One of the hardest aspects of growing tomatoes is selecting a cultivar or two that you like.
Tomatoes are the most popular home garden vegetable. They are available in many sizes, shapes, colors, and tastes.  Home-grown usually taste much better than those purchased at the grocery store.  One of the hardest aspects of growing tomatoes is selecting a cultivar or two that you like.  Pick a processing type like Roma for use in sauces or for canning.  Select a beefsteak or similar large tomato for slicing.  Plant a cherry or grape type for additions to salads.  Tomatoes are grown as transplants.  Transplants can either be started indoors from seeds several weeks prior to planting outdoors or purchased at garden centers and other retailers. Tomatoes are planted approximately 2 feet apart in rows.  After planting, stake or cage your tomatoes. Staking or caging tomato plants helps support the plant as it grows, makes it easier to harvest the fruit, and prevents the fruits from resting on the surface of the soil where it is more susceptible to rotting. For more information on growing tomatoes, check out Tomatoes (link) from ISU Extension and Outreach.