You’ll need

An area that receives at least 6 hours of full sun each day – The more sun the better.

Plently of warmth

a growing season of at least 70-100+ days

If you are in the United States you can find out when to start seed or set out transplants by selecting your state’s cooperative extension service. Otherwise tomatoes should be set out after all chance of frost has passed and soil temperature has warmed. Seed should be started 4-6 weeks before the date of setting plants out.

When preparing the soil, be sure to get a soil test for at least the pH level. You may need to add lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower it. Tomatoes do best when grown in a pH range of 5.5-7.5. Work in fertilizers before planting. It’s important that the plant’s roots can grow to where you incorporated it. Avoid adding too much fertilizer.

When setting out transplants you can remove a few lower leaves and bury most of the stem. Roots will eventually form from the buried stems. Scientists have found benefits from setting the root ball deeper in the ground.

• Starting Seed
• Tomato Problems