How to find the best type of tomato for your garden
Tomatoes are the absolute BEST bang for your buck in the garden, if you choose the right one. Here's what you need to know before you purchase that plant at the garden center.
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Tomato plants are the absolute BEST bang for your buck in the garden. All month long I’m helping you make the right choice for your summer garden, and we're starting off very strong here.
Buying tomatoes at the store is going to cost you more than it has in years, but growing them in your garden is as cost-effective as ever! For just a few dollars, you can be picking hundreds of tomatoes this summer. They’re possibly the easiest fruit to grow for beginners but there are a few common mistakes even seasoned gardeners might not consider with these plants.
Choose the Right Type: Determinate vs. Indeterminate vs. Dwarf
There are more than 10-thousand types of tomato varieties, but only three growth habits: Determinate, Indeterminate, and Dwarf. They all have their pros and cons.
Determinate tomatoes (“bush” type tomatoes)
They grow to a set size, then stop and produce a bundle of fruit all at once. These aren’t going to keep producing tomatoes into the late autumn, but they will be productive for about 2 months, which is the majority of our summer. Determinate tomatoes tend to stay compact making them a great choice for containers.
Indeterminate tomatoes ("vining type tomatoes")
They grow tall and lanky and are often called “vining tomatoes” for this reason. They will grow, flower, and produce tomatoes until frost which can be as late as Thanksgiving during mild years. These tomatoes will need some serious support in the form of a large trellis or tall tomato cage.
There’s also semi-determinate tomatoes that don’t quite fall into the extremes of either of these categories.
Dwarf tomatoes
These are a newer category bred specifically for small spaces. They stay compact like determinate types but can produce over a longer period, similar to indeterminate varieties. They’re perfect for patios, balconies, and gardeners who want high yields in tight quarters.
Tomato Requirements
Tomatoes are one of the best crops for container gardening. A single plant can produce dozens of large fruits (or hundreds if you’re growing cherry tomatoes!). Use a container that holds at least 5 gallons of soil, ensure good drainage, and choose varieties suited to confined spaces.
Tomatoes are sun-loving plants. For best production, they need at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily, though more is better. Inadequate light often leads to weak growth and poor fruiting.
Watering is just as important. Tomatoes need good draining soil and love to get drenched during hot sunny days. Fluctuations in moisture can lead to problems like cracking fruit or blossom end rot, so consistent watering (and choosing varieties resistant to cracking) will help prevent this.
The most important requirement is support. Tomato cages are usually tall enough to support “determinate types” but indeterminate tomatoes will need something taller like a trellis.
Growing Tips
Tomatoes should be one of the last plants you add to the spring garden because they require warm soil. My rule of thumb is to wait until our 10-day forecast has almost entirely nights that are 50F or warmer and daytime temperatures generally at least 70F. A night below those requirements won’t harm your plant, but consistent cool weather could invite fungal issues and put a plant into shock.
Tomatoes are the only plant I grow that benefit from being planted deeper than the soil they came in. Their stems are capable of developing roots. I plant my tomatoes about an inch deeper than needed.
With the right variety, proper sunlight, and consistent care, tomatoes can thrive in nearly any garden setup—from sprawling backyard beds to a single pot on a sunny deck. A little planning now sets you up for a steady harvest of fresh, homegrown flavor all summer long.
