Tomatoes are one of the most popular
vegetables for the garden. They are easy to grow in almost any garden
location or any climate zone that gets full sun and regular watering.
There are two basic types of tomatoes: determinate and indeterminate.
Determinate varieties are bushy and yield all their crops at once,
while indeterminate varieties tend to be more vine-like, require staking
or tomato cages, and yield their crop over a longer period of time.
Both varieties will provide tomato crops anywhere between 65 to 90 days
after planting in the garden.Quick Tips
- Start seeds indoors to extend your growing season.
- Plant seeds two inches apart and ¼ to ½ inches deep.
- Keep topsoil moist.
- Move to larger pots when seedlings get secondary leaves.
- Choose locations in full or partial sun
- Containers work as well as in the ground
- Separate the roots for better growth
- Plant 3 or 4 tomatoes together in larger pots
When to Plant Seeds
For an early jump on the growing season, start growing seeds indoors, five to seven weeks before the last anticipated frost in your area. If you are unclear about your climate zone, ask your local nursery. If you are starting your seeds indoors, look for a sunny spot such as window sill or counter top with a south facing window.Plant your seeds in small, two inch starter pots available at most nurseries, or save and recycle the six packs from your nursery for seed starter pots. You can also save the plastic strawberry containers from the grocery store. They make great starter pots also and they'll hold a dozen or more seedlings.
- Firm the soil over your seeds. It is important to keep the soil damp on top to aid in the germination process. Most seeds will germinate in 10 to 14 days. If the soil dries out, the seeds will die soon after sprouting.
- When the tomato seedlings have grown to two inches tall, they can be transplanted to three or four inch pots. It's important to wait until the plants have their secondary, or true, leaves. You will recognize them because they look like real tomato leaves.
- Set your seedlings outside when the daytime temperature reaches 70 degrees and the night temperature stays above 55 degrees.
- Keep your plants in a sunny location until they reach garden planting size. For most varieties, that means four to six inches tall.
Where to Plant Tomatoes
- Plant tomatoes in the ground or in raised beds in a location with a lot of sun. If your garden gets partial shade, there are varieties that will prosper there as well.
- Plant your tomatoes 1-1/2 to 3 feet apart. If your space is limited consider several large clay pots or other containers for your tomatoes.
- Tomatoes will produce well in any pot large enough to maintain moisture during the day and with room for roots.
- If you plan on using containers, remember to plant three to four tomatoes in each container. They like communal living.
- When you are ready to transplant the tomatoes, gently break the root-ball apart to encourage larger root growth for each plant.
- Dig a hole 1.5 times the size of the root-ball, add potting mix or compost to the bottom of the hole and plant each plant at the same depth or slightly deeper than the previous pot.
- Fill up the hole with compost or potting mix, and gently press down around the roots to remove any air pockets.