How to Store Your Tomato Harvest

A close up horizontal picture of a metal wire basket containing a selection of red, ripe tomatoes and green unripe fruits set on a cloth on a countertop.

Are you wondering what to do with your end-of-season surplus of green and ripe red tomatoes? Some can be kept in boxed storage to continue to ripen and enjoy fresh. But for a bumper harvest, long-term preservation is often needed. Find all the details on how to store your homegrown tomatoes right here. Read more now.

How to Dry Homegrown Tomatoes

A close up horizontal image of a wicker basket set on the ground in the garden filled with a pile of freshly harvested tomatoes, pictured on a soft focus background.

When you nail the growing process, you might be drowning in more tomatoes than you know what to do with. Learn how to dehydrate tomatoes in three different ways: in the oven, sun drying, and in a dehydrator. Then, learn how to use and store those delicious dried tomatoes so you can enjoy them for months to come.

How to Plant and Grow Roma Tomatoes

A cluster of roma tomatoes growing on the vine.

Roma tomatoes are beloved for their thick-walled, meaty flesh and bold taste. They’re the go-to variety for rich tomato sauces, pastes, purees, and make a delicious, dripless bruschetta or salsa. And they’re easy to grow in containers or the garden. Find all our best tips for growing Roma tomatoes right here.

Blossom-End Rot: What to Do if Your Tomatoes Rot on the Bottom

A close up of a hand from the bottom of the frame holding a green, unripe tomato that is suffering from a condition known as blossom-end rot where the bottom of the fruit turns black and watery.

Ripening tomatoes sometimes develop a dark, sunken spot at the blossom end, known as blossom-end rot. But this damage to your crop is not a sign of disease – it’s due to a lack of calcium in the fruit. Read on to learn about the measures you can take to keep your tomatoes safe from this physiological disorder.

How to Make Tomatoes Turn Red When They Refuse to Ripen on the Vine

Close up closter of red tomatoes growing on the vine.

It’s so sad when tomatoes won’t ripen on the vine. Stay one step ahead of the coming frost with these tips to make homegrown tomatoes turn red. Temperature, cultivar selection, and stress all come into play. And sometimes you can bring green fruit inside to ripen. Our motto: No tomato left behind. Read more now.

Can You Freeze Fresh Tomatoes? Tips for Freezing Your Homegrown Crop

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When life gives you a bumper crop of tomatoes, you’re in luck if you have room in the freezer. But you need to be savvy. Make the most of a tomato glut without wasting time or energy, and try our tips for making sauce or concasse, freezer jam, and salsa, as well as freezing plain, unpeeled tomatoes. Read more now.

4 Easy Ways to Hand-Pollinate Tomatoes

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A bountiful harvest of tasty homegrown tomatoes is a treat that shouldn’t be missed. But sometimes plants need a helping hand. Don’t let bad weather or a lack of pollinators thwart your green thumb. Learn four easy ways to hand pollinate tomatoes and you’ll always enjoy an abundant crop. Read more now.

How to Water Tomato Plants

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Tomato plants require consistent, deep watering in order to thrive. By irrigating plants correctly, you can avoid common problems while simultaneously improving the quality of your crop. Read more now to learn how to water tomatoes over the course of the growing season to maximize yields of juicy, flavorful fruits.

How to Prevent and Treat Early Blight of Tomatoes

A close up of the foliage of a plant suffering from Alternaria solani, causing black spots to develop on the leaves, pictured in light sunshine on a soft focus background.

Tomato plants are commonly infected by a fungus that manifests as spots shaped like bull’s-eyes on the leaves and fruit. Your plants are likely to have early blight, caused by the fungus Alternaria. This disease is not usually fatal, but it can ruin your harvest. Read on to learn how to manage this ubiquitous disease.

How to Grow Ornamental Peppers

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Splashy, vibrant ornamental peppers can add dazzling bursts of color and texture to the landscape. While they are technically edible, most people find them lacking in flavor or too spicy to enjoy – so why not add them to the garden just for show? Learn how to grow these brilliant beauties now.

How and When to Prune Your Tomato Plants

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You don’t have to prune your tomatoes, but if you do, you’ll be glad you did! Pruning improves your harvest in terms of both volume and quality of the fruit, and it also keeps plants healthier. But doing it wrong can do the total opposite. Read more now to learn how to prune tomatoes the right way.

How to Grow and Care for Tomatillos

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With tart, round, green or purple fruits encased in papery husks, tomatillos are tomato relatives that grow quickly in summer gardens. Our tips will help you grow a bumper crop of tart orbs, harvest them properly, and enjoy them in dishes ranging from the traditional salsa verde to casseroles and jams. Read more.

