By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Variety is the spice of life is a saying that not only applies to life but also the tomato garden.

Planning for this variety takes a little time, seed catalogs, and a little understanding about tomatoes.

Understanding the different types of tomatoes and how they can be used to create a full-season of tomatoes is the key. Growth habit of tomatoes can be a friend or a foe to any gardener.

Midget, patio or dwarf tomatoes are compact plants that grow in container or hanging baskets. They typically only produce for a short time and once that production is complete they are done for the season.

Determinate tomatoes go to a certain height, produce all their fruit early and in a short amount of time.

Once the fruit has been produced the plant is finished as far as fruit production. Then there is Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

You don’t have to stop thinking about tomatoes just because winter is coming and the days are getting cold.

Here are some activities to keep you in the tomato frame of mind.

Save those seeds.

If you’ve still got some tomatoes on your plants, you can save some of the seeds for next year. This is true even with plants affected with late blight, since the seeds won’t pass it on. They will be viable for about 4-10 years on average.

Make Christmas decorations with tomato cages.

Tomato cages aren’t just good at providing support for tomato plants. They can also be transformed into a variety of Christmas trees and other holiday decorations.

Cook up tomatoes for the holidays.

The holiday season means lots of parties, which usually involve food. Bring one of these tomato dishes to your next shindig.

Order Tomato Catalogs.

I LOVE Read the rest of this entry »