Tomato Seed - Growing Tomatoes in Your Garden or Home

The tomato is one of the easiest garden plants to grow. There are hundreds of varieties of tomato seed to choose from when growing tomatoes and you should choose the type that will best fit your growing and cooking needs. Tomato seed can be purchased from seed companies, Internet retailers, and your local garden store. Growing tomatoes can be rewarding if you remember a few important rules.

The Rules: Starting Tomato Seed, Growing Tomatoes, and Tomato Cages

When starting tomato seed, it is important to plant in warm soil. Seeds can be put directly in the ground or planted in pots or containers. Smaller tomatoes are ideal for container gardening. Growing tomatoes should be watered regularly for the juiciest fruit; container plants need more water than tomatoes in the ground. Some varieties need as much as two gallons a week! As the tomatoes grow, they can begin to sprawl. Most varieties benefit from using tomato cages to support and confine the plant. Place the plant on a rung of the cage and it should climb up as it grows. Tomato cages can be store-bought or made easily from wire and/or wood. The cage will keep many critters off the plants and reduce tomato plant disease. Tomatoes are ready to pick when they are plump and fully colored. The best tomatoes are left to ripen on the vine, creating luscious, flavorful fruit.

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