All About Home and Garden

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, tomatoes are the number one home-grown vegetable in the country. This would have to be because they are both delicious and easy to cultivate.

Soil

Tomatoes are not very picky about what type of soil they are grown in, but do have a preference for a neutral pH. Like most garden vegetables, they prefer fertile soil with a pH of 5. Mix several inches of organic compost or aged animal manure (minimum of 30 days), into the upper 4-8 inches of soil 2-3 weeks before planting. If a soil pH meter shows the pH is above 6.0,apply elemental sulfur -- if it is below 4.0,add oyster shell lime.

Where to Plant

Traditionally, it has been recommended that plants in the same family should not be planted near each other or in the same ground as the previous year. (This would include eggplants, peppers and potatoes, in addition to other varieties of tomatoes.) Members of the same plant family often share common pest problems, but it is nearly impossible to keep them apart if you have a small to medium-sized garden.

If you have even a moderately sunny spot (four to five hours of sunlight will do, though eight is best), you'll be fine.

Seven Steps to Transplanting:

1.) Choose a cloudy day, if possible, so seedlings don't dry out.

2.) Water plants an hour or two before transplanting

3.) Pinch off the lower leaves.

4.) Place a healthy amount of organic compost into each planting hole to give tomatoes an extra boost.

5.) Very gently, remove the seedling from its pot and place in the planting hole, slightly deeper than it was.

6.) Fill the hole with soil.

7.) Water well.

When to Plant

Seed packets tell you to start planting 6-8 weeks before the last frost -- indoors. However, if you live in a warm climate and don't have a frost, plant your seeds 6-8 weeks before daytime temperatures reach the high 70s and nighttime temperatures don't get below 55? F.

If you researched and planned this all out ahead of time, great! But, if it's May and the plant nurseries are already marking down their tomato plants half-off, you can try the Plant Now, Research Later approach. At least you won't have to wait a year for your first tomato. If you plant in May, you can learn enough in June to vastly increase your harvest in July.

Water regularly, but don't over-water them, and chances are good you'll get tons of tasty tomatoes. Over-watering causes tomatoes to crack, which then invites bugs to enter and reduce your harvest.

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