Secrets of Selection

Secrets of Selection

Whether you’ve finalized your grow list or are still contemplating numerous options, seed-sowing time is fast approaching. Use these tips to finalize the growing list.

Tips to Finalize the Growing List

• Experience Level: Beginners may prefer resilient and easy-to-grow varieties, while experienced gardeners can focus on more challenging or unique options. Considering disease-resistant varieties minimizes the risk of crop loss, so factor this into your tomato selection.

• Growing Environment: Assess your available space to help decide between compact varieties which are ideal for containers and limited space areas or larger, sprawling varieties. Explore techniques like vertical gardening for limited space. Tailoring your tomato selection involves considering factors such as sunlight, soil type, and climate.

• Culinary Purpose: Whether it’s salads, sauces, canning, or other uses, certain varieties cater to distinct culinary needs. Choose from canning and paste tomatoes, saladettes, slicers, or stuffers. (Learn more)

• Health and Nutrition: Tomato varieties have differing nutritional profiles, that are closely tied to the color of each tomato (read more about it in our article series ‘A Rainbow of Tomato Colors,’ parts 1, 2, 3, and 4). Choose varieties that align with your personal health goals or dietary concerns, such as high lycopene, lower acidity, or seedless varieties.

• Consider Your Harvest Period: Check each variety’s days to maturity (DTM) rating to be sure the ripening period fits within your growing zone. Choose between determinate (one-time-fruiting), semi-determinate, or indeterminate (fruiting throughout the season) varieties. For longer storage, select varieties with extended shelf life or long keeper types. (Learn more)

Do you have more ideas for tips to finalize the growing list? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below.