oops! COMMON TOMATO MISTAKES

Vine-ripe tomatoes are some of summer’s great joys —here’s how to avoid 11 missteps and harvest a bumper crop.

- LISA KAMINSKI

1 FORGETTING THERE ARE DIFFERENT TOMATO TYPES

Perhaps the greatest decision to make with your tomato garden is whether you want to plant determinate or indeterminate plants.

Determinate tomatoes grow to a particular height and produce all their fruit in a short time span—within a month or two—in the summer. They work well for folks who want to harvest many tomatoes at once for projects such as making and preserving tomato sauce.

Indeterminate plants will continue to grow and produce fruit until frost hits or you pinch off the growing tips. These are great if you want to have access to fresh tomatoes throughout the warm months.

2 THINKING ALL HEIRLOOM TOMATOES ARE THE SAME

The word heirloom conjures images of gorgeous but irregular tomatoes in all sorts of hues. Remember: Not all heirloom tomatoes are the same. It's a catchall term for varieties over 50 years old that haven't changed over time. They offer different shapes, colors and flavors. Do a little research to find out what makes a particular heirloom variety special.

Dragon's Eye tomato

3 PLANTING EARLIER THAN RECOMMENDED

Tomato plants like it warm, so gardeners in the north shouldn't rush to put plants in the ground the second the snow melts. Instead, wait until freezing temperatures are long past. Tomato plants won't survive a frost without cover, so be sure that the nights don't get too cold and that the days are warm and sunny to help your tomatoes grow. Read the instructions on seed packets and plant tags to know when to start the growing season.

Yellow Pear heirloom cherry tomato

4 GROWING TOO CLOSE TOGETHER