Growing Tomatoes: A Complete Profile
By Growing Home Greens Team · July 17, 2026
Tomatoes are the crop most people plant first, and for good reason: a single well-tended plant can produce for months, and the taste difference between a homegrown and store-bought tomato is the single biggest “why do I garden” argument there is.
What to expect
Tomatoes need staking or caging almost universally — even “bush” determinate varieties benefit from support once loaded with fruit. Plan for a stake or cage at planting time, not after the plant has flopped over. They’re heavy feeders, so a spot with real compost (not just topsoil) makes a noticeable difference.
Common problems
Blossom end rot (a dark, sunken patch on the fruit’s bottom) is almost always inconsistent watering, not a disease — keep the soil evenly moist rather than alternating between bone-dry and soaked. Cracking is the same root cause after a heavy rain following a dry spell.
Where this fits in your garden
Check our companion planting guide for tomatoes before you place one — basil and marigolds are classic, reputed pairings, while corn and cabbage are worth keeping some distance from. Use the planting calendar for exact dates in your zone, or lay it out visually in the Garden Designer.
Companion planting guide for Tomato · Find your planting dates
Typically viable in USDA zones 3-11. Not sure your zone? Look it up by ZIP code.
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing).
Varieties worth considering
- Jolene (F1) — Bred with strong resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus and reported to keep setting fruit in heat that stalls other varieties — a standout pick for hot climates like the Deep South. (source)
- Firebird (F1) — Described by the breeder as adaptable and productive with excellent fruit set in heat, while also suited to Northern growing — a widely-adapted heat-tolerant option. (source)
- Iron Lady — Carries the Ph2 + Ph3 resistance genes for strong resistance to late blight plus early blight and Septoria leaf spot — worth considering in disease-prone, humid climates. (source)
Cited from the source shown next to each variety — we haven't grown these ourselves yet, so treat this as a research-backed starting point, not a personal endorsement.
Where to buy tomato seeds
Some links on this page go to retailers we may eventually earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews — see the sources cited on each item.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing tomato" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video — results vary and aren't vetted by us)