Anyone Can Grow Tomatoes

The venerable tomato, also occasionally referred to as the "Pomme d'Amore" (Apple of Love) and in the past widely thought to have qualities as an aphrodisiac can be grown by anyone and will grow with few exceptions virtually anywhere in the world.

While a small garden might be preferable, tomatoes grow quite well in pots depending on the size and variety selected. There are literally dozens of types of tomatoes and they are broadly broken into three categories by size from the beefsteak, the very large variety, to the diminutive cherry tomato, with the salad tomato occupying the middle range. Within each of these broad categories there are at least a dozen specific varieties to meet the particular taste of the grower.

Slightly acidic soils are best for tomatoes, but they will produce fruit in almost any soil that will support plant growth of any type. Obviously the better soils will provide the best yields. A trip to a local nursery will provide a gardener with choices of several varieties that are adapted to the particular climate of one's residence.

I have a small raised bed garden that occupies less than 100 square feet in which I have planted two dozen tomato plants from each of the categories previously listed. I selected an early maturing plant called an "early girl" which is a salad tomato which can provide fruit about 60-70 days from the planting of the seedling. I also planted several cherry tomato varieties and completed the tomato portion of the garden with two additional varieties of the hefty beefsteak tomato. This will easily provide a crop that will supply tomatoes from early July until the first frost for my family and many neighbors.