Tomatoes are one of the most popular things to grow, especially here in the south! Ever heard of a tomato sandwich? Yep, it’s a real thing here! One reason we love to grow tomatoes is because of the various types and there are so many ways to use tomatoes! Salsa, pasta sauce, soup, chili, salads, the list goes on!
Growing tomatoes are also one of the easiest plants to grow in my opinion. Tomato plants LOVE the hot summers we have in Alabama. This year, we are growing better boys, super sweet 100s, and sun sugars! We bought nursery plants and put them in very large pots in April. They are now taller than I am and full of fruit!
What kind of tomatoes should I grow?
There are many varieties of tomatoes to choose from. The most important thing to know is whether you are buying determinate or indeterminate tomatoes.
Determinate tomatoes, such as romas, will give you tomatoes earlier in the season, but they do not produce for very long. Indeterminate tomatoes, like beefsteak, put on more vines and will give you tomatoes all season long.
The tomatoes you buy are completely up to you. If you’re looking for an indeterminate variety that is good for most things like salsa, soups, salads, and sandwiches, I’d go for something like big boys, better boys, or beefsteak. Cherry tomatoes are also one of my favorites to grow and use in pasta!
How should I plant them?
Like I mentioned before, tomatoes absolutely love the sun, so you should put them somewhere where they can get as much sun as possible.
You can plant them in containers or in the ground, but make sure your soil drains well! We plant ours in large pots with plenty of room for their roots to grow.
When transplanting your young plants into their permanent spot, pinch off all shoots except for what’s at the very top. The deeper you plant your baby plant, the more roots it will produce, giving you a strong plant that should produce lots of healthy tomatoes!
We also crush up a tums and add to the dirt when transplanting for added calcium. Sounds weird, but google it!
How should I water them?
Just because tomatoes love the sun doesn’t mean they hate water. They’ll let you know when they’re thirsty by drooping their leaves, but you should probably water multiple times a week to be safe.
Tomato plants do not like for their leaves to be wet! They will turn soggy and brown if you water the whole plant, so it’s best to water as close to the base of the plant as you can.
When should I harvest?
You’ll know your tomatoes are ready to come off the vine when they are firm and bright red! Of course if you’re planting tomatoes that fruit in a color other than red, they’ll be ready once they reach their designated color and are nice and plump!
If your tomatoes seem to be taking forever to change colors, you can always pluck them off green and allow them to ripen in your windowsill. My grandmother always has a few tomatoes in her kitchen window!
But what if things go wrong?
As with any other plant, things can go wrong. Your tomatoes may have pests, disease, lack of sun or water, or underdeveloped roots. There are a number of things that can go wrong with tomatoes, but it’s all a learning experience. You never know what will happen if you don’t try!
To read more on gardening tomatoes, visit the Almanac Website!
Roots of a Southern Kitchen 