Top Tomato Tips

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As far as garden crops go, tomatoes annually rank as the top home garden crop in North America, year after year. As you plan your garden this spring, here are a few things to consider when choosing which varieties of tomatoes to plant.

Many of us dream of big bountiful gardens full of ripe red tomatoes, but the truth is, many of us don’t have that type of room. If you’re short of space but still want a good harvest of vegetables, container gardening is a great option. The obvious appealing thing about container gardening is that it gives you more control. Using different pots and containers allows you to grow different plants with different soil and sunlight needs. It also allows you to move plants if they either outgrow or begin showing signs of pests or disease. Here’s a great primer for container gardening.

Planning A Container Garden

The great thing about tomatoes is, as long as you take care with consistent watering and sunlight, there are many different varieties that love living in pots and containers. Which kinds are recommended? Plenty of varieties at your Ace Hardware garden centers will thrive, whether they’re small cherry tomato, mid-sized fruits or the big and beautiful beefsteak style strains. Ask our Garden Center associates for help!

Length of time your tomato plant produces fruit:

Determinate types grow to approximately 2 to 3 feet, set fruit and then ripen that fruit, generally maturing in a month or two. Once the fruit ripens, no more new fruit will grow. If you want to continue picking tomatoes over several months, you will want to choose an indeterminate variety. They continue to grow tall, usually more than 5 feet, and produce fruit until frost.

How you plan to use your tomatoes:

Most determinate varieties are also referred to as paste tomatoes, such as Romas. These characteristically ripen with a few weeks and make great sauces, working well for canning and freezing.

Indeterminate varieties will continue to provide fresh fruit from early July to fall. Some of these varieties are also known as slicing tomatoes, which taste delicious on a BLT or chopped for fresh salsa. They are typically larger and juicier. On the other hand, while smaller in shape, cherry tomatoes also indeterminate. They are the perfect addition to toss in a fresh garden salad.

Don’t be afraid to include both in your vegetable gardens. If you aren’t sure which variety of tomato you are buying, most brands will indicate determinate or indeterminate on the tag of the live plant, or will print it on the seed pouch.

Determinate Varieties of Tomatoes

Grow up to 4′
Have a round, full shape
Will thrive in tomato plant containers
Will grow and ripen all fruit at or near the same time
Makes a good choice for canning and preserving
Rarely requires staking

Indeterminate Varieties of Tomatoes

Will grow very tall, many times over 9′
Can be referred to as Vining Tomatoes
Will continue to grow throughout the season
Most plants require staking and/or caging
Need more soil than is available in most tomato containers
Most of the Heirloom Tomato varieties you find will be indeterminate

Tomato variety by region:

Choose a variety that suits your climate best. Certain varieties, like cherry tomatoes, do well in short growing seasons in cooler climates, while others can better withstand the heat in Southern regions.

Growing tips for your tomato plants:

Plant in a sunny spot with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Don’t crowd your plants so the sunshine can reach their lower leaves and use high quality garden soil or potting soil.
Plant deep – a little deeper than the way they are positioned in their temporary container you purchased them in. You can go all the way up to the leaves.
Water consistently, giving them 1-2 inches of water per week. Uneven watering can cause blossom-end rot.
Cover the ground with mulch to minimize weeds and keep the soil moist.
Use fertilizers recommended for tomatoes. If there is too much phosphorus, your plant might look green and full, but it will produce few or no tomatoes. Miracle-Gro offers great options to help with this.
Plant some companion plants, such as basil and marigolds, to keep insects away.