How to Grow Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a garden staple loved for their versatility in dishes ranging from fresh salads to savory sauces. There are thousands of tomato varieties to choose from. This guide covers everything you need to know about how to grow tomatoes.

How to Grow Tomatoes: Choosing the Right Variety

There are two main growth habits to consider:

1. Determinate (Bush) Varieties: These tomatoes grow to a certain height and then stop, producing fruit all at once. They are ideal for container gardening or small spaces and are easier to manage. Examples include ‘Roma’ and ‘Bush Early Girl.’
2. Indeterminate (Vining) Varieties: These continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season until frost kills the plants. They require staking or caging for support and are suitable for larger garden spaces. Varieties like ‘Paul Robeson’ and ‘Brandywine Black’ fall into this category.

In addition to the two main growth habits, tomatoes come in many different shapes:

Cherry Tomatoes: Small, round, and often sweet. Cherry tomatoes are perfect for snacking, salads, and garnishes. Their high sugar content and small size make them ideal for eating raw or roasting to concentrate their flavor. Popular Varieties: Sweet 100, Sungold, and Black Cherry.

Grape Tomatoes: Similar in shape to cherry tomatoes but more oval and typically less watery. Grape tomatoes are great for salads, grilling, and as a crunchy snack. Their firm texture holds up well in cooking. Popular Varieties: Juliet, Tiny Tim, and Tami G.

Globe Tomatoes: Medium-sized and round. These are what you commonly find in grocery stores. Globe tomatoes are used for slicing and serving on burgers, sandwiches, or salads. Popular Varieties: Early Girl and Better Boy.

Plum (Paste) Tomatoes: Oval-shaped with fewer seeds and thicker flesh. Plum tomatoes are excellent for making sauces, pastes, and soups due to their low moisture content and rich flavor. They are often used in Italian cooking. Popular Varieties: Roma, San Marzano, Amish Paste, and Opalka.

Beefsteak Tomatoes: Large, meaty, and juicy with a rich flavor. Beefsteak tomatoes are ideal for slicing and using in sandwiches, burgers, and salads. Their size and flavor make them a favorite for those who enjoy a substantial tomato bite. Popular Varieties: Brandywine, Big Beef, and Cherokee Purple.

Oxheart (Heart-Shaped) Tomatoes: Heart-shaped with a pointed end. They are grown primarily for their rich flavor and firmness. Commonly used for slicing, salsa, and sauce. Popular Varieties: Oxheart, Hungarian Heart, and Bulgarian Oxheart.

How to Grow Tomatoes: Planting

1. Timing: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date or purchase young plants from a nursery. Tomatoes need warm soil and air temperatures for optimal growth, so wait until all danger of frost has passed before transplanting them outdoors. If starting from seed, see my article about seed starting: How to Grow Plants from Seed
2. Location: Choose a sunny spot in your garden with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Tomatoes thrive in well-drained, fertile soil.
3. Soil Preparation: Enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage. Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8.
4. Planting: Space tomato plants 18-24 inches apart to allow for their sprawling nature. Plant them deeper than they were in their containers, burying part of the stem to encourage strong root growth.

How to Grow Tomatoes: Plant Care

1. Watering: Tomatoes require consistent moisture. Water them deeply once a week, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Avoid getting water on the leaves to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
2. Fertilizing: Feed your tomato plants with a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks once they start setting fruit. Look for fertilizers with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, or one that is specifically formulated for tomatoes. I prefer to keep my garden organic, so I only use organic fertilizers.
3. Pruning: For indeterminate varieties, remove suckers (the shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) to improve air circulation and focus the plant’s energy on producing fruit. Determinate varieties generally require less pruning.
4. Supporting: Use stakes, cages, or trellises to support your tomato plants. This helps keep the fruit off the ground and reduces the risk of disease. For indeterminate types, I prefer to use a trellis for stronger support. Once the plants grow taller and start to sprawl, cages don’t seem to work well.

How to Grow Tomatoes: Pest and Disease Management

1. Common Pests: Watch out for aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Insecticidal soap or neem oil can help manage these pests. Handpick larger pests like hornworms or use organic pesticides if necessary.
2. Diseases: Tomatoes are prone to diseases like blight, mosaic virus, and blossom end rot. Practice crop rotation, avoid overhead watering, and ensure good air circulation to minimize disease risk. For blossom end rot, ensure your plants receive consistent moisture and adequate calcium.

How to Grow Tomatoes: Harvesting

1. Timing: Harvest tomatoes when they are firm and have turned their mature color, which can vary depending on the variety. For most tomatoes, this is a deep red, but some varieties may be yellow, orange, or even purple. Do some research on the variety so that you know what to look for.
2. Technique: Gently twist or cut the fruit from the plant. Avoid pulling, which can damage the plant and other fruit.

How to Grow Tomatoes: Storage and Use

1. Storage: Ripe tomatoes should be stored at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. Refrigerate only if they are overripe to extend their shelf life, but allow them to return to room temperature before eating for the best flavor. At the end of the season when the first frost is expected, I will collect the remaining underripe tomatoes from the plants and put them on a sunny windowsill indoors. Most of them will eventually ripen.
2. Preservation: To enjoy tomatoes beyond the growing season, consider canning, freezing, or drying them. Homemade tomato sauce, salsa, and sun-dried tomatoes are popular options.

Tomato Recipes

• Italian Pasta Salad

Final Thoughts

Tomatoes are one of the most enjoyable and easy plants to grow in your garden. The vast number of shapes and colors allow you to experiment with new varieties each year to find your favorites. Tomatoes can be used in so many ways in your kitchen, from fresh eating to salsas and sauces. Learning how to grow tomatoes is so rewarding and you will enjoy growing them for years to come. Happy gardening!

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