The Joy of Growing Your Own Tomatoes
The Joy of Growing Your Own Tomatoes
I love tomatoes in almost every form. Fresh slices in a salad, chunky salsa with tortilla chips, homemade tomato sauce over pasta, and yes, even ketchup. If it’s made from tomatoes, there’s a good chance I’ll enjoy it.
I’ve been growing tomatoes for many years. When I lived in a small studio apartment, I didn’t have a yard, so I grew them in pots and planters on my balcony. Today, I have a backyard, but I still grow most of my tomatoes in large containers. Every growing season, I try something new. I enjoy experimenting with different varieties and seeing what works best.
This year was my most ambitious tomato season yet.
Starting from Seed
I decided to grow heirloom Brandywine tomatoes from seed. Heirloom varieties are older types of vegetables that have been passed down for generations. Many people believe they have richer flavors than the tomatoes commonly found in grocery stores.
Instead of buying young plants, I started my seeds indoors using a small aquaponics system that I built myself. Aquaponics combines fish and plants in the same system. The fish provide nutrients for the plants through their waste, and the plants help clean the water for the fish.
My setup is simple. It’s a small aquarium with mollies and a few water snails. I built a custom lid that holds small seedling pots filled with coco coir, a growing material made from coconut husks. The seeds sprouted quickly, and before long I had healthy little tomato plants reaching toward the light.
Once the seedlings were a few inches tall, I transplanted them into small pots filled with soil. They stayed indoors for several more weeks until they were strong enough to move outside.
Preparing the Garden
While the young plants were growing, I prepared my large planters.
I reused my automated olla irrigation system. Ollas are clay watering spikes buried in the soil that slowly release water directly to the roots as the surrounding soil dries out. My system connects twelve olla spikes with irrigation tubing to a larger water reservoir. It helps keep the soil evenly moist while using much less water than traditional watering methods.
The best part is that the reservoir is filled with rainwater we collect from the roof of our house. Instead of letting that water flow into the storm drain, we capture it in rain barrels and use it to irrigate the garden. It feels good knowing that every tomato is watered with rain that would have otherwise gone to waste. Here in Southern California, where water is such a valuable resource, every gallon we can save makes a difference.
Growing tomatoes hasn’t always been easy.
Over the years we’ve battled spider mites, powdery mildew, aphids, rats, and squirrels. Sometimes we’d finally get beautiful tomatoes growing, only to have animals eat them before we could harvest them.
We tried just about everything. We released ladybugs to eat aphids. We sprayed neem oil to help control insects. We sprinkled cayenne pepper around the plants to discourage animals. We even set rat traps. Some of these methods helped, but none solved every problem.
We also experimented with companion planting. Companion plants are different plants grown together because they help each other by attracting beneficial insects or discouraging pests. Basil looked nice next to the tomatoes but didn’t seem to make much difference. One year we planted mint, which definitely grew well. In fact, it grew a little too well and nearly took over the entire planter.
Trying Something Different
This season, I decided to combine several companion plants instead of relying on just one.
Along with the tomatoes, I planted basil, oregano, marigolds, and sweet alyssum. Marigolds are often used to help discourage certain garden pests, while sweet alyssum produces tiny flowers that attract beneficial insects and pollinators. I planted everything fairly close together to create a dense, living garden.
The results were encouraging. Every plant seemed healthy and happy.
But then another familiar problem appeared.
Becoming a Bumble Bee
When the tomato plants started flowering, I noticed there were very few pollinators visiting the garden.
While searching online for ideas, I came across a YouTube video that explained something I had never heard before.
Tomatoes are especially well pollinated by bumble bees. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees use a technique called buzz pollination. They vibrate their bodies at just the right frequency, which shakes loose the pollen hidden inside the flower.
Since I didn’t have many bumble bees visiting my garden, I decided to become one.
Using an old electric toothbrush, I gently touched the back of each flower while the toothbrush vibrated. It sounds funny, but it actually worked. As soon as the toothbrush touched the flower, I could see a tiny yellow cloud of pollen puff into the air.
It was fascinating to watch, and it quickly became part of my daily garden routine.
The Best Tomato Harvest Yet
Not long after I started hand-pollinating the flowers, tiny green tomatoes began appearing everywhere.
Then more appeared.
And more.
This has easily been the best tomato season I’ve ever had. I don’t think I’ve ever harvested this many tomatoes from my garden.
Was it the companion plants? The automated watering system? The rainwater? Starting healthy seedlings indoors? The electric toothbrush? Or was it a combination of all of those things?
Honestly, I don’t know for sure. Gardening is often like that. Every season teaches you something new, and success usually comes from many small improvements rather than one magic solution.
A New Appreciation for Our Food
Growing food has given me a new appreciation for the people who do this every day.
It takes patience. You can’t rush nature. Seeds need time to sprout. Plants need weeks or even months to grow. Weather changes. Pests show up. Sometimes things go exactly as planned, and sometimes they don’t.
That’s why I have so much respect for our farmers and everyone involved in growing the food we eat. Every tomato, carrot, or head of lettuce at the grocery store represents months of hard work that most of us never see.
This tomato season has been one of the most enjoyable gardening experiences I’ve had. It reminded me that growing food isn’t just about the harvest. It’s about learning, experimenting, solving problems, and spending time outdoors. It’s also a reminder that small choices, like collecting rainwater, planting flowers for pollinators, and growing even a few vegetables at home, can make our gardens healthier and a little more sustainable.
I know not everyone has a backyard, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from giving gardening a try. Tomatoes grow surprisingly well in containers, making them a great choice for balconies, patios, and small spaces. That’s exactly how I started years ago. Whether you have a large garden or just a single pot sitting in a sunny window, there’s something incredibly rewarding about watching a tiny seed grow into a plant that provides fresh food for your table.
And when you pick that first ripe tomato, still warm from the sun, you’ll understand why so many gardeners look forward to tomato season every year.
written by Diego W. – 07/26/2026