Time to Order Tomato Seeds

Tomatoes are probably the most popular vegetable in the summer garden. But in most nurseries and the garden centers of most big chain stores, only a few varieties are available. A horticulturist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System says if you want to grow something different than standard tomato varieties, you are going to have to grow your own transplants.

Tony Glover, a regional Extension horticulture agent based at the Birmingham Botanical Garden, says the choices available in seed catalogs can be daunting.

All tomatoes fall into two categories: determinate and indeterminate. Glover says determinate tomatoes are often called bush tomatoes. They generally produce for a shorter harvest period -- about 4 to 6 weeks.