...or growing from seed?
By Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Variety: There are literally hundreds of different types of tomatoes. They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Decide whether you’d like to grow large slicing tomatoes, plum varieties to make sauce, small cherry tomatoes for snacking, or other kinds for canning. Ask garden center staff for recommendations of tomato varieties that grow well in your geographic area.
Size: How much room in your garden can you dedicate to tomato plants? Allow 5-6 feet between rows and 24-36 inches between plants. Configure the number of plants to buy accordingly. Alternatively plant in “grow bags” which will accommodate 3 plants per bag.
Color: When buying plants look for dark green foliage. Pale green or yellow coloration indicates a nutrient deficiency, and also check whether they have not been stressed by lack of water or over-watering. Both a common occurrence in garden centers.
Shape: Check for a sturdy central stem. A strong stemmed-plant is more likely to stay healthy when transplanted in the garden. A plant with a weak stem may struggle to adapt.
Leaves: Inspect foliage for curling or discoloration which could indicate a disease, poor lighting, under-watering, or over-watering, as I said already. Look for holes, damaged stalks, and underneath leaves to make sure the plant isn’t infested with pests. You don't want to bring additional nasties into your garden.
Flowers: Avoid buying plants with blossoms or fruit already formed, especially early in the season. Advanced growth in small containers can be a tip off that the plant was over-fertilized as a seedling.
One word of advice: DO NOT grow tomatoes near your potatoes. They are both plants of the nightshade family and both prone to blight which one can transmit to the others. Tomatoes tend succumb to blight often and would spread it to the potatoes. Thus, keep well apart.
© 2011
