Growing The Best Tomatoes | What Type of Tomatoes to Grow

To avoid this, you need to plan ahead. Take a look at your vines before you pick. Are there a lot of tomatoes? Can I use all these myself? If you have had a bumper crop this year, then start asking family and friends, then start planning for some great tomato sauce for the ones you will not eat fresh.

A vine ripened tomato, once picked will be at its best for three days. Tomato sauce made from fresh vine ripened tomatoes tastes fantastic, and is a welcome surprise to your taste buds come the dead of winter. Tomato sauce freezes well. There are many recipes out there for tomato sauce. Some are easier than others, so decide for yourself which way you will go, ahead of picking.

Photo courtesy of bucklava

So, plan ahead, allow a day to get that sauce made, and you will always enjoy the fruits of your labor, right through the winter. If you do not like making sauce, and you don't have friends or family interested in your tomatoes, maybe you could donate them to your local foodbank. Locally grown, fresh produce is always appreciated when given from the heart, then maybe scale back next year on the amount of tomato plants you grow.

But for now, this would be a great way to meet the neighbors. If you have lots of tomatoes, head out to your neighbors, and introduce them to your great tomato garden. They will enjoy this fresh treat, and you might make a few friends on the way!

• You need to decide what characteristics are the most important to you, as well as the climate and disease susceptibility in your area. No one variety will perform best across all planting seasons and regions. Issues such as fruit firmness, size, shape, flavor and plant growing habits need to be considered.



• You also need to decide whether you want a 'jointed' tomato variety or not. In other words, do you want a tomato variety that retains its stalk when picked or one that comes away cleanly from its stalk when picked. Many commercial organic and gourmet tomato growers choose 'jointed' tomato varieties because the tomato with its stalk attached looks attractive to the buyer. However, most home gardeners and non-organic commercial growers choose 'jointless' varieties.



• The next choice is whether you want a 'determinate' or 'indeterminate' variety. A determinate variety grows to a bush about 3 feet (1 meter) high. At this stage it stops growing and sets a concentrated crop of tomatoes which can be picked over a few weeks.



• Indeterminate varieties keep growing and can reach a height of up to 15 or more feet (5 meters) when fully mature. The fruit from these can be picked over a period of 12 to 20 weeks. These varieties are frequently used by greenhouse producers. Many cherry tomato varieties are indeterminate.



• There are also 'semi-determinate' varieties which grow to about 4 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters) and set fruit over a longer period than determinate varieties. These are best suited to home gardens. They generally require staking and the tomatoes are harvested over 2 to 6 weeks.

Detailed information on hot climate and cold climate varieties as well as 100 popular varieties provided in How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes.