Description: Urban homesteading in Gilbert, Arizona.
One of the greatest joys of summer gardening is picking and enjoying vine-ripened tomatoes. We have been successfully growing tomatoes for the past five years and have learned a lot. Here are some important tips we have learned along the way.
Variety Selection Be sure to pick varieties that are known for growing great tomatoes. We have had success with several varieties and our favorites include Roma, Big Boy, Early Girl, Black Pearl, Yellow Pear, and Quarter Century. Heatwave is also a great variety that holds up well in the Arizona summer.
Seed Starting Rather than directly sowing tomato seeds in the garden, we recommend starting your seeds indoors or purchasing seedlings from a nursery. We’ve had the greatest success with tomato plants grown from seedlings that were transplanted into the garden. Starting your plants in a controlled environment with adequate nutrients and water sets the stage for great plants and tomatoes later on. See our guide for starting seeds indoors .