Tomatoes: the most rewarding beginner crop

Tomatoes are the single most popular home garden crop, and for good reason: a single plant can produce 10-20+ pounds of fruit over a season, and homegrown tomatoes taste dramatically better than store-bought. For beginners, choose determinate (bush) varieties that stay compact and produce a concentrated harvest: Roma, Celebrity, or Bush Early Girl. For larger yields over a longer period, try indeterminate varieties that grow continuously: Cherokee Purple, Sungold (cherry), or Better Boy. Start with transplants from a nursery rather than seed for easier timing. Plant after all frost danger has passed, burying the stem up to the top set of leaves (tomatoes root along buried stems, creating stronger plants). Space 18-24 inches apart in raised beds. Stake or cage every plant; unsupported tomatoes develop disease from ground contact. Water deeply and consistently; irregular watering causes blossom end rot and cracking. Tomatoes need full sun (8+ hours daily) and fertile soil. Side-dress with balanced fertilizer or compost when first fruits appear. Pair with basil (pest deterrence and culinary pairing) and marigolds (nematode suppression).