How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers

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The flavor of homegrown tomatoes is an experience no one should miss. Even if you don’t have the real estate for a vegetable patch, you can still enjoy their rich taste with fast growing and prolific container plants on your deck or patio. Learn how to grow tomatoes in containers and pots with this guide. Read more now.

Tips for Growing Hawaiian Pineapple Tomatoes

A close up horizontal image of ripe and unripe 'Hawaiian Pineapple' tomatoes growing on the vine.

One of the prettiest, most flavorful beefsteak heirloom tomatoes, ‘Hawaiian Pineapple’ has yellow and red flesh and a sweeter than average flavor. The vigorous vines reach seven feet tall and produce fruits weighing one to two pounds each! With our tips, you can grow your own supply for recipes and to preserve.

Tips for Growing Heirloom ‘Kellogg’s Breakfast’ Tomatoes

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Solid orange slicing tomatoes, ‘Kellogg’s Breakfast’ grow on tall vines that need strong cages or stakes. The flavorful heirlooms produce one- to two-pound fruits in mid- to late summer. Our guide covers the traits that make this beefsteak a home cook and gardener’s favorite, and we share growing tips for top yields.

How Does Color Impact Tomato Flavor?

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Tomatoes come in a huge range of colors and flavors, and the pigment influences how a tomato tastes. Black ones are complex and smoky, reds offer a balance of sweetness and acid, and yellows are mostly sweet. This guide explains how color impacts flavor so you’ll know what to expect when you pick up that striped fruit.

15 of the Best Italian Eggplant Varieties

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Eggplant is a warm weather crop for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 10. When you grow your own, you can provide your family with unique varieties in a range of shapes and colors. Italian eggplants feature thin skins and fewer seeds than the types found in most grocery stores. Discover 15 of the best Italian varieties now.

How to Plant and Grow ‘Costoluto Genovese’ Tomatoes

A close up horizontal image of a pile of freshly harvested, ripe red 'Costoluto Genovese' tomatoes in a wicker basket.

‘Costoluto Genovese’ offers intense flavor in an Italian canning tomato you can enjoy fresh in BLTs or caprese salad, too. This heirloom has a distinct lobed shape and bright red fruits with a high acid content. With our guide, you can harvest dozens of tasty tomatoes from each plant in your home garden.

How to Plant and Grow Tomatoes in Clay Soil

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Think tomatoes won’t thrive in clay soil? Here’s where we shatter that gardening myth. Even clay can’t stop a determined vegetable gardener from growing a bounty of tomatoes. The strategies for producing top yields and great flavor from tomatoes grown in heavy soil start with soil prep, and end at harvest. Read more.

How to Plant and Grow Hot Peppers

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Would you pick spicy over sweet any day of the week? Do you bypass the bells and buy handfuls of habaneros instead when you head to the grocery store? When someone warns you their stuffed jalapenos are spicy, do you chuckle? If you’re someone who likes it hot, learn about growing and raising chili peppers in our guide.

What’s the Difference Between Determinate and Indeterminate Tomatoes?

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Wondering what the difference is between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes – and what this means for your garden? From staking and pruning to harvesting, these two types of tomato plants grow differently – and understanding their differences will guide you to the best tomato harvests. To learn more, keep reading.

9 of the Best White Eggplant Varieties

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Looking for something unique that will really stand out in your veggie garden this year? These nine white eggplant varieties will glow as they grow. Usually less bitter than purple cultivars, white varieties come in different shapes and sizes. To learn more about these delicious white eggplant cultivars, keep reading.

How to Identify and Control Tomato Hornworms

A close up horizontal image of a tomato hornworm munching away on a ripe fruit pictured on a dark background.

Tomato hornworms might look interesting with that curved horn, but you might feel more frustrated than intrigued when you notice they are munching all the leaves off your tomato plant. This guide covers everything you need to know about these large caterpillars, including several effective ways to control infestations.

21 of the Best Heirloom Tomato Varieties for the Garden

A close up of a red and yellow deeply ribbed heirloom tomato, growing on the vine in the garden, in light sunshine.

If you are thinking of planting tomatoes in your vegetable garden, have you tried growing non-hybrid heirloom varieties? Capture the texture, taste, and colors of the past with these old-fashioned favorites. Learn about 21 of the best heirloom tomato varieties available and choose your favorites. Read more now.

