Tomato plants, which have been harvested since the 8th century, are fairly easy to grow in your yard or even in a container and tomatoes are one of the healthiest foods around. They do need plenty of moisture and adequate sunlight; and for tomato plants to thrive, you should also avoid extreme heat or cold.
You can grow healthy tomato plants either from a small plant or seed; seeds should be grown indoors at first, in a cool spot with plenty of light. Only when there is no danger of a frost should you move them outside; ideally, the outdoor temperature at night should be at least 55 degrees.
If you are growing tomato plants outdoors, choose a spot that will provide plenty of sunlight, ideally at least seven hours a day. You can also cover the planting area with a dark colored plastic sheet a few weeks before you start planting; this will heat the soil a few degrees and give you healthier and earlier tomatoes. Add compost to the soil – about six pounds per square foot.
Tomatoes should be planted two to three feet apart; this allows the plants to shade each other, resulting in sweeter tomatoes. You should bury about 75% of the plant in the soil and water well for the next week or so. If you don’t have organically rich soil, use a chemical fertilizer – and don’t forget to shake your plants gently every few days to ensure maximum fruit production.
And the end result? You should have tomatoes appearing about two to three months after planting. The fruit is ready to pick and eat if it is slightly soft, with a bright red color.