Strategies for Choosing Tomatoes
Strategies for Choosing Tomatoes The wonder of TomatoMania is that you get to choose from more tomato varieties than many backyard gardeners see in a lifetime. As you sort through the spectrum of tomato possibilities, try a few of these tactics to guide your search for the perfect tomato. For beginners only Grow as many [...]
Grilling with Herbs
Grilling with Herbs Savoring garden-fresh flavors is a key part of summertime living. Growing herbs—in planting beds or pots—makes preparing tasty dishes for your family even easier. Herbs give a super return on investment. For the same price of one bunch of herbs at the grocery store, you can buy a plant that will yield [...]
Tomato Planting
Planting a tomato plant When it’s planting time for your tomatoes, follow these tips to get your plants off to a solid start. Give ‘em room. Space plants 21⁄2 to 3 feet apart. This increases air circulation around plants, which helps prevent disease. Seedlings look funny planted this far apart, but they’ll fill in the [...]
Growing Tomatoes in Containers
Growing tomatoes in containers Even if garden real estate is at a premium in your yard, you can still enjoy the mouthwatering flavors of tomatoes—just grow them in containers. Tomatoes raised in containers bear fruit sooner than their in-ground counterparts. Start with a container that is at least 15 inches wide and deep with a [...]
Grow Heirloom Tomatoes
TomatoMania celebrates the best of the tomato world. As you choose varieties for your garden, consider heirlooms. These tried-and-true types fuel the passion of many tomato gardeners. Learn why tomato aficionados love heirlooms—and wouldn’t grow anything else. Heirlooms taste good. Eating an heirloom tomato is an experience in flavor. These fruits offer evocative, robust, complex [...]
Understanding Tomato Tags
Understanding Tomato Tags All it takes is one visit to TomatoMania to find your soon-to-be-favorite tomato variety. With over 180 tomatoes, it may seem overwhelming to pick a tomato you and your family will love. Making your selection is actually simple: It begins with reading the tomato tag. Description The tag contains the name and [...]
A Touch of the Tropics
A Touch of the Tropics Give your garden or patio an exotic flair by growing tropical plants. These easy-growing beauties leap out of soil, quickly growing to fill containers or beds with south-of-the-border style. Raising tropical foliage and flowering plants can give your yard resort ambience, making everyday feel like a vacation. Tropical plants grow [...]
Color Foliage
Tropical Bloomers Stir up some color in your outdoor living areas with tropical foliage. Croton, caladium, and ginger are the plant world equivalent of a Hawaiian shirt, conjuring dreams of vacation and sunny tropical isles. These fabulous foliage plants aren’t hard to grow and add as much color as a flowering annual. All three of [...]
South-of-the-Border Mixers
South-of-the-Border Mixers Some tropical plants make fabulous companions in container plantings. These mixers easily star in a container garden or accent other annuals. With tropical roots, these plants don’t survive winter outdoors, but stage a stellar performance during the hottest part of the growing season. Add a few of these beauties to your container gardens. [...]
Tropical Bloomers
Dress your summer views with tropical flowering plants. These beauties pump out bloom after bloom as the mercury climbs, especially when they’re growing in soil rich in organic matter. In containers, use a mix like Coast of Maine Gardener’s Gold Organic Potting Soil. In beds, turn under an inch or two of Bumper Crop Organic [...]
