The Master Gardener: For best tomatoes, choose hot spot

This time of year with the windows full of tomato seedlings and my tummy rebelling at the thought of one more tasteless grocery store tomato, I start thinking about the perfect site for this year’s crop.

Where you put your tomato plants makes all the difference between running-down-your-arms juicy, red tomatoes and rock-hard, green marbles.

Every year I sell a lot of tomato plants at my local farmers’ market, and I’m asked the same question over and over again; how do I get my tomatoes to ripen? I tell my customers this: Think heat. Tomatoes are a warm-weather crop that loves it hot. Our too-cool nights are not conducive to ripening, so start by choosing a full-sun site that stays warm overnight.

A great location is up against the foundation of your house or garage on the west or south side (avoid the north and east sides – too cool). The plants will get great sun exposure, lots of daytime, radiant heating and the foundation is a great heat sink that releases warmth overnight. Alternatively there are some other good site choices.

A raised berm planting bed or raised vegetable bed will heat up faster and stay warm longer than flat ground. Any area adjacent to a rock or concrete retaining wall or landscape boulders is marvelous for your tomato patch. Amend the soil along your asphalt driveway and plant a row there. Anywhere that heats up, stays hot and has full sun is the perfect choice.

If none of the above options fit your site, here are a few tricks to help turn your garden patch into a tomato-loving warm microclimate:

“Use mulches like black plastic, flat rocks or compost to heat the soil.

“Plant your tomatoes in compost filled tires that heat up fast and cool down slowly.

“Set a few milk jugs filled with water among your plants – they’ll heat up during the day and release heat in the evenings.

Now that you know where to plant those tomatoes and how to keep them warm, consider a planting of early, mid-season and late varieties. Even if the weather is fickle, and it often is, at least some of them will ripen. And as for those green marbles you have left over, try krecipes for fried green tomatoes, green tomato chutney, green tomato pickles, etc.