5 Essential Questions to Consider Before Planting Tomatoes in Your Maricopa Garden

Tomatoes continue to reign as the most favored choice among home gardeners. Their ease of cultivation coupled with nutritional benefits makes them a staple. Rich in vitamins A and C, tomatoes also offer potassium and antioxidants, contributing to health benefits including cancer prevention due to their lycopene content.

When selecting tomato varieties, several factors come into play. First, consider the intended use of the fruit. Tiny cherry tomatoes, such as Red Robin, Sweet 100, and Gold Nugget, excel in salads. In contrast, Roma and San Marzano serve well for canning and sauces due to their meaty texture. For fresh slicing, Brandywine and Cherokee Purple varieties are excellent choices.

Your gardening space also influences your selection. Compact plants thrive in smaller areas or pots, producing smaller fruits. Bush-style tomatoes require less staking, making them ideal for limited spaces. Conversely, vine tomatoes need support for optimal yield.

If you’re planning to can or preserve, think about whether you want a multitude of fruits all at once. Determinate varieties ripen together, while indeterminate types provide a continuous harvest over time. This distinction is crucial and is typically indicated on the plant tag.

Another point to ponder is the choice between heirloom and hybrid tomatoes. Heirloom varieties have a rich history and are renowned for their taste, although they can be more temperamental in the garden. Hybrids, developed for disease resistance and consistency, tend to have thicker skin that reduces cracking.

Color diversity is another appealing aspect of tomatoes, which come in various hues and sizes. Newly bred varieties may be multicolored, with colors ranging from pale gold to deep purple. Typically, yellow and orange tomatoes are lower in acidity compared to their red counterparts.

If you’re eager to cultivate your own tomato garden, the Master Gardener Plant Sale on March 1 at 37860 W. Smith-Enke Road offers an array of focused tomato varieties to choose from, starting at 7:45 a.m.

Wende Gehrt serves as a Pinal County Master Gardener, sharing insights on the art of growing tomatoes.