How Many Tomato Plants Does it Take to Feed a Family of 4?

Number

• Although yields are affected by a host of variables, including weather, soil condition and the growing season's length, a general rule of thumb is to sow two tomato plants per household member. If your location has a long growing season and you don’t plan to store or preserve your tomato harvest, then stagger plantings by two or three weeks so the crop does not ripen all at once. One 10-foot row of cherry tomato plants yields about 45 pounds of fruit while one 10-foot row of standard tomato plants yields roughly 25 pounds of fruit, according to Louisiana State University AgCenter's website. Five cherry tomato plants can be spaced 2 feet apart to form a 10-foot row.

Types

• With more than 400 cultivars from which to choose, you could grow new tomato cultivars every year without repeating yourself. If you want to narrow your selection, first consider determinate and indeterminate types. Although determinate tomatoes typically produce fruit earlier, they stop production upon maturity. Indeterminate types, on the other hand, continue producing until killed by frost. The next consideration is purpose. The best tomatoes for sauce and salsa are typically thick-walled, dryer Roma-style tomatoes. Two examples of heirloom cultivars include “San Marzano” and “Amish Paste.” Cherry and standard-sized tomatoes that are eaten fresh, have thin skins and have dense, juicy interiors come in an array of colors, each with a distinctive flavor. Consider these cultivars: “Green Zebra,” “Amana Orange” and “Black Cherry.”

Growing Tips

• When buying tomato plants for your garden, look for specimens with thick stems and dark-green leaves. Avoid overgrown or spindly plants and plants with small tomatoes already on them. Water the plants at the soil level with a soaker hose or watering can, to avoid wetting the leaves. Stake plants to avoid their fruits contacting the ground and to prevent their branches from breaking under heavy loads of fruit. Indeterminate tomato plants easily can reach 6 feet; so use sturdy stakes. In mid-season, tuck a fresh layer of compost around the plants to sustain their growth. Periodically pinch back all suckers growing near the base of each plant, allowing the plants to direct their energy into fruit production.

Harvesting Tips

• Although you might have heard that vine-ripened tomatoes taste best, research by the University of California refines that old adage. Its study found that a tomato reaches its full sweetness and acidity balance when it has about 20 percent of its full-ripe color. Peak flavor follows this mark, but it can be achieved off or on the vine. Pick standard-size tomatoes when they achieve 60 to 80 percent of their full color for best results, and pick cherry tomatoes when they blush 85 to 95 percent of their full color. Finish ripening the fruits in an open paper bag that is out of direct sunlight.