Growing Your Own Tomatoes

The superior aroma and flavor of a freshly-plucked homegrown or farmers' market tomato usually prevents us from eating fresh tomatoes when they aren't in season. In fact, we try not to even think about fresh tomatoes this time of year or we'll fall into a winter depression…

But recent news of the Florida tomato shortage (poor weather destroyed nearly 70% of the crop) has turned our thoughts toward tomato gardening. So, even though it's only March, we've decided to plan ahead and look at some tips and resources for growing delicious tomatoes later this year.

For those of us with limited space, tomatoes are a great container gardening plant. Here are a few options:
• Rectangular wood planters
• Inexpensive steel tubs
• Hanging tomato planters and the Topsy Turvy planter

What kind of tomatoes should you grow? Here are some ideas:
• Faith's Tumbler container tomato plant
• The Best Tomatoes to Grow Where You Live (Mother Earth News)
• Tomatoes to Grow in Containers (You Grow Girl)

In addition to local nurseries and farmers' markets, we like these resources for organic and heirloom seeds and plants:
• Seeds from Tomato Fest
• Seedlings from Natural Gardening Company
• Transplants from Seed Savers Exchange

Remember that tomatoes should be planted only after danger of frost has passed, and they should get at least 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. For more advice, check out:
• Growing Vegetables in Containers (Better Homes and Gardens)
• Tomato Grow Guide (Windowbox.com)

Share your tomato growing tips with us in the comments!

(Image: Ves Miller)

Comments (9)

For most of us, it's WAY too early to start thinking about planting tomatoes. I can't plant out until mid-May.

I have a goodly-sized garden (about 500 square feet), but a small house with no room to start seeds. I buy starts from small local farms and nurseries. This has the advantage of not just helping local businesses, but of buying proven varieties.

I stopped eating winter tomatoes out of concern for slavery issues, and honestly didn't miss those fibrous, tasteless masses of ethanolized gunk. Canned tomatoes are infinitely better.

But sometimes you just NEED a great big beefsteak tomato. These links are super timely-- I've just started setting up a container garden that I hope will supply me with massive, mouthwatering heirloom tomatoes all summer.

I'm starting my tomato plants this weekend... it'll be my second year growing them, and I am SO excited. I'm actually doing a giveaway through my blog right now for some heirloom tomato seeds if anyone is interested. The link is on my profile.

I planted my tomato seeds today! I have no idea what I'm doing, so I went the lazy route and picked up a Burpee garden starter kit at Home Depot (also includes herbs, peppers, cukes, summer squash, carrots, and green beans).

It's my first year having any yard space, so hopefully I can overcome the black thumb that's plagued me with indoor plants.

Our seeds arrived last week. Even though we have a CSA membership, we are of the theory that one can never have too many tomatoes, so we're trying 3 different varieties.

We're also doing hot peppers and bell peppers and lima beans.

We had a good season of cherry tomatoes but I'm afraid bugs ate more of them than we did.

we're starting seeds in the basement this weekend. with some good lighting, i'll get them going and ready to be plopped in the ground in late April.

I planted tomatoes last summer in the community garden and I did not get to eat a single one that was ripened on the vine - they were all stolen. I've tried tomatoes on my balcony but things don't do well there. So I rely on my mom for having lots to share.

I live in Chicago and now is the time to start tomato seeds! In about two months they will be ready to harden-off and transplant. I prefer to start seeds because it seems that every time I buy a seedling, whether it's from a farmers' market, garden center, or big box store, it comes with some disesase or aphids.