Tomatoes are consistently the most popular plant in American vegetable gardens, rewarding a summer of steady watering and staking with a harvest that far outshines anything sold in a grocery store.
Tomatoes come in two basic growth habits — determinate varieties that stay compact and ripen most of their fruit at once, and indeterminate varieties that keep growing and producing until frost — a distinction worth knowing before choosing a variety and support system.
Tomatoes want full sun, rich soil, and deep, consistent watering — inconsistent moisture is a common cause of blossom-end rot and cracked fruit. Staking or caging plants early keeps sprawling vines off the ground and improves airflow, which helps prevent common fungal diseases.
Pinching off the small side shoots ("suckers") that emerge between the main stem and branches on indeterminate varieties directs more energy into fruit production rather than excess foliage.
