Tomato growing tips from an expert

Tomatoes are almost certainly the most popular vegetable for home gardeners. I know plenty of people who plant only tomatoes, either in pots or in a small plot, because a sun-kissed tomato is divine compared to supermarket tomatoes, which are mealy and bland. Growing tomatoes requires some work, because there are insects and diseases lurking around every corner. There are cages to be erected, pruning, watering, and soil supplementation to combat blossom end rot. Don’t get me started on going to war with the squirrels who are not content to steal one tomato but must try all of them, like a little furry Goldilocks. But what if growing tomatoes wasn’t such a chore? One expert, Erich Stekovics, offers advice that some may find shocking: leave your tomatoes alone.

Stekovics knows a thing or two about tomatoes: he tends to over 7,000 varieties on his farm in Austria and has written extensively about them. “The tomato is one of the three most intelligent plants on the planet,” Stekovics tells Saveur Magazine. “It’s been in existence for over 8,000 years and can be grown from Mexico to Siberia.” Through years of experimentation, he has developed simple rules, some of which raise eyebrows. He never waters, prunes, or provides supports for his plants, allowing them to trail across the ground. He subjects young plants to severe water stress to make them hardier. If you follow his techniques, he says, you will be rewarded with bushels of gorgeous tomatoes.

Stekovics also believes that – contrary to conventional wisdom – you should plant tomatoes in the same spot year after year. Most gardeners are taught to rotate tomatoes to keep bugs and diseases at bay. However, Stekovics believes that tomatoes grown in the same spot as their parents will recognize the microclimate, allowing it to thrive. He claims that after five to ten years, you will get the best tomatoes ever.