The first bite of a friend or family member's homegrown tomatoes is the clarion call to gardening for many people. That incomparable flavor of a fresh tomato straight out of the garden makes it totally worth babying these plants along for months - and let’s be honest, tomatoes take a little babying! These plants are native to the arid uplands of Latin America, and were probably first domesticated in Mexico. They do best when given a sturdy trellis and regular pruning for good airflow, and just enough (but not too much) water. Varieties are either determinate, meaning they set their fruit all at once and then stop producing, or indeterminate, meaning they continually grow and flower and set fruit gradually until the plant dies. Determinate varieties tend to be better for small spaces, since the vines don’t sprawl as far. If you’re growing in a container, try a dwarf variety - they often don’t even need a trellis!
