When it comes to growing tomatoes almost every part-time home gardener who has attempted to grow tomatoes has his or her own tips or tricks of the trade.

I am no different.  I have been growing tomatoes for about 12 years now, and it seems that every season I lean something new.  Whether it is a new-technique or a new variety to try out.

So I have accumulated some basic ideas or tips that may help you grow your tomatoes more hassle free and more successfully.

Try The Ponderosa Tomato  First let me say that I like Large tomatoes (1 to 2 pounds in size) so I prefer the Ponderosa, which is pink in color and has a wholesome old fashion tomato taste.  It has very few seeds and is low in acid content.  They take a while to grow but in my humble opinion they are worth the wait.

Try The Supersonic Tomato  Another favorite of mine is the Supersonic tomato, which comes in several varieties.It has good size, great tasty flavor and the crops are abundant.  The fruit is red, and this tomato is easy to grow and a very reliable producer.

You can generally find the seeds or seedlings for these tomatoes at your local nursery or garden supply store or on any of the numerous internet seed provider sites.Like Cherry Tomatoes?  Try the Sweet 100 If you like the smaller cherry tomatoes for snacking or in your salads try the Sweet 100.

As its name implies it is very sweet to the taste and can yield up to 100 or more fruit to the stem (or approximately 500 cherry tomatoes to the plant).  Now that’s what I call a lot of tomatoes.  It is quite a producer!

Gardner Bill’s Tomato Tips

Well, here goes:

First be sure that you do not crowd your seedlings

When you are starting tomatoes from the seed, give them a lot of room to spread out. You will inhibit the plant’s growth if they are too close together.  Be sure to transplant them when they get their first leaves and then put them into 4 inch containers for about 2 weeks.

Second be sure that you provide sufficient light.

Tomato seedlings will need either strong, direct sunlight or 14-18 hours under grow lights. Place the young plants only a couple of inches from florescent grow lights. Be sure to plant them outside in the sunniest part of your vegetable garden.

Thirdly be sure to put a fan on your seedlings.

The plants seem to need to move and sway in the breeze, which helps develop strong stems. Use a fan on them for 5-10 minutes twice a day.

Fourth, preheat the soil in your garden by covering the plants with black or red plastic for a few weeks before you plant them

Fifth, be sure to bury the plants deeper than they come in the pot, all the way up to a few top leaves. not to drive your pole or cage into the stem.

Sixth, Mulch after the ground has had a chance to warm up.

Seventh: Be sure to remove all bottom leaves when your plants get 3 feet tall.  This will help to keep the diseases away from them.

Eighth: Pinch & Prune.

Ninth: Water your plants deeply and regularly in the beginning.

Ask For Help

Finally one’s ability to grow great tomatoes is in large part based on the growing climate in your locale.

Don’t be too proud.  Ask your local garden store or nursery.  Check out specific varieties on the internet.  You can even join a garden club in your area and get firsthand help from some of your neighborhood tomato pros.

If you have small children, get them involved in the making of your tomato garden and in the maintenance and harvesting of the crops.  They will love it after a while when they begin to realize what is involved in growing fruits and vegetables.  They will gain an invaluable appreciation and insight into where our food comes from and the work it takes to make it right.  Good Luck….