How to Grow Homestead Tomatoes

Tomatoes are lush, vining plants that are available as hybrid or heirloom varieties. Hybrid tomatoes are crosses, bred for quick production and disease-free growing. These tomatoes grow fruits with nonviable seeds and are available only as seedlings. Heirloom tomatoes such as the Homestead variety, grow from seeds with long histories of farm-growing and hand-breeding. Heirloom plants grow tomatoes with viable seeds and have reputations for sweeter, juicier and more tasteful fruit. Homestead tomato plants produce large fruit -- weighing up to 8 ounces each -- when provided the right combination of heat, moisture and nutrition.

Starter pots

Starter soil

3-inch pots

Potting soil

Quick-draining soil

Organic compost

Fertilizer

Stakes or tomato cages

Mulch

Start Homestead tomatoes from seed indoors four to six weeks before the last expected frost in your area. Prepare a starter pot for each seed with starter soil. Plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep. Water with 1/2 inch of water and set the pots in the sun. Seeds should germinate within 10 days, and the plants may be moved when they reach a height of 3 inches.

Fill 3-inch pots with potting soil and move the tomato seedlings to these larger pots. Keep the tomatoes in the sun and water them once a week to maintain soil moisture. Maintain this setting until you move the tomatoes outside.

Plant Homestead tomatoes in spring after the danger of frost has passed. These tomatoes require long growing seasons, taking 80 days to reach maturity. They do best when they mature and fruit in the extreme heat of late summer.

Find a spot that gets full sun for eight hours every day and offers complete drainage. Homestead tomatoes will bloom and fruit only if they receive the right amount of sun, and may fail if they grow in shade. Dig a mixture of half quick-draining soil and half organic potting mix into the top 4 inches of soil to give tomatoes good drainage and rich, acidic nutrition. Add tomato-specific 8-32-16 or 6-24-24 fertilizer to the top inch of soil before planting.

Move Homestead tomato seedlings outdoors after the last frost. Place the seedlings two to 3 feet apart in rows separated by four to five feet to give the plants the room to grow and thrive. Closer planting may lead to a lack of sunshine or air circulation, and to tomato failure. Tie the plants to vegetable cages or stakes as they grow. Homestead plants require strong support for their large, heavy fruits.

Give Homestead tomato plants 2 inches of water each week. Spread a 2-inch layer of organic mulch over the soil to conserve moisture and heat for the roots. Feed the tomatoes 40 days after planting with tomato-specific fertilizer to enhance blooming and fruiting.

Harvest Homestead tomatoes when they turn deep red. Test the tomatoes with your fingers to measure ripeness; ripe tomatoes will feel slightly springy. Leave the tomatoes on the vine for at least a week after their maturity date to achieve sweeter, juicier tomatoes with vine ripening.

Homestead tomatoes are particularly good for salads, sandwiches and canning.