Growing epic tomatoes likely makes it on to every vegetable gardeners wish list sooner or later. Fortunately, we now have someone who wrote the book on it, literally. Our featured guest for this episode, Craig LeHoullier wrote my new favorite book – a tomato growing guide: Epic Tomatoes; How to Select and Grow the Best Varieties of All Time.
While Craig has rocketed to rock star status in the international tomato growing scene in recent years, his long journey and decades of experience quietly growing, studying, and breeding them has made him one of the most in-demand speakers and authorities on the gardening scene today.
Over the course of three visits to Craig’s driveway garden in 2016, we tracked his progress and documented his journey throughout the growing season. Here, it’s the start of the season, with thousands of seedlings soaking up the sun.
Craig’s processes for what he does with tomatoes is fascinating, from the time he starts his seed sowing in February, through his seed saving in mid-summer and beyond. He records just about everything he does and refers to it often while continuing to pioneer new growing methods and varieties to openly share with the public.
Craig grows about 200 tomato plants each year. The result is a driveway garden that produces over a ton of produce from the harvest. Here you can see the unique growing method Craig describes in the podcast for arranging plants around a 20-gallon pot.
And while there are countless successful tomato growers out there, few if any grow as many as Craig in such a small and non-traditional space and way. And that’s where the story is. That, and his journey of discovery and his passion for the tomato — past, present, and future.
As Craig will quickly tell you, he never set out to have so many spotlights shining on him for his expertise of America’s favorite fruit. In Craig’s words; “the tomato chose him”. We are so glad for that!
Now that you’ve listened to the podcast, watch the entire episode on growing epic tomatoes we did with Craig in his Raleigh, NC driveway garden over the entire growing season.
Other topics we discussed and where to learn more:
- What to do when tomatoes get too tall
- Simple steps with video to build the ultimate tomato cage support:
- Craig’s book: Epic Tomatoes
- Craig’s blog
Links & Resources
Episode 005: What’s Wrong With My Tomato? Mid-Season Care With Craig LeHoullier
Episode 047: Tomato Seedling Mistakes with Craig LeHoullier
Episode 056: Tomato Care Checklist with Craig LeHoullier
Episode 064: Tomato Growing Season Lookback: Lessons Learned With Craig LeHoullier
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4 Responses to “003-Growing Epic Tomatoes with Craig LeHoullier”
So glad to hear that I’m not weird because I love to water by hand too. It has always been very therapeutic for me. I do use ribbon irrigation to conserve water, but when I have to water by hand I love doing it. Also nice to learn that it doesn’t make any difference on the quantity of tomatoes from one plant it you choose to cut the suckers off or not. So far I have only grown indeterminate tomatoes. My favorite way to keep them contained is to plant in a row with a large t-post in between each tomato and then string bailing twine between each post/tomato and that seems to keep them contained. By harvest time I have a hedge of tomatoes during a good year. Can’t wait to hear the next podcast on heirloom tomatoes.
I’m with you Julie as you heard in the podcast. I’d spend many hours each week with a watering wand in my hand to deliver a generous drink of water to all my newly planted trees and shrubs. And it is very zin-like to just get lost in the moment.
Thanks for writing and I hope you enjoy the next episode as well. And I’m actually doing one more episode with Craig on Monday that I’ll post by end of next week on dealing with the challenges of growing tomatoes (pests, diseases, overgrowth, etc). Should be a good one.
So glad to hear that I’m not weird because I love to water by hand too. It has always been very therapeutic for me. I do use ribbon irrigation to conserve water, but when I have to water by hand I love doing it. Also nice to learn that it doesn’t make any difference on the quantity of tomatoes from one plant it you choose to cut the suckers off or not. So far I have only grown indeterminate tomatoes. My favorite way to keep them contained is to plant in a row with a large t-post in between each tomato and then string bailing twine between each post/tomato and that seems to keep them contained. By harvest time I have a hedge of tomatoes during a good year. Can’t wait to hear the next podcast on heirloom tomatoes.
I’m with you Julie as you heard in the podcast. I’d spend many hours each week with a watering wand in my hand to deliver a generous drink of water to all my newly planted trees and shrubs. And it is very zin-like to just get lost in the moment.
Thanks for writing and I hope you enjoy the next episode as well. And I’m actually doing one more episode with Craig on Monday that I’ll post by end of next week on dealing with the challenges of growing tomatoes (pests, diseases, overgrowth, etc). Should be a good one.
OMG! Back-up crops?! That’s never occurred to me to do before. Will defintely plan to do that this year!
Totally a no-brainer Natalie! Especially at the amazing low price of free!
OMG! Back-up crops?! That’s never occurred to me to do before. Will defintely plan to do that this year!
Totally a no-brainer Natalie! Especially at the amazing low price of free!