What's in my Garden: Tomatoes
Published July 10, 2026
I’m pretty sure tomatoes are the most popular plant to find in someone’s vegetable garden and for good reason. They are relatively easy to grow with the right tools and come with tons of health benefits.
Health Benefits
Tomatoes are a great source of the antioxidant lycopene which can lower a person’s risk of heat disease and cancer. They’re also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.
Growing tips for tomatoes
Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost (I’ll usually start mine in March)
Cover with 1/4” soil
Soil temperature": 21-26°c
Provide lots of light after the seeds sprout to avoid spindly stocks.
Seedlings benefit from watering with Epson salt. 1 tbsp salt to 4L water.
Full Sun
pH 6.0-6.5
Heavy feeders, feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer.
I love how much you can make with tomatoes! They’re an amazing base to soups, salsas and sauces and they come in many different varieties.
I usually grow Roma tomatoes for cooking and cherry tomatoes for salads and snacking in the summer.
Recipes
My favorite tomato based soup recipe is Roasted Garlic and Tomato Soup and I make a batch of Homemade Salsa every season.
