The tomato plant is often one of the first plants that an amateur gardener decides to put in their garden.  The near endless varieties of colors, shape, size and flavors of tomatoes make them a great choice for eating raw or using in recipes.  Knowing how to grow tomatoes will help you grow a large, tasty crop with a high yield.  Keep reading to learn the basics of growing tomatoes.

The first step in knowing how to grow tomatoes is to select the right type of tomatoes.  According to Wikipedia, there are somewhere in the range of 7500 types of tomatoes.  As you can imagine, with all of that variety, you will be able to find the tomato plant that is perfect for you regardless of whether you are looking for flavor, yield, size or a combination.  My personal favorite is the cherry tomato that you can eat by the dozen.

By this time, you likely already have an idea of where you will grow your tomato plants but, if you don’t, that is your next decision.  You have a few options.   The obvious, best choice is a well-lit garden outdoors if it is available.  If the outdoor garden is not an option because of location or season then you have a few other options including hanging tomatoes upside down, growing tomatoes in pots, growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, or even growing tomatoes indoors

Regardless of where you grow your tomatoes, having the soil properly prepared is vital to success.  This is one of the biggest leaps in knowledge that many people make in learning how to grow tomatoes. 

Tomatoes spread their roots quickly and wide.  If they can’t do this due to hard packed soil, the results won’t be what you are hoping for.  Instead, ensure that you loosen the soil with a shovel to several inches of depth for two to three feet around where you will be planting your tomato. There are several more things to consider when preparing the soil including soil composition and even temperature.

Once the soil is prepared, it’s time to plant the seeds or plants.  When you plant the seeds in the garden or starter pot, place two to three seeds about a quarter inch deep and then cover it with soil and water.  If you started with a starter pot, plant your seedling deeper than it sat in the pot so that it has more support when it gets outside.

There is much, much more involved in creating the tomato garden that will be the envy of your neighbors and friends.  We have just scratched the surface on each of topics above.  To learn more about any one, or all of the topics above, click how to grow tomatoes Now!