Tomatoes are one of the most popular garden crops in America because they give gardeners what few plants can offer: color, flavor, usefulness, and endless variety in a single season. From red slicers and cherry tomatoes to purple heirlooms, paste tomatoes, yellow types, and regional favorites, tomatoes are often the crop that turns a casual gardener into a serious seed starter. They are familiar enough for beginners, but deep enough for experienced growers to study for years.  Starting tomatoes from seed is not difficult, but it does reward attention. Warm soil, steady moisture, strong light, and proper timing matter. A tomato seedling can become weak and leggy if light is poor, but with good conditions, tomatoes are among the most satisfying crops to raise from seed. Heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes can generally grow true to type when properly isolated and saved, while hybrid tomatoes usually do not reproduce the same plant from saved seed.

The Hatchi tomatoes category brings together tomato growing guides, varieties, state growing articles, seed-starting help, disease and pest information, heirloom tomatoes, modern tomatoes, and practical advice for gardeners who want better plants, better fruit, and better results from seed.