Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding crops for home gardeners, offering a wide variety of flavors, textures, and colors that can’t be matched by store-bought options. With thousands of varieties to choose from—ranging from sweet cherry tomatoes to meaty beefsteaks—there’s a tomato for every culinary need. Having grown tomatoes for years, I’ve learned that…
Tomatoes are a tender, warm-weather crop. Start tomatoes indoors 10 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost in spring. Set tomato seedlings into the garden after all danger of frost is past. Plant tomato seedlings in the garden 4 weeks after the last frost. The garden soil temperature for setting out transplants should be…
Growing tomatoes in containers is one of my favorite ways to enjoy homegrown, flavorful tomatoes—no matter how much garden space I have. Over the years, I’ve experimented with different container sizes, soil mixes, and watering schedules to perfect the process. Whether you have a small patio, balcony, or simply want to keep your tomato plants…
Standard-sized tomatoes take 20 to 30 days from blossom set to reach full size–commonly called “mature green”; they take another 20 to 30 days to ripen, that is begin to change color. A tomato can be picked when it begins to change color–from green to red, pink, yellow, or orange depending upon the cultivar. The…
Harvesting tomatoes at the right time ensures the best flavor, texture, and nutritional value. Over the years, I’ve learned that picking tomatoes too early results in bland fruit, while waiting too long can lead to splitting or overripeness. The key is knowing what to look for and how to handle your tomatoes to get the…
Pruning a tomato means removing unneeded growth tips from the plant. These growing tips are sometimes called shoots or suckers. Growth tips are the new growth–the small leafy-bud growth–located in the “V” or crotch between two stems. Pruning or pinching away new growth allows a tomato plant to concentrate its energy on the development of…
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