You Can Grow Tomatoes!

There are few seasons that have such a distinct set of smells for me as summer does. The scent of wet, hot asphalt sizzling at sunset, the rich aroma of coconut sunblock, the heady wafts of a grill heating up, and most of all the sweet, intoxicating smell of tomato plants. Nothing says summer like garden-fresh tomatoes and few things in life taste quite as heavenly as a plump, juicy red orb plucked directly off the vine. Of course farmer's markets and grocery stores will be overflowing with heirlooms, cherry tomatoes, and Early Girls, but why shop for tomatoes when growing your own is pretty simple?

Even if you aren't a green thumb and don't have a ton of yard space, you can easily pull a nice harvest on a porch or patio just as well. Shaking your head? What if I told you I spoke from personal experience, having filled my tiny backyard with a beautiful variety of thriving tomato plants. With these straightforward growing tips, you'll be canning, saucing, and snacking off the vine in no time--and having a great time doing it!

1. Pick Your Plants

Make sure you're purchasing tomato sprouts from a trusted nursery that doesn't use neonicotinoids on their plants. Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine and have been known to reduce bee populations when used on certain crops. Bees are crucial to agriculture, as we will discuss later, and you should only purchase plants, soils, fertilizers, and gardening supplies free from their harmful chemicals.

When it comes to selecting the type of tomato plant, go with what you like to eat as well as what grows in your local region. I suggest grabbing an heirloom, a cherry, and one sweet variety, such as brown sugar or black prince. It's nice to have diverse plants, since some tomatoes are better in different applications. Be sure to select healthy plants with green leaves, firm stems, and no signs of disease. If you aren't sure what to look for, ask someone in your local nursery to help you select plants.

2. To Pot Or Not

If you are deciding between potting tomatoes or putting them directly into the ground, check the type. Determinate tomatoes are modest plants with vines that stop growing mid-season, making them ideal for container gardening. Indeterminate tomatoes will continue to grow, and can even act as perennials in some agricultural zones, and are best grown directly in the ground. For both types, you will need tomato cages since the vines will get heavy, especially late in the season. They need to be supported in order to grow healthy fruit, and tomato plants are happiest when their leaves are high and dry. Buy large cages, since it's better to let the plants grow into them versus trying to install a larger cage over an established plant. If you choose to pot, buy very large pots--the plants will need the room, and although tomatoes can be re-potted with some success, it's better to avoid it if you can. Although teeny tiny sproutlings may look silly in a large pot, they will fill it out before you know it.

3. Earth, Air, Water

Tomatoes like slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 7. Your best bet is buying organic, rich soil and feeding it regularly. Kitchen scraps such as coffee grounds and egg shells are perfect for tomato plants. The coffee grounds will help add acid to the soil and the egg shells will help add calcium, which is crucial in healthy, rot-free blossom development. In addition to these, grab an easy compost tea to brew and water with a few times a month. Your dirt is your plant's food, and it must be nourishing, healthy, and clean.

In addition to high quality soil, tomato plants need a lot of water. It's best to water very early in the morning before the sun is high, since watering during daylight can burn the plant. Avoid watering at night, since it can encourage mold and pests. Water tomatoes slowly, allowing the fluid to flow through well-draining soil. Tomatoes should be watered just about daily depending on the climate, so be sure to check often.

Tomatoes also need airflow. Not only will this help reduce pests, but it also helps reduce diseases and mold. Keep plants at least two feet apart and check the leaves regularly for bad bugs such as aphids.

4. Focus The Energy

Look for suckers between branches--little leaves that grow in the V between main branches, siphoning the plants energy. You can also pinch off last leaves on a vine to control the growth. Ideally, all of the plant's energy should go toward making fruit, so if you have the time to groom them it will yield in better crops.

5. Enjoy The Bounty

Even if you only have a few plants, take time to appreciate their beauty and enjoy their spoils. Tomatoes are a beautiful summer gift and if you care for them, they will reward you.