Cultivate until the soil is warm, then use a 4 inch mulch of pine straw, shredded leaves, old hay or aged sawdust to smother weeds and conserve water. Tomatoes require uniform moisture after setting fruit. Alternate wet and dry spells invite stunting and blossom-end rot. Water at least one inch per week. When harvest time is near, cut back just a little to get fruit that is flavorful but not watery.
Tomatoes are heavy feeders.
Best at 65 -85 . Higher or lower temperatures are unfavorable for pollination. Since peppers, eggplant and potatoes are in the same family, do not plant tomatoes where these crops were grown the previous season. Plant disease resistant varieties. Look for VFN on seed pack and transplants.