Spring is the time of year when we’re starting to dream of warm, sunny days and the juicy addition of ripe tomatoes on our plates… If you’re craving the rich heirloom flavors, juicy slicers for sandwiches, or sweet cherry tomatoes for snacking, look for the sunny spots in your garden or on your patio so you can grow your own!
Basic Tomato Care & Growing Tips
Sunlight: There’s no getting around it. Tomatoes love the sun! Make sure they get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day.
Soil: Rich, well-draining soil is key. Amend your garden bed or container soil with compost or a quality organic fertilizer.
Planting Tips for Seedlings:
- Transplant seedlings on a cloudy day or in the evening.
- Prepare the holes with optional fertilizer or amendments (they include compost, bone meal, slow-release fertilizer, crushed eggshells, Epsom salts, or worm castings).
- Remove the bottom ½ to ⅔ leaves from each seedling with clean pruners.
- Place each seedling deep in a hole up to just below the remaining leaves and fill it back with soil.
- Water well, aiming at the roots and keeping the leaves dry.
- Mulch around plants with compost or another mulch to protect them from disease.
Support: Most varieties (especially indeterminate ones) will need stakes, cages, or trellises to support heavy vines and fruits.
Spacing: Give plants room to breathe! Follow spacing instructions on the plant tags, usually about two to three feet apart for larger varieties.
Harvesting: Here’s the fun part! Pick your tomatoes when they are fully colored and slightly firm to the touch. Let them ripen on the vine for the best flavor!
Meet Our Tomato Stars
There are always favorites and here are some of the tomatoes we love and why…
Cherokee Purple
- A legendary heirloom with deep, dusky purple-red fruit.
- Rich, smoky-sweet flavor.
- Perfect for slicing onto burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
- Needs staking or caging.
Mr. Stripey
- Eye-catching yellow fruit with red stripes.
- Sweet, mild flavor that’s great for fresh eating.
- Large, beefsteak-type fruits.
- Loves room to stretch and climb.
Better Boy
- Classic big red tomato with outstanding flavor and heavy yields.
- Perfect for slicing, canning, and cooking.
- Vigorous grower.
- Needs support.
Husky Cherry Red
- Compact plant loaded with small, juicy, bright red cherry tomatoes.
- Sweet and snackable.
- Great for containers and small spaces.
Mountain Fresh
- Firm, flavorful medium-to-large red tomatoes.
- Great disease resistance.
- Popular for both home gardens and markets.
- More compact, great for easy harvest.
Patio Tomato
- True to its name, perfect for pots and patio gardens.
- Small, compact, and loaded with flavorful mid-sized tomatoes.
- No staking needed in larger containers.
SunSugar Cherry
- A customer favorite! Golden-orange cherry tomatoes bursting with sweetness.
- Incredibly productive.
- Needs staking.
Ready to Grow Your Best Tomatoes Ever?
Stop by and see what’s growing on at the Garden Center. Whether you’re a seasoned tomato lover or trying your hand for the first time, we’re here to help you have a delicious, fruitful season!
