A lot of folks might think it is a bit too early for tomato talk, these must not be the people who are competitive growers. Growing a great vegetable is not a matter that is best left to chance. If you are unhappy with the taste of the tomatoes you are getting at the supermarket, you can grow your own sweet and succulent tomatoes at home. Read on to find seven tips that will help you grow fabulous tomato specimens.

1. When planting tomatoes as seeds or even seedlings it is important to plant them with enough space to branch out. You can wait until they get their first leaves then transplant them for greater growing space. Plant them in areas with at least 4" of root space. You also should plant them at lest 6 inches a part.

2. Tomatoes require a lot of light. Strong direct sunlight is best but if you are using a heat lamp they need 14-18 hours. Put the young shoots only a few inches from the grow lamps. Out of doors make certain you plant well away from shaded areas. Tomato plants need a lot of light and warmth.

3. Tomatoes are heat-loving plants before transplanting from pot to ground you can cover the area with a tarp to hold in the heat and get the soil a few degrees warmer before planting. You will be rewarded for your effort when your plants produce a lot earlier.

4. You can bury the transplant all the way up to the top leaves. Since the tomato plant can develop roots on any part of the stem you will get a better root system that way. You can also plant the seedling in a sideways trench. These are very smart plants and because they love the sun so much they will extend upward on their own.

5. The choice of type and when to mulch is extremely important. It is true that mulch is great for holding in moisture and inhibiting soil borne diseases, but for heat loving plants like tomatoes you want to wait until the ground has had a chance to warm up for a few days under the sun. For best results try plastic mulch it is a great heat conductor.

6. When the plants have grown to about 3", take the leaves off the bottom of the plant. Clear an area on the stem of at least an inch. This is to prevent fungus problems. If there are any soil diseases present these are the leaves that would get attacked first.

7. While the plants are in the beginning growing stages you should water them regularly. Once a week is appropriate for plants, if you water intermittently will lead to end rot. After the fruit begins to come in you should water biweekly at best. this will force the plant to concentrate its sugars to the fruit that is growing.

This should get you and your tomato plants off to a great start. Gardening can be great fun and getting the most out of the experience takes a bit of skill. Do not leave it to chance find more gardening tips online. To further beautify your garden, consider adding garden statues and bamboo fountain to it.