Your Go-To Guide to Growing Tomatoes

All gardeners remember the first plant they ever grew—and if you ask a few, you'll likely notice a common, crimson favorite: tomatoes.

Tomatoes are a staple crop in a summer garden, and for good reason: they're resilient, easy to grow, and can yield hundreds of fruits, depending on the variety. Plus, the uses are limitless—though you might find yourself tired of salsa by the end of the summer. We've been there, too.

Because our love for tomatoes on The Spruce knows no bounds, we created your foundational, go-to guide to successfully growing them. From tried-and-true hacks gardeners always use to the must-grow varieties, we're sharing all of our tomato knowledge with you.

We hope this complete guide to tomatoes inspires you to grow them this season—and if you do, be sure to save us some sauce.

Start Strong Seeds

The key to healthy tomato plants is ensuring your seeds have a great start—and that you're well-equipped to give that to them. From knowing the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes so you choose the right ones for your garden, to following the best tomato-growing tips from longtime gardeners, we have what you need to start your seeds off strong.

Get Ready to Grow

Are you ready to start growing your tomatoes? Find out when the best time is to plant your tomato seedlings and get detailed growing guides for all types of tomatoes. Plus, keep those tomatoes happy and upright with one of our top-rated tomato cages.

Tips for Award-Winning Plants

For some gardeners, it's not just about growing tomatoes—it's about growing the best tomatoes. So if you're on a quest for some award-worthy plants, make sure you're doing everything you can to get them there, including getting them on the right watering schedule, pruning them when the timing is just right, and giving them the nutrients they need to be their best.

Tomato Troubleshooting

Growing tomatoes doesn't come without challenges, but luckily, they're not insurmountable. Tomatoes see their fair share of pests, diseases, and other issues, but with some quick thinking and environmental changes, you'll be able to salvage your tomato plants in no time.

Joy of the Harvest

While growing tomato plants is great, for us, it's all about the harvest. But is there actually a right time to harvest tomatoes? Can you ripen green tomatoes quickly and easily? And what happens if the weather is too cold for tomatoes? We've got answers to these questions and more so you have a bountiful crop.

Read the original article on The Spruce.