How to Grow Great Tomatoes

1. Choose the correct variety for your space.
If you have a regular garden with plenty of space, go for Early Girl or other earlier bearing plants if you want tomatoes early in the season. These will produce smaller fruit, but we're all eager for that first tomato.

Choose something like Big Boy or Better Boy if you want large tomatoes and plants. If you're interested in trying old-fashioned types of tomatoes - try some type of heirloom tomato. These may not be as disease and weather resistant, however.

Maybe you're container gardening. Then choose a bushy, patio type plant so it stays small enough for your container.

2. Don't plant the tomatoes too close.
Allow 1 - 2 feet between plants and that means mature plants. This will keep the plants from staying damp and getting diseases.

3. Plant your tomatoes where they will receive 7 hours of sunlight.
If they receive less, you'll have great vines and few fruits. However, if you don't have this kind of sunlight, give it a try. At least you'll have a few tomatoes, but the plants do receive their energy to produce from the sun.

4. Fertilizer your tomato plants.
Use a product for tomatoes or something like MiracleGro once a week. Use the recommended amount for best results.

5. Don't remove leaves after tomatoes are actually growing on the vines.
Too much sunlight will cause sun scald, a yellowing on the side with too much exposure to the sun.

6. Identify your pest problems.
If you just have one or two plants, you can probably pick off any those fat tomato worms. However, if that's not your choice, use chemicals. Ask the garden center in your area for a safe chemical to use.

7. Don't put picked tomatoes in the refrigerator.
Let tomatoes ripen at room temperatures or put them in a brown bag to ripen if needed.

Remember, every year something tries to hinder the growth of great tomatoes. It can be too wet, too dry, too hot or too cold - or it can be a year of certain bugs. But just be flexible and enjoy those tomatoes you get and know you're eating the best of the crop.

Maybe you'd enjoy planting yellow and orange tomatoes too. Yellow tomatoes are said to have less acid and many people can tolerate them easier. The variety also makes beautiful salads or plates of cut tomatoes.