Tomatoes aren't just red any more. If you're looking for a tasty yellow tomato, try 'Golden Boy'. It's very mild and flavorful. Or for a distinctive Italian flavor, try growing the 'Roma'. They're great for bruschetta and they make an excellent paste tomato, too.
Finding variety
It's important to determine which type of tomato to grow. There are two categories of tomatoes--determinate and indeterminate. The determinate grow to a determined size, typically two to four feet. They're bushy and great for smaller spaces. The only catch is that all of the tomatoes come on at once.
Indeterminate varieties grow up to eight feet tall and have a sprawling habit. You'll need a big area for growing them. They do, however, have a better taste. Typically heirloom tomatoes come from indeterminate varieties, and they produce tomatoes all season long.
For the largest selection of tomatoes, order several varieties of seeds and start them indoors six to eight weeks before planting. You can also purchase grown tomato plants at the garden center.
Planting prize winners
To grow great-tasting tomatoes, select a planting area that has full sunshine and rich, well-draining soil. Be sure to wait until all threats of frost have passed before planting.
To plant your tomato, dig two holes, and put the plant in one hole. In the other hole, sprinkle in some fertilizer. This way the fertilizer won't be in direct contact with the roots and burn them.
For tall, leggy transplants, pinch off all the lower leaves, leaving the ones on top. Lay the plant horizontally in a small trench, rather than a hole. Cover it up with soil and slowly bend the top part upward, leaving it exposed. Place a stake next to the stem for additional support.
Protection from pests
Tomato transplants are tasty treats to a lot of critters in the garden, so here are a couple of ideas on how you can keep them out. To deter creatures like rabbits, construct a simple cylindrical cage out of chicken wire and insert it over the tomato plant. The cage will protect the plant while it's young.
A cutworm is another garden pest that wraps itself around young stems and chews through them, causing plants to collapse upon themselves. To prevent this, cut off the top and bottom of a tuna can, place it over the top of the plant and sink it down about an inch deep.
To help prevent diseases like tomato blight, rotate your crops every season. If you want to give your young tomatoes a jumpstart, surround them with Wallo'Waters. These plastic pockets of water act as a mini-greenhouse, insulating the plant and helping it grow more quickly.
As your tomatoes grow, they need to be staked to keep the fruit from sitting on the soil. A simple tomato cage is helpful, and don't forget to add a stake to secure the cage and plant. Tie up some of the branches.
Fruit of your labors
The best part about growing tomatoes is eating them, but how do you know when to harvest? If the tomato is red, you can pick it. The red ones are ready to be eaten right away. Tomatoes that appear yellow to red can be picked as well. Put those on the countertop to ripen. If you want the best-tasting tomatoes, don't put them in the refrigerator--just leave them on the counter.
Harvesting heirlooms is a little different because the tomato won't necessarily look like the red hybrids. In fact, some heirloom tomatoes like 'Brandywine' are actually a little green when they're ripe. The nice thing about heirloom tomatoes is, if you want to grow them next year, you can actually save the seeds and grow the same plant next season.
To accomplish this, squeeze the tomato seeds into a container and let them ferment for two to three days or until a layer of foam appears on the top. Wash and strain the seeds and put them into a coffee filter to drain. Let the seeds dry for a few weeks, then store them in an envelope in an airtight container. Next season you can plant them and produce another bounty of juicy, plump tomatoes.
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