Grow Great Tomatoes the First Time, Every Time

Tomatoes descended from a Peruvian wild ancestor which spread across South and Central America, and was introduced to Europeans as "tomatl" by natives of Mexico. Until around 1840, they were thought poisonous or harmful by Europeans, who called them "cancer apple" and grew them as a curiosity. Their palatability was eventually discovered and gradually the varieties that we know today were developed. There are hundreds of varieties, serving many purposes and having many qualities. The tomato is probably the most cultivated crop by home gardeners.

Tomatoes are heavy feeders, requiring a lot of Nitrogen to bear good fruit. They also require lots of heat, being a tropical plant. Young plants are very sensitive, and should never be put out before the last frost.

Tomatoes can be started indoors about six weeks early, either under a grow light or flourescent light, or by a south-facing window. Don't rotate them as they do better when allowed to self-orient to the sunlight. Brush them lightly with your hand every day or set a fan to blow air over them; this makes the stems stronger.

Seed starting mix shouldn't be too rich. Vermiculite or a mix of vermiculite, sand, peat, and a little compost will do. At least two inches of soil depth is necessary. Four inches is better, since roots need room to develop for proper growth. Seperate or conjoined pots are better than seed flats. Seeds should germinate in about a week at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or about two weeks at 60 degrees.

Here's the tricky part: Water enough so the plants don't dry out, but don't overwater. Too much water is bad for young plants and may breed fungus in the soil. Allow the soil to almost dry out. Then flood the plants so the soil is saturated. This can be a difficult balance to achieve, but will yield better results.

Locate the tomato bed on a south-facing slope in plenty of sun. Plan for the adult plants to have eighteen to twenty-four inches between them (depending, of course on the size of the variety you choose; consult your seed catalog).