I thought this would be a great idea: showing you the luxury of growing your own fruits and vegetables, starting with tomatoes. How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes.
I no longer have to buy tomatoes because we grow our own. Here’s a corner of my backyard where the magic happens. I visit this patch often to check on everything and harvest when the fruit is ripe.
Along one wall of the yard is our vegetable and fruit bed. Further down there’s a banana tree, but that’s another story. It looks lush, and that greenery includes parsley, peppers, gungo peas, scallions and, of course, tomatoes — lots of them.
Tons… (my mother’s proud hand)
and tons…
and TONS…
You get the idea: we essentially have our own little tomato patch. I think it’s so rewarding. The tomatoes I’ve eaten for the past year have come from our garden — fresher, healthier and much more economical. There’s something satisfying about saying, “I’m going to pick some tomatoes from the backyard.”
I enjoy saying that.
To get started, choose good seeds, plant them in well-draining soil, and keep up with watering and basic care. The BBC has a clear guide and helpful video for beginners. Growing tomatoes takes dedication, but the payoff is worth it.
Note: harvest tomatoes as they begin to ripen. Birds and other wildlife love ripe fruit, so picking promptly helps protect your crop. And always wash tomatoes thoroughly before eating or cooking them.
Here are some my mom picked this morning when they were just ripe…
And here are some picked last week — deep red and beautiful. I love that color.
Even if you don’t plan to start your own garden, support local growers. Choose locally grown tomatoes whenever possible rather than imported ones.
Happy planting and eating!