17 of the Best Cherry Tomatoes to Plant in Your Garden

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Freshly picked cherry tomatoes are the perfect healthy snack, and they’re great in salads or roasted on the grill. Easily cultivated, the vigorous plants produce abundant clusters of fruit in containers on the patio or out in the garden. Don’t miss our guide to 17 of the best cherry tomatoes to plant in your garden.

How to Grow Sweeter Tomatoes in Your Garden

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Want to grow juicy, sweet tomatoes with the best flavor? Our guide tells you how to select the sweetest varieties and encourage sugary flavor with proper growing conditions. Rich soil, supplemental water, and vine pruning are all important. Grow the best tasting cherry, plum, and beefsteaks in your summer garden.

How to Identify and Prevent Late Blight of Tomatoes

A close up horizontal image of a tomato plant suffering from a bad case of late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, a nefarious water mold.

Late blight can rapidly devastate entire tomato crops under favorable conditions. Experts advise checking plants at least twice a week to monitor for this infection, and you can consult local resources to find out if it is active in your area. Read more to learn what to look for and how to prevent late blight.

Grow Your Own ‘Cherokee Purple’ Tomatoes

A close up horizontal image of a pile of 'Cherokee Purple' tomatoes.

‘Cherokee Purple’ tomatoes produce delicious and bountiful fruit with a sweet yet smoky flavor, perfect for sandwiches, pizzas, and pastas. This indeterminate variety is emblematic of all heirlooms, and a story of seed exchanges, passed from one hand to another, mark this variety with character and history.

Tips for Pollinating Eggplant by Hand

A close up horizontal image of purple eggplants developing on the branch pictured in light filtered sunshine with soil in soft focus in the background.

If you want to hand-pollinate your own eggplants but aren’t sure how, then this is the guide for you. We’ll show you how easy it is to manually pollinate these tasty nightshades for a delicious crop this summer. Have your pick of three simple hand pollination methods to help ensure a savory, meaty harvest. Read more.

How to Plant and Grow Brandywine Tomatoes

A close up horizontal image of two Solanum lycopersicum growing on the vine in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Often considered to be the perfect sandwich tomato, Brandywines produce large, sweet, beefsteak style fruits that can grow up to two pounds in size. It’s no wonder these are one of the most popular heirloom tomatoes to grow in the garden. Continue on to learn how to grow delicious and flavorful ‘Brandywine’ tomatoes.

Eggplant Spacing: How Far Apart to Plant

A close up horizontal image of small Solanum melongena fruits growing in rows in the garden.

Eggplant spacing might seem straightforward, but once you dive into the world of aubergines you’ll realize the plants come in a few different sizes. Even more intriguing, eggplants can be grown as short-lived perennials and the spacing requirements change accordingly. To find out everything you need to know, read more now.

5 Reasons Your Eggplant Blossoms Are Falling Off

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Few things are more rewarding than growing your own eggplant. But what if your plants keep dropping flowers? How will they ever produce fruit? In this guide, you’ll learn the most common reasons that blossoms drop or fail to develop in the first place. A healthy crop of aubergines can still be yours! Read more.

How to Plant and Grow Eggplant in Your Vegetable Garden

A collection of various cultivars of eggplant fruit on a wooden table.

Eggplant will win you over with its array of colors and versatility in the kitchen. Native to Asia and in cultivation for thousands of years, this long-season, heat-loving annual is now enjoyed all over the world. Read more now.

How to Identify and Control Septoria Leaf Spot on Tomatoes

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the bottom of the frame holding the foliage of a tomato plant suffering from Septoria leaf spot, a fungal disease.

If you live in a climate that tends to be hot and humid, Septoria leaf spot can be a devastating disease of tomatoes. This fungal infection can be very persistent, so you may need to use fungicides to keep it under control. Read on to learn how to prevent, identify, and control this disease in the garden.

How to Overwinter Hot Pepper Plants

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Hot peppers are typically grown as annuals, but did you know that you can overwinter these perennial plants for a larger harvest next season? With the right preparation, you can keep your favorite varieties dormant in the winter months and they’ll come back healthy in spring. Learn how to winterize hot pepper plants.

How To Identify, Prevent, and Treat Common Tomato Diseases

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Not sure what’s plaguing your tomatoes? Our roundup of common tomato plant diseases can help you to identify, treat, and prevent a variety of fungal, bacterial, and viral ailments, as well as other issues that may arise. From Alternaria stem canker to Verticillium wilt, we’ve got you covered. Read more now.

How to Prevent, Identify, and Treat Blight on Tomatoes

A close up of leaves suffering from a plant disease called blight. The foliage has turned yellow and is wilting, pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Three types of aggressive microbes can cause tomato blight. Early blight and Septoria blight are fungal diseases, while late blight is caused by a water mold. The symptoms of these diseases all differ slightly, and this guide will show you how to prevent, identify, and treat these insidious infections in your crop.

