A Blog post by
Viorica Marincus
Tomatoes are beautiful plants that brighten backyards, patios, balconies, and gardens — even for those who don’t consider themselves gardeners. They are easy to grow and reward you with an abundance of fruit throughout the summer. Left on the vine, tomatoes ripen to a vibrant red, developing a sweet, firm flesh. They can be enjoyed fresh as a fruit, tossed into salads, or served as a simple side dish.
When planting tomatoes, I usually buy the starts in late May and place them in the ground right away, as long as the weather is warm and agreeable. By the end of July, the vines are heavy with a bounty of tomatoes. In the past, I’ve also grown plants from seeds I saved the previous year — a rewarding process that connects one harvest to the next.
To save seeds, allow a few tomatoes to overripen on the vine in the fall. Open them, strain the seeds from the pulp, and dry them before storing in a container. By mid-February, scatter the seeds over soil in a box, cover lightly, and water regularly. Keep the box in a warm, well-lit room, and soon tender sprouts will appear. When the seedlings reach 3–4 inches, separate them into a larger container, spacing them about 5–6 inches apart. By early May, they should stand about 6 inches tall. At this stage, transplant them into individual pots with soil, keeping them indoors until the weather is warm enough to move them outside. With daily watering and patience, your plants will flower and produce the long-awaited tomatoes.
Each year, I plant a variety of tomatoes, including cherry tomatoes, and I’ve found raised beds to be especially effective. They make watering and weeding much easier. I enrich the soil with mushroom compost, refreshing it annually with new soil to keep plants strong. My father, who lived on a small farm, passed down his own wisdom. He used cow manure mixed with straw, aged for several years to reduce ammonia and prevent burning the plants. Occasionally, he also used chicken manure compost, but always diluted it first since its high nitrogen content can be harsh if applied directly. With careful composting and patience, these natural fertilizers created soil rich in nutrients, giving the plants excellent potential for growth.
