Gardening

the varieties available and are welladapted for use in most areas.

The initials V, F, and N refer to disease resistance; some varieties are resistant to verticillium (V), fusarium (F), and/or nematodes (N). If you've never had any problem with any of these, you can try any variety. If you have had difficulty growing tomatoes in the past you'll do better to stay with resistant varieties.

Varieties for general use: Better Boy (VFN, 72 days); Burpee's Big Boy (78 days); Early Girl (V, 62 days); Fantastic (70 days); Heinz 1350 (VF, 75 days); Terrific (VFN, 70 days); Wonder Boy (VFN, 80 days). Beefsteak varieties: Beef master (VFN, 80 days); Pink Ponderosa (90 days). Patio varieties: Pixie (52 days); Toy Boy (68 days); Tiny Tim (55 days).

Cherry varieties: Small Fry (VFN, 60 days); Tumblin' Tom (72 days).

Canning tomatoes: Roma VF (VF, 75 days); Chico III (F, 75 days); Royal Chico (75 days).

Description Tomatoes are tender perennials grown as annuals.

They have weak stems and alternate lobed and toothed leaves that have a distinctive odor. The yellow flowers grow in clusters.

Most tomatoes have vining growth habits and need a fair amount of space. Some are advertised as bush varieties that save space, but they'll still sprawl if you let them, and you may still have to stake or cage them.

Depending on the variety, the fruit varies in size and in color— red, yellow, orange, and white.

Tomatoes can be divided into two main groups, according to growth habits: determinate and