you will get lush growth.  Firm the soil around the plants with your hands and make sure the leaves are not touching the ground.  Once you have all your tomatoes planted, water them in well and wait.

Controlling weeds will be your main problem in growing a garden.  Get a pad or a garden stool and sit or kneel and pull the weeds when they are small so they do not become a problem.  You can mulch your plants with clean straw if you want to try to control the weeds this way.  Mulch will also help conserve water and prevents erosion if you get heavy rains.

When your tomatoes start to get big and arch over to touch the ground it is time to stake them up or put them in cages.  You can buy wire tomato cages at the garden center, or cut stakes from two by fours.  Stakes tend to cost less but require more work.  Pound two stakes into the ground on opposite sides of your plant.  With cotton string, strips of cloth, or twine loosely tie the tomato stems so they are suspended above the ground.  If you use tomato cages you will just have to place the cage around the plant and train the plant to stay inside the cage.  Cages and stakes keep the plants and fruit off the ground.  A tomato that sits on the ground is likely to get blossom end rot or be tunneled into by crickets.   Stakes also allow the plants to grow larger and get more sun.

There are only a few pests that will attack your tomatoes.  Hornworm caterpillars are big and green and easy to pull off the plants by hand.  Groundhogs like to eat tomatoes both green and ripe.  Rabbits don’t seem to like tomatoes.  Keep an eye on your garden and you shouldn’t have too many problems.  If insect damage becomes a problem you can spray with a soap-based insecticide or make tea out of chewing tobacco and spray with that to control insects.  Insects don’t bother tomatoes that much because the leaves contain poisonous compounds.

It takes some effort to grow nice tomatoes, but your efforts will be rewarded the first time you taste how good a real tomato can be.  Even a small patch of tomatoes can produce a lot of fruit, so be prepared.