Over the past twenty years, commercial growers have produced tomato varieties that valued shelf-life and unblemished prettiness over taste — and the result has been an almost tasteless tomato at your local supermarket (the baskets might taste as good). Put taste back on top with heirloom varieties — some can even flourish on your patio in a 7-gallon-sized container!

Heirlooms vary in their production time, so you can sequence your varieties over the summer. A vine-ripened tomato salad can be yours for the picking! These tomatoes may not look as pretty as the ones in the local supermarket — but the taste more than makes up for it.

Planting and growing directions:

The one disadvantage to heirloom varieties is that they tend to be less disease-resistant than the hybrids. Choose the healthiest plants you can find, buy a few extras in case, and especially keep any cigarettes far away (if you smoke yourself, don't even think about tending them with a cigarette in your mouth — that's asking for mosaic virus, even with a resistant hybrid). If you've grown a few extra, and they all stay healthy, your non-gardening neighbors will probably be happy to take some of your great-tasting tomatoes off your hands.

Once you get your plants, if they are greenhouse-grown, harden them off for a week or so before transplanting (leave them outside for just a couple of hours the first day, then gradually increase the length of time, watering as needed). Before you transplant, amend your soil with a good planting mixGardner & Bloome HarvestSupreme or Kellogg Amend., If you are planting in pots, use a potting mixGardner & Bloome Blue Ribbon Potting Soil — don't use garden soil. Plant them in the evening or on a cloudy day, and they will be less likely to droop. To make for a stronger plant, bury tomato stems up to the plant's second true set of leaves (they'll develop roots all along the buried stem).

Stake or cage as needed (depending on the variety), water as necessary, and fertilize regularly Dr. Earth Liquid Solution 3-3-3 or Dr. Earth Organic 5 — and you'll have a tomato crop that can't be beat!

A note to those growing tomatoes in pots on a narrow patio: you can espalier tomatoes! They won't produce as well but if it's the only way you'll have the room to grow them at all, try it — half a crop is better than being stuck with the tasteless 'tomatoes' sold in the supermarkets.

One thing to watch when buying plants for sun or shade is that we gardeners often grow plants from very different climates than our own. A plant that would be a sun-hog in Alaska will probably require some protection from semi-tropical sun, for instance. So keep in mind that sun and shade are, to some extent, relative to the climate. But all plants (hydroponics aside) need the right soil, as well as the right amount of light, to stay healthy.

Many of the most popular true shade-loving plants (from the forest floor) are also acid-loving plants. Also, many shade plants come from areas with a high annual rainfall (50 inches or more). If your soil is alkaline, you will need to amend the soil extensively. It's also a good idea to pre-plan for the water needs of shade plants. You might want to consider a drip irrigation system, which uses less water than other methods.

Preparing the soil:

Your very first step should be to get your soil tested. Is it acid, alkaline, or balanced? That makes a big difference. Your next step should be to amend the soil with a good planting mix, using enough for the area. Gardner & Bloome Acid Planting Mix Kellogg Amend

Although sun-loving plants can often handle poor soil better than shade-lovers, and are often more drought-tolerant, a good planting mix is still needed if you want a truly healthy plant. Sun-lovers have widely varying soil requirements; some even prefer somewhat alkaline soil. Our professionals will be happy to help you find the right soil amendments for your plants.

When planting in a container, for shade or sun, use a good potting soilGardner & Bloome Potting Soil.