FROM THE GARDEN

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Tomatoes need four things to grow—sun, space, water and support. You can't control how much sun you get each day, but to make sure it reaches your tomatoes, allow about two feet in between each plant, and don't plant them in a shady area.

For support—I don't particularly care for the traditional method of staking or the look of cages—instead I use tomato ladders, which help tomatoes to grow up rather than out.

When I plot my vegetable garden each spring, I carefully plan where to plant my tomatoes. I rotate them every year to a new bed and I cover that bed with at least two inches of compost. Look for fertilizers designed for tomatoes and follow the label directions or throw a shovel full of compost around the plants every other week. Remember to keep your tomato plants well watered—water them deeply every four days and then let them dry. Warning: Watering everyday will make the roots rot.

When you are out shopping for a tomato, pick it up and smell it. A good tomato will smell like, well, a tomato, especially at the stem end. If you get the tomato home and it has a lackluster taste, sprinkle a little salt, balsamic vinegar or honey on top to accentuate the balance of sweetness and acidity. Grilling or roasting a tomato will evaporate the tomato's moisture and concentrate its flavor, and without a doubt, there is a tomato for every dish you want to make. Some of the more common ones you will find in most local markets:

Beefsteak tomatoes are good for slicing and hold their shape well on sandwiches and burgers.

Roma tomatoes, also called plum or egg tomatoes, are elongated in shape, come in a variety of colors and are great for cooking and drying.

Green tomatoes, because their sugars aren't fully developed, have a tart, citrusy tang. They are great cooked, and some of the smaller varieties add a nice dimension in a mixed tomato salad

Cherry tomatoes have a sweet delicate flavor with low acidity. They are great raw or roasted in the oven.

Yellow, orange and white tomatoes are low in acid and can be sweeter than a lot of reds.

Purple or black tomatoes have complex flavor that reminds me of red wine.

Why not partake of the many varieties of this delicious plant! And to make the most of this year's harvest, see my tomato recipes.