Tomato Big Bud Disease: Symptoms and Prevention Options

A close up of the distorted flower buds of a tomato plant suffering from a disease spread by leafhoppers, caused by a phytoplasma.

Excessively large green tomato buds that do not develop into flowers can be a sign that your plants are infected with tomato big bud phytoplasma. This disease is incurable, so your main focus should be on prevention. Read on to learn what to look for and how to prevent this disease from infecting your tomato plants.

Identify and Treat Tomatoes with Sclerotinia Stem Rot

A close up of a tomato plant growing in the garden suffering from sclerotinia timber rot.

Sclerotinia stem rot, or white mold of tomato lives up to its name causing brittle dead stalks filled with fluffy white clumps of fungus. This disease frequently kills tomato plants, and the fungi can live in the soil for up to a decade. Read on to learn how to recognize the symptoms and prevent it from spreading.

What Is an Heirloom Tomato?

A farmer holding a large basket filled with heirloom tomatoes in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes.

They’re colorful, juicy, and oh so tasty – we know an heirloom tomato when we see one. Heirloom tomatoes come in all shapes and sizes, have been grown in gardens for centuries, and often have charming histories attached to them. Want to know what makes these tomatoes worthy of handing down? To find out, keep reading.

How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes

A close up of a ripe cherry tomato plant with water droplets in the sun with green foliage.

Do you fancy the idea of picking tasty, tangy cherry tomatoes fresh from the vine? Easy to grow and vigorous, they produce an abundance of bite-sized fruit in an array of beautiful colors. Among the earliest to ripen, they deliver a long season as well. Get all the best tips for growing cherry tomatoes right here.

Cracked Fruit on the Vine: Are Split Tomatoes Safe to Eat?

A close up of two tomatoes on the vine, one of which has a large crack running down the skin from the stem end, pictured in bright sunshine. The background is in soft focus.

Picture a red tomato ripening on the vine, perfectly plump and juicy. One day, you notice a split down the side! Are all of your gardening efforts wasted? Take a look at what causes splitting, and most importantly, whether you can salvage your harvest and safely eat tomatoes that have split or cracked. Read more.

How and When to Compost Tomato Plants

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Whether or not to compost tomatoes is a controversial topic in the gardening world. Fears that composting tomatoes will encourage pathogens, create messes, and cause trouble the following season lead many gardeners to trash their plants. Read on to examine these concerns and learn how to safely compost tomato plants.

How to Grow and Care for Tomatoes in Your Garden

A close up of three ripe tomatoes growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

The fresh taste of juicy homegrown tomatoes is one of the joys of summer gardening. Whether you enjoy them tossed in a summer salad or cooked in a classic sauce, tomatoes are a must-have in the veggie garden. Learn how to plant and grow your own tasty tomatoes and enjoy the fresh taste of summer. Read more now.

The Top 10 Reasons to Love Tomatoes and Add More to Your Diet

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Whether you like your tomatoes raw, stewed, juiced, pureed, or transformed into a sauce, we can all agree that they’re amazing veggies. Tasty to eat and enjoyable to grow, they also offer incredible health benefits and contain essential vitamins and minerals. Learn the top 10 reasons to love tomatoes – read more now.

21 of the Best Japanese Eggplant Varieties

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Japanese eggplant is a delight on the plate and you can grow this veggie right in your own backyard. When choosing seeds, you’ll find an incredible selection, in shades that are dark black, bright purple, lavender, pink, and even green. Read on to discover 21 of the best Japanese and Asian eggplant varieties.

15 of the Best Tomato Hybrids for Your Veggie Patch

A selection of different heirloom tomatoes shown on a wooden background. A variety of large and small red fruits, as well as yellow and dark green cultivars. Some of the smaller fruits are still attached to the vine, and to the top of the frame are some herbs, just visible.

From the teeniest, tiniest cherry all the way up to the biggest, beefiest tomato, hybrid tomatoes come in a range of shades, shapes, and sizes, meaning there’s a perfect option tickle everyone’s taste buds! Read on to find out which variety of hybrid tomato ‘pips’ your interest in our guide to the top tomato hybrids.

Grow Crunchy, Sweet Bell Peppers in Your Own Backyard

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Growing bell peppers in your own garden is beyond rewarding. Sweet yet savory, crunchy, and versatile, they’re delicious at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And the amazing varieties you get to choose from when you grow your own will motivate you to keep growing bell peppers year after year. Learn more on Gardener’s Path.