Growing Tomatoes

Tomatoes, bursting with vibrant colors and a range of juicy flavors, can spice up any dish and add a pop of charm to your garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, growing tomatoes is a super rewarding adventure. In this guide, we’ll explore the wonderful world of tomatoes, from sweet to tangy types, share tips on how to care for them, and dish out some secrets to help you grow delicious tomatoes from scratch.

Choosing Tomato Varieties

If you thought the grocery store stocks a lot of varieties of tomatoes, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! There are hundreds of tomato varieties out there, each a little different from the last. When growing tomatoes from seed, you’ll want to keep a few factors in mind that can help you narrow down your options.

Start with earlier varieties – We typically get between 150-160 frost-free days in our region of Ontario, and a large tomato variety can eat up 80 of them before fruiting. For a tomato-filled summer, you may want to plant small-to-mid-size varieties, like Early Girls, which mature in 52 days. Once you’ve planted those, seed your larger heirloom varieties. You’ll be able to harvest your smaller tomatoes a month ahead of time, and later in the summer you’ll be able to enjoy beefier varieties.

Use caution if sticking with late varieties only – While 150-160 frost-free days is typical in London, sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate. An early frost is all it takes to lay waste to your whole season of work. Growing an earlier variety at the same time will give you some “insurance” that you’ll have at least some tomatoes to enjoy this year, even if your heirlooms don’t work out.

Harvest your tomatoes when the fruit is vibrant red in colour, with some yellow “veins” around the stem. Don’t rush to pick your tomatoes – if the fruit still seems green, leave it on the vine to mature. Tomatoes ripen much better on the vine than on the windowsill, where they’re more prone to rotting.

Size is a factor in the sweetness of your tomatoes. Smaller tomatoes, like cherry and grape tomatoes, tend to be much sweeter than larger varieties, while larger tomatoes tend to be juicier and great for slicing and adding freshness to burgers and subs.

Plant selection – If you’ll be growing from a plant, rather than from the seed, make sure the plant looks strong and healthy. If a plant looks pale in colour or feels floppy and lanky, put it down and keep shopping!

Determinate tomatoes are great for beginners, as they don’t require pruning and have a bushy growth habit that’s pretty low maintenance. They tend to produce fruit all at once over a relatively short period, making them ideal for canning or preserving. Roma and Tumbler tomatoes are popular determinate varieties.

Indeterminate tomatoes are known as “vining” tomatoes because they continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season. They have a sprawling growth habit and may require staking or caging to support the vines as they grow. Early Girl, Beefmaster, and Sweet Million are examples of indeterminate tomato varieties.

Heirloom tomatoes are mostly indeterminate varieties that are coveted for their unique characteristics in terms of flavour, colour, and texture, and they are prized for their historical significance and diversity. They’re called ‘heirlooms’ because the seeds can be saved and re-grown. Black Krim and Green Zebra are a few heirloom varieties.

Perfect Tomato Growing Conditions

If you want your tomatoes to turn out super tasty, it’s important to give them the right conditions to grow in. Poor conditions can lead to bland fruit, or none at all. For a juicy tomato crop, follow these guidelines, Soil, Sunlight, and Soak.

Soil should be well-drained and toasty warm – at least 16 degrees Celsius. Growing tomatoes from containers or raised beds is often easier than growing them directly in the garden because the container keeps the soil warmer. If you notice your soil seems to be draining slowly, mix in some peat moss to improve drainage. Tomato roots can rot if left in standing water.

Sunlight is ultra-important for tomato development, so a sunny place with shelter from wind is the perfect location for your tomato plant. A south-facing wall or fence in a pale, light-reflecting colour is prime tomato-growing territory.

Soak, don’t sprinkle your tomato plant evenly when soil is dry up to your first knuckle. If your plant gets leggy, prune off leaves from the lower third of the plant and submerge in more soil with a generous watering. This will help stabilize the plant by growing a stronger root system. To feed your tomato plants, mix in an all-around fertilizer with your water frequently – tomatoes love fertilizer as much you love tomatoes!

With the right care and attention, you can cultivate an abundant harvest of flavourful tomatoes to enjoy fresh, cooked or preserved. Experiment with different varieties, embrace the flavours that suit your palate, and savour the fruits of your labour in every dish. Happy gardening and bon appétit!