It’s a staple in cuisines around the world, and with more than 10,000 varieties, there’s almost assuredly a tomato for everyone. And whichever kind you choose, it will taste better homegrown.
“What you enjoy fresh and warm from your garden is so markedly different from what you can buy in the store,” says Scott Daigre, a California-based gardener and producer of “[Tomatomania!](https://tomatomania.com/)” billed as the world’s largest tomato seedling sale. “And what a great-looking garden prize. Yeah, cucumbers are cool, but a big fat heirloom tomato? That’s *sexy.*”
Daigre compares tomato cultivation to fashion. “Every year, you’ve got to have that new trendy thing, and that’s cool and fun.” But there’s also something nostalgic about tomatoes, he adds: The flavor of an heirloom might transport you to your grandfather’s garden or a childhood Fourth of July barbecue. “It goes way beyond the fruit,” he says, “and gets at family, and celebrations and all these things the tomato signifies.”
Whether your garden is in its first year or its 50th, use these expert tips to make this your best tomato season yet.
Also think about where you intend to put your plants, and how much sun and space they’ll have, says Craig LeHoullier, a North Carolina-based gardening educator and author of “[Epic Tomatoes](https://www.craiglehoullier.com/intro).”
“If you have eight hours of sun, you can grow any tomato,” LeHoullier says. “But the key to remember is the bigger the tomato, the more hours of sun you need.”
If you intend to grow a massive Gigantomo or Mortgage Lifter to enter in the county fair, you’ll need all-day exposure. But “for people who only have two or three hours of sun on their back porch,” LeHoullier adds, smaller varieties like cherry tomatoes can thrive in limited light.
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The tomato might just be the quintessential summer produce. It’s the first thing many [new gardeners](https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/04/01/beginner-guide-starting-vegetable-garden/?itid=lk_inline_manual_1) want to plant, and some growers spend decades trying to perfect it.
It’s a staple in cuisines around the world, and with more than 10,000 varieties, there’s almost assuredly a tomato for everyone. And whichever kind you choose, it will taste better homegrown.
“What you enjoy fresh and warm from your garden is so markedly different from what you can buy in the store,” says Scott Daigre, a California-based gardener and producer of “[Tomatomania!](https://tomatomania.com/)” billed as the world’s largest tomato seedling sale. “And what a great-looking garden prize. Yeah, cucumbers are cool, but a big fat heirloom tomato? That’s *sexy.*”
Daigre compares tomato cultivation to fashion. “Every year, you’ve got to have that new trendy thing, and that’s cool and fun.” But there’s also something nostalgic about tomatoes, he adds: The flavor of an heirloom might transport you to your grandfather’s garden or a childhood Fourth of July barbecue. “It goes way beyond the fruit,” he says, “and gets at family, and celebrations and all these things the tomato signifies.”
Whether your garden is in its first year or its 50th, use these expert tips to make this your best tomato season yet.
**Pick your plants**
First, consider what you [plan to do with your harvest](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/07/09/tomato-girl-summer-recipes/?itid=lk_inline_manual_10). If you want to make a big [batch of sauce](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2019/08/14/a-rich-flavorful-tomato-sauce-in-under-an-hour-heres-the-recipe-you-need/?itid=lk_inline_manual_10), go for something like a classic Roma or San Marzano. For a sweet, abundant snack, pick a [cherry or grape tomato. If you want big, colorful slices, any number of heirloom varieties](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2018/08/06/what-to-do-with-all-those-peak-summer-tomatoes-from-tiny-cherries-to-giant-heirlooms/?itid=lk_inline_manual_10) might fit the bill.
Also think about where you intend to put your plants, and how much sun and space they’ll have, says Craig LeHoullier, a North Carolina-based gardening educator and author of “[Epic Tomatoes](https://www.craiglehoullier.com/intro).”
“If you have eight hours of sun, you can grow any tomato,” LeHoullier says. “But the key to remember is the bigger the tomato, the more hours of sun you need.”
If you intend to grow a massive Gigantomo or Mortgage Lifter to enter in the county fair, you’ll need all-day exposure. But “for people who only have two or three hours of sun on their back porch,” LeHoullier adds, smaller varieties like cherry tomatoes can thrive in limited light.
Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/05/16/how-to-grow-tomatoes/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/05/16/how-to-grow-tomatoes/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)