Why Some Tomatoes Grow More Successfully Than Others

Deciding which type of tomatoes to grow can be as simple as buying whatever seedlings are available at your local nursery, to seeking out a specific variety you want to grow. Either way it is important to be sure that the variety or varieties you choose are suitable for your own garden.

The Siberian is an early ripening variety and so ideal for cooler climates

There are more than 10,000 different tomato varieties including a range of heirlooms (also known as heritage tomatoes) and a wide variety of hybrids. While heirlooms are generally things that are passed down over several generations (and certainly some tomato seeds have been passed on over the years), commercial heirloom tomatoes are varieties that have been grown for at least half a century OR open-pollinated varieties that were introduced prior to 1940. The term originated in the USA only three decades ago. Hybrids are not open-pollinated; instead they are produced by conscious crossing of two different varieties. So theoretically the choice is vast.

In reality, unless you shop for seed on the Internet – in which case you must be sure that the conditions in your garden will be suitable – you will be limited by what is available in your area. Most of the time you can rest assured that what suppliers are selling is therefore suitable for the region in which they are being sold. But garden conditions differ greatly, and another fact of life is that some sorts will do better than others, even within one single area. You might even find that tomatoes that thrive in your neighbour’s garden don’t do as well in yours.

Generally tomatoes need well-drained, well-nourished soil with plenty of compost and manure dug into it. The pH of the soil should be neutral (7.0) or a little acid (no less than 5.5 on the pH scale). They like warm weather and almost all varieties are regarded as warm-weather crops. Too much fertiliser will often lead to reduced yields because it encourages the growth of leaves.

The sweet Purple Calabash does well in drought stricken areas

Seed producers give additional advice about growing conditions. They also provide information that can help in terms of assessing whether you garden will be the perfect place for a particular variety (even if you then buy a seedling of the same sort from a nursery).

Trial and error is a good way to assess potential success. Even if it costs a little in wasted seed, it is an immensely rewarding exercise that can be a lot of fun. But don’t limit the trials to your garden alone.

If you know people who are growing their own tasty, juicy tomatoes, compare conditions in your garden to theirs. Take soil samples from both gardens and study prevailing wind patterns. Find out how much organic matter they have bothered to dig into the existing soil. Find out what the soil was like before they planted their tomatoes. Also see whether they have companion plants in the garden, marigolds for example. Lastly, compare any obvious pests or diseases that are affecting both environments.

Learn from each other so that you all get to eat juicy, tasty, delicious home-grown tomatoes.