Tomatoes as Part of a Sustainable Garden

In many areas of California, tomatoes, especially cherry tomatoes, will naturalize, and can be grown using rain only over winter. In good soil, tomato plants may persist on their own for months after the last spring rain, and under these conditions will produce the sweetest, most flavorful fruit you have ever tasted. The tomato in the above picture grew out of seeds that had fallen to the ground from last summer’s tomatoes and was nourished by the winter rains. (The drip line in the pictures was shut off during the winter.)

To ensure fresh tomatoes over the longest possible season, consider planting several tomato plants of the same variety at different times, or choosing varieties with different maturation lengths.

To view customized information for growing tomato in your area, go to GardenZeus and enter your zip code, then go to tomato.

Other related articles include:

Tips for Late Tomato Planting in Hot Summer Areas

GardenZeus Tips for Fertilizing Tomatoes During the Growing Season

The GardenZeus Guide to Staking, Supporting and Trellising Tomato Plants 

GardenZeus Solutions to Common Abiotic Problems With Garden Tomatoes