Video: It's Tomatomania! So Why Do You Grow Tomatoes?

Matt Berger, executive producer

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Tomatomania came to town this weekend just in time to celebrate the onset of tomato growing season here in the Northeast. The annual event, which took place in CT at White Flower Farm, tours the country every Spring, showcases nearly 100 heirloom tomato varieties with names that range from (my favorite) Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes to the Green Zebra.

A few of us representing Fine Gardening magazine and VegetableGardener.com set up camp at the event on Friday to hand out tote bags and free copies of the magazine, and to capture video of the event. We asked attendees to tell us why they grow tomatoes. Their answers ranged from family tradition, to great taste, to the economy.

I grow tomatoes because it's a great activity to share with my young kids and I love the satisfaction of growing food from scratch. Unfortunately I can't cite economic reasons because it cost me a bundle to set up my vegetable garden this year and it will be a few years before it pays off.

So why do YOU grow tomatoes? Post a comment below.

Get more info on growing tomatoes: • Growing Trouble-Free Cherry Tomatoes • Selecting and Growing Great Paste Tomatoes • How to Grow Beefsteak Tomatoes  • The Road to Healthy, Productive Tomatoes  • How to Support Tomatoes  • Video: How to Prune Tomatoes

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Comments (3)

JadaE writes: I'm one of those weird Southerners who actually does NOT like tomatoes! (I know, it's a shame.) BUT, my hubby LOVES them, so I grow them especially for him, as well as a number of coworkers and family. I've got 6 different heirlooms growing this year, with plans to double that amount next season. Tomatoes are fun to grow! They have been a great way to get my kids involved in gardening. My top producers this year have been some beautiful yellow cherry tomatoes, as well as my "Talladega" and "German Queen" vines. While I can't say I want to eat them off the vine, I sure love to grow them for the folks that do! :)
Posted: 10:04 am on July 27th

MarleneF writes: It's all about the taste for me. There's nothing to compare to the taste of a homegrown tomato. My favorite is a Black Cherry tomato right off the vine - on a hot summer day, you pick one that's just about to split its skin and pop it into your mouth whole. YUM!

The first year that we built a raised bed for our tomato plants, we found used landscape timbers on Freecycle and started out very economically. Then we paid $$$ for a truckload of composted horse manure at a fundraiser auction. So much for frugal gardening! But the money went to a good cause and the manure was a great start for the garden.
Posted: 3:22 pm on May 21st

rutkmi writes: And this is the ONE year I didn't go to TomatoMania! I ordered my heirloom tomato plants by mail instead. I grow tomatoes because I can, even on my condo deck. This year I'm going for a dozen plants of different varieties, including 2 plants in those Topsy-Turvy hanging things. There's nothing like the taste of fresh-off-the-vine and non-refrigerated tomatoes! Tomatoes really are pretty low-maintenance, even in containers. They just require rich soil, all-day sun and regular watering, especially when they are in containers and more stressed. I'll grow just about any variety in containers, especially cherries!
Posted: 9:48 pm on May 18th

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