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To-may-toe, To-mah-tow No matter how you say it, this tasty fruit is worth your time  Image courtesy istockphoto A connoisseur might say the only way to savor the tomato's tart-sweet, herbal flavor is to go into the garden with a salt shaker and eat the fruit from the vine. A slight exaggeration, but a tomato that's crimson red and still warm from the sun is a special treat - one you're more likely to treasure if you grow your own tomatoes. Because tomatoes are delicate you may have the impression the plant is temperamental and challenging to grow. Not so, say garden experts. In fact, the top mistake may be planting too many tomatoes. "I'm often guilty of that. You need only a couple of plants," says gardening expert Barbara Damrosch in Harborside, Maine. If tomatoes are in your garden plans, now's the time to get them in the ground. When shopping, avoid tall, leggy plants, which are probably grown with insufficient light and may be weak. Instead select tomato plants that are six to eight inches tall and full, says Emily Gatch, research associate for Seeds of Change in Santa Fe, N.M. Skip flowering plants as well. Tomatoes need time to establish their roots before flowering. A plant that's already flowering may be stressed, Gatch says. Gently ease the plant out of the pot and examine the roots, which should fill out the pot but not form a tight ball, says Gatch. Although heirloom tomatoes provide flavors you won't find in supermarkets, the plants may be more susceptible to disease. Buy both heirloom and some commercial tomato varieties and see what grows well in your garden, Gatch suggests. To plant tomatoes, select a spot that has full sun for most of the day. The tomato should be deep in the ground to slow growth and allow the tomato to develop its root system. Once in the ground, build supports to encourage their growth. "Tomatoes grow taller and heavier than you think," says Damrosch, author of "The Garden Primer" (Workman Publishing 2008). She ties her tomato plants to a fence or builds five-foot tall cages from concrete reinforcing wire available at building supply or hardware stores. Watering is often a concern. Consistency is more important than how much water you give the plants. "Water deeply or not. Don't have a huge amount of watering, then a dry stretch," Damrosch says. The gardening writer prefers to water in the evening, though she says any time except midday, when it's hot and sunny, is fine.
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Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
