Gardeners, foodies and cooks all crave the tender, rich, juicy tomatoes that their grandparents grew. Heirloom varieties offer that taste memory, and it is the holy grail to grow your own.
Hybrid tomatoes are perhaps “easier” to grow as they are bred to be smooth, round, red orbs with no cracks or green shoulders, etc. If your goal is high yields, or longer storage and no unsightly attributes, then a hybrid variety might be for you. While they typically don’t have the old-fashioned taste qualities, there are some that are quite good.
This category covers the bases of growing, cooking and selecting the best plant for the intended use.
If young tomato plants are left growing in a small pot or plug for too long, they can become root bound. In order to give them a chance to thrive in the garden, they need a little help from you to free up their root ball. Find out everything you need to know about root …
Grow bags are a great option for growing tomatoes and many other crops in small spaces. But if the season is coming to a close, you may wonder: can you reuse grow bags for tomatoes? The answer is yes. Let’s find out how to store your grow bags properly to ensure they last and much …
Grow bags for tomatoes are a good solution for people that don’t have a yard or garden plot. They have some advantages (breathability) over other type of planters typically used for tomatoes. Find out everything you need to know around the best grow bags for tomatoes. Jump to: | What Are Grow Bags? | Pros …
Signs of Nutritional Deficiencies in Heirloom Tomato Seedlings and solutions to help prevent a range of tomato diseases
Are the tomato plants you started this spring looking a little… spindly? Sad? You’re probably dealing with leggy tomato seedlings, one of the most common issues when starting tomato seeds. Legginess can affect the health of the plants, but don’t worry: it’s fixable. Jump to: | Why Legginess Is Bad | Leggy Tomato Seedlings: Causes …
Old gardener stories are often based around a science called phenology. “Plant potatoes on Good Friday; prune trees on Presidents Day, and never plant anything during the full moon.” Homilies or science? Is there a reason phenology has existed for thousands of years, across the world, and more importantly, can we use it to help …
There are very scientific, detailed studies available regarding indoor seed starting with LED lights. This post is a summary of my experience using both LED and fluorescent lights as grow lights for starting tomato and pepper seeds indoors. Jump to: LED vs Fluorescent | Cost Comparison | LED Impact on Seedlings | Troubleshooting | Video …
The color of heirloom tomatoes can often relate to a particular flavor profile. This post examines the most popular colors and flavors of heirloom tomatoes
Successful seed germination for tomatoes and peppers can be ensured by providing optimal conditions of temperature, moisture and light
When you are ready to select the heirloom tomatoes or peppers you want to grow it is helpful to clarify your end use and select accordingly
Tips for potting up tomato seedlings to ensure healthy and robust tomatoes and peppers throughout the growing season
Growing tomatoes in pots can be tricky. Here are some tips to help make your container gardening of tomatoes more successful
Detailed tips on how to achieve successful tomato & pepper seed germination, especially with heirloom tomatoes
This is a summary of the flavor, growth performance and unique qualities of what I consider to be the best heirloom tomato varieties in each color category. I have been growing, tasting and testing heirloom tomatoes since 1997 and this guide is based on that cumulative experience. Jump to: Orange VarietiesYellowBlackStripedPinkRedRoma typesCherry types What to …
If you are wanting to get the most tomatoes from your plant, over the longest season, and ensure that they are the highest quality, you need to consider how you will trellis them. Tomatoes are vining plants and different trellis support systems offer different benefits. Find out the the pros and cons to each method …