Tomatoes

The first sun-ripened tomato of the summer is such a joy—and gardeners love growing their own tomatoes in their home gardens, raised beds and even in patio containers. One of the hardest things about growing tomatoes is deciding what varieties to grow. You can choose from slicing tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and paste tomatoes. Open-pollinated, heirloom and hybrid varieties are available. Tomatoes grow best in full sun, in well-drained soil and with plenty of air circulation. Tomato plants usually benefit from staking, mulching and pruning. When selecting tomato varieties consider garden performance, disease resistance, flavor, color and yields. Tomatoes are usually started from seed indoors and then transplanted to the garden.