There are three types of tomatoes: varieties made for slicing, such as beefsteak tomatoes; sauce varieties with good flavor and a firm texture such as roma tomatoes; and cherry tomatoes for salads.
When you purchase tomato plants from a nursery, consider several factors. The first is the ultimate size of the plant. The plant's tag will indicate whether the tomato is a determinate or an indeterminate variety. The determinate varieties will stay bushy and compact and will continue to produce fruit after reaching full height. The indeterminate variety will grow throughout the season and will sprawl if not contained.
If a tomato plant looks leggy don't reject it, the hairs that grow along the stem will turn into roots if the plant is buried deeply in the soil. Just remove the lower leaves, and bury the plant all the way to the top few leaves. The additional roots that sprout will support the plant, bring in additional nutrients and help the plant produce bigger and better tomatoes.
Tomatoes are heavy feeders, so they require more fertilizer than other vegetables. A water soluble fertilizer applied every week is not too much for a healthy tomato plant. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which may cause the blossoms to drop off the plant.
Once the tomato plant begins active growth, provide support in the form of a cage, a trellis or a stake. Place a support stake outside the drip line of the plant to avoid damaging the roots. Use twine to tie the plant loosely to a stake.
Watering tomatoes well is essential to a bountiful harvest. Tomato plants have deep roots. Watering deeply and completely creates strong, healthy plants. Water consistently, and don't allow the roots to dry out.
Experiment with different tomato varieties, and have a taste test at harvest time to determine which varieties you like best. Or invite your friends to a tomato-tasting party. Growing Tomatoes From Seed Sow your tomato seed 1/4 inch deep in a sterile potting medium. Water the seed container in with a fine mist of water. Keep the soil moist but not soggy wet. The optimum temperature for germination is 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds should germinate in 7 to 14 days. Tomatoes are normally planted in the spring. To get a head start, sow your seed 4 to 6 weeks before the last freeze date for your area. Tomatoes need to be grown in full sun. Most tomatoes mature anywhere from 60 to 90 days look at the individual varieties for exact times. Transplant the tomatoes to the garden after the chance of frost is past.