Anyone Can Grow Tomatoes

The venerable tomato, also occasionally referred to as the "Pomme d'Amore" (Apple of Love) and in the past widely thought to have qualities as an aphrodisiac can be grown by anyone and will grow with few exceptions virtually anywhere in the world.

While a small garden might be preferable, tomatoes grow quite well in pots depending on the size and variety selected. There are literally dozens of types of tomatoes and they are broadly broken into three categories by size from the beefsteak, the very large variety, to the diminutive cherry tomato, with the salad tomato occupying the middle range. Within each of these broad categories there are at least a dozen specific varieties to meet the particular taste of the grower.

Slightly acidic soils are best for tomatoes, but they will produce fruit in almost any soil that will support plant growth of any type. Obviously the better soils will provide the best yields. A trip to a local nursery will provide a gardener with choices of several varieties that are adapted to the particular climate of one's residence.

I have a small raised bed garden that occupies less than 100 square feet in which I have planted two dozen tomato plants from each of the categories previously listed. I selected an early maturing plant called an "early girl" which is a salad tomato which can provide fruit about 60-70 days from the planting of the seedling. I also planted several cherry tomato varieties and completed the tomato portion of the garden with two additional varieties of the hefty beefsteak tomato. This will easily provide a crop that will supply tomatoes from early July until the first frost for my family and many neighbors.

Tomatoes need some fertilizer mixed in with a soil that is kept moist and is in a position where it can receive at least six hours of sun daily. A few years ago I introduced my then 80 year old mother to the joy of growing tomatoes and now at the age of 89 she looks forward to the small crop that she will harvest from her four or five plants. She simply digs a small hole in the back yard, fills it with some garden soil that already contains fertilizer and plants the seedling. Grass clippings or mulch placed around the plant after the soil has sufficiently warmed (about 30 days into the growing season) will help retain the moisture and heat that will cause the tomato to thrive. It's really that simple! One tip for success that I have learned is to plant the tomato seedling deep. That is - plant an additional quarter of the seedling under the soil when you first place it in the ground. Another tip for success is to avoid getting water on the foliage when you water it - this minimizes the chance for your plant to become diseased or plagued by insects.

With these simple tips, a little motivation and a trip to your local nursery you can produce a wonderful crop of tomatoes that will make your meal especially tasty as you enjoy the tomatoes that you raised. Happy gardening!