Category: Fruits

That said, while it’s typically better to grow food in the dirt and away from toxins, it is safe to grow vegetables in plastic containers so long as the planter is made of certain types of plastic approved for use with food. What containers are safe to grow vegetables in? Many types of containers are […]

Pruning Better Boy Tomatoes To direct the plant’s energy into its one or two main stems, remove suckers. Trim off early buds to encourage strong growth and plentiful fruit production. Near the end of summer, trim off the tip of the plant to divert energy into the last remaining fruits. Should I prune my Big […]

Better Boy tomatoes are indeterminate, which means they should be grown in cages or staked tepee-style. Because of their large size, 5-8 feet (1.5-2.5 m.) in height, Better Boy tomatoes are not suited to containers. Can You Grow Better Boy tomatoes in a 5 gallon bucket? What I want to do is grow 8-10 tomato […]

Big Boy tomatoes can easily be grown in a 5 gallon bucket as with all tomato varieties. Although Big Boy tomatoes are a larger variety, they can grow successfully in containers, but there is potential for a smaller harvest. Can You Grow Better Boy tomatoes in a 5 gallon bucket? What I want to do […]

Because grow bags are so well aerated, they dry out quickly once the plants they contain have grown large enough to fill them. So you’ll probably need to water the bags at least once per day during the heat of summer. You often can determine whether an extra watering is necessary by lifting one corner […]

Fabric aeration containers are the perfect place for growing tomatoes. Made of porous, light-weight fabric, these containers are not just easy to work with, they produce superior plants. What type of container is best for tomatoes? Choose the Right Pot It’s fine to use a smaller container, like a 5-gallon bucket or 10-gallon container, but […]

Put containers or growbags in a sunny sheltered spot. Fill containers to within 2-3cm (about 1in) of the rim with moist compost. Cut out holes in growing bags to accommodate the plants, and make slits in the base for drainage. Plant once nights become frost free – usually mid-May in mild areas. How deep do […]

The ideal grow bag size to use for your tomato plant should be between 8 inches (15 to 17 cm) up to 14 inches (30 cm or bigger). But generally, a minimum of 10 to 15 inches diameter grow bag is appropriate for growing tomato plants. How big of a container do I need for […]

The Best Tomato Varieties ‘New Girl’ is a an ‘Early Girl’ with upgrades. ‘Brandywine’ tomatoes come in all sorts of hues. ‘Green Zebra’ is another favorite. ‘Amish Paste’ is a fabulous cooking tomato. ‘Black Krim’ is an all around wonderful eating tomato — roast or eat fresh. ‘Celebrity’ is an all-around winner. What is the […]

Tomatoes love well-draining and loose soil. While growing them in pots, avoid using clay or garden soil as they are heavy. Mix sand, peat moss, or sawdust to make it appropriate for the plant. What is the best potting mix for tomatoes in containers? BEST OVERALL: FoxFarm Ocean Forest FX14000 Organic Potting Soil. BEST VALUE: […]

Tomato sauce is made by cooking tomatoes down until the fruit becomes thick and concentrated. The tomatoes are then strained to remove any seeds or chunks of flesh. Crushed tomatoes are made exactly how they sound — whole tomatoes are crushed by a machine called a disintegrator. Can you substitute crushed tomatoes for tomato sauce? […]

The primary difference between tomato puree and crushed tomatoes is that tomato puree is finer and does not contain chunks. Crushed tomatoes will have more of a pulpy, chunky, and slightly more watery consistency. Crushed tomatoes also contain some added amount of tomato puree or paste. What can I substitute for tomato puree? Tomato paste […]

The beefsteak tomato plant needs to be hardened off before planting outdoors, usually around May. Choose a sunny, well-drained garden bed in which to plant your tomato starts. A raised bed warms early in the season and is a good method for how to grow beefsteak tomatoes in cooler climates. How long does it take […]

Large, thickly fleshed beefsteaks are the biggest type of tomatoes, weighing 1 pound or more. Growing quickly to at least 6 feet tall, the late-maturing tomato plant will produce a bountiful harvest in about 85 days. It needs a sturdy cage, trellis, or stake to support its fruit. Do big beef tomatoes need to be […]

Why do homegrown tomatoes taste better than store-bought? They are picked riper. Store tomatoes are picked slightly green because they’re tougher and easier to ship that way. And they’re also bred for toughness, not for flavor. Is it better to use canned or fresh tomatoes? That’s right: 99% of the time, canned tomatoes are better […]

Having worked in the food and restaurant industry for a decade, I can tell you that no two brands of canned tomatoes are exactly alike. Some tomatoes are tough, underripe, and insipid. Others are velvety, brilliantly red, and full of flavor. What are the best canned tomatoes to buy? The Best Canned Tomatoes Are Rich, […]

Plum or Roma tomatoes are best for purée because they are generally grown for preserving. Paste, oven-dried tomatoes, and sauce are all made from these varieties — they are low in water content and rich in flavor. Which is better tomato paste or puree? Tomato paste has a richer taste than tomato purée due to […]

The Best Jarred Tomato Sauce, According to Chefs Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce. 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Pasta Sauce. Rao’s Homemade Vodka Sauce. Il Mulino Vodka Pasta Sauce. Don Pepino Pizza Sauce. Barilla Tomato & Basil and Traditional Premium Pasta Sauce Variety Pack. Classico Traditional Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce. What canned tomatoes do chefs […]

Cherokee Purple Cherokee purple is a dusky red with green shoulders when ripe Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Maturity 80 days Type Heirloom What variety of tomatoes are purple? Purple tomato varieties include: Black Beauty, Cherokee Purple, Dwarf Purple Heart, Evan’s Purple Pear, Indigo Ruby, Marizol Purple, Owen’s Purple, Purple Bumble Bee, Purple Reign, Purple Russian, Sunshine […]

Look for tomatoes that have turned a reddish-purple color. The tops on either side of the stems might appear a bit green, and the purple might appear a bit more brown than purple. These are ready to harvest. How can you tell if a Cherokee Purple tomato is ripe? Harvest Cherokee Purple tomatoes anytime after […]