By Niki Jabbour
Source: Savvy Gardening
Photo Source: Unsplash
TOMATES
INTRO
With so many different types of tomatoes to choose from, it can be hard to decide what to grow. I like to plant a mixture of tomato types – cherry varieties for salads, beefsteaks for slicing and sandwiches, and plum tomatoes for sauce. If you’re trying to decide the best types of tomatoes to plant in your garden, consider how you like to eat your tomatoes. Also think about your space. If you don’t have large garden, you may wish to stick to compact varieties. To help you figure out which types of tomatoes to plant, check out my detailed guide below.
There are so many delicious types of tomatoes you can grow in garden beds and containers. When trying to select between the many types, consider how you like to eat your tomatoes – fresh in salads and sandwiches, or cooked in pastas and sauces.
Why learn about the types of tomatoes?
For me, the types of tomatoes I choose to grow are based on how my family likes to eat them. Cherry and grape tomatoes are eaten as snacks, in salads, and dipped in dressings and hummus. Saladette tomatoes are sliced in salads or chopped into salsas. Plum tomatoes are perfect for canning or sauce making. And we love to use thick slices of beefsteak tomatoes in summer sandwiches, on burgers, or layered with mozzarella cheese and basil for a mouth-watering Caprese salad.
When selecting types of tomatoes, consider growth habit
Before we explore all the wonderful types of tomatoes to grow, it’s important to understand that tomato plants are classified according to their growth habit. The two main growth habits are determinate, or bush, and indeterminate, or vining.
Determinate tomato plants grow to a certain height, often 3 to 4 feet, and then produce their flowers and fruits over a short period of time. They’re ideal for small spaces, container growing, or gardeners who wish to can or process tomatoes because the fruits ripen around the same time.
Indeterminate tomato plants form tall plants that can grow up to 7 feet and require strong supports. They produce flowers and fruits from mid-summer until frost.
Understanding the differences between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes is important as it helps you choose varieties that fit your space. If you have a patio or balcony garden and plant in pots, you may wish to grow compact determinate varieties. If you’ve got plenty of garden space and are able to stake and support tall tomato plants, you can opt for indeterminate varieties.
How can you introduce vegetables from your garden into your diet? Why? How could that improve your health? How could that improve the environment?
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