How to Grow Tomatoes

Few things taste better than biting into a fresh homegrown tomato. And the good news is that they are easy to grow even if you don't have a green thumb.

Some people like to start their own seedlings, but since the plants are available at garden centers, most people buy the seedlings.

While tomatoes are easy to grow, there are some simple things you can do to increase the harvest yield.

If you decide to buy, buy early in the season so you can get the pick of the litter, so to speak. You should buy young plants. Plants should be six to eight weeks old at the time planting. Larger and older plants are likely to be stressed and therefore have one strike against them before they are even planted.

Buy plants that are in four inch pots. Look at the bottom of the pot to make sure no roots are growing out of the drainage hole. Ones that come six to a flat are likely to be pot bound and stressed. So even though those six packs are cheaper, they are not a good bargain in the long run.

The rule of thumb for transplanting tomatoes is after the last frost date, however, the soil temperature is a consideration also. The soil temperature should be between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. You can spread black plastic mulch over the garden to help warm the soil and buy a soil thermometer so you know when the soil is warm enough. Also nighttime temperatures should not fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are not going to stake your plants, plant the seedlings two to three feet apart. Staked or caged plants can be planted fifteen inches apart.

Dig a hole large enough so that when you plant the tomato plant, only four inches of the plant shows. Trim any leaves off the plant that will be buried. After planting your tomato plant, water and fertilize.Be sure to read the directions on the fertilizer box. Too much can severely damage your plant. Fertilize every two to three weeks.

If you want to control weeds and keep the soil moist, put mulch around your plants. There are several types available. You can buy black plastic mulch or use grass clippings or straw.

Tomatoes will be a nice red color when ripe, although the tops may still be a little yellow. A ripe tomato when picked will pull away from the vine easily. Don't store your fresh tomatoes in the refrigerator as this will cause the tomato to lose flavor.

If you have more tomatoes than you can eat while they are fresh, give them away to neighbors, friends, or family. You can also make tomato sauce and freeze it. Or if you are real ambitious, can them.