Most people grew up with round, red tomatoes, but there's no need to be limited now that you're growing them yourself. Have fun with tomatoes and grow them in a host of colors and shapes, from candy-sweet cherries to globe-shaped slicers and sausage-shaped Italian sauce tomatoes. If you do decide to experiment with new varieties each season, it's always a good idea to grow a few of the trusted standbys that you know will thrive in your climate.

The Ripe Time
Tomatoes ripen from their bottoms to their tops, or ''shoulders,'' where the fruit is attached to the stem. They are ready to pick when evenly colored, glossy, smooth-fleshed and heavy. Once the plants are producing sizable fruit, it's best to cut back on watering to help concentrate their sweet flavor. If lots of tomatoes seem to be ripening up at once, pick some a day or two before they are fully ready, then bring them inside to finish up their last bit of maturing indoors.

A Tomato a Day
Enjoy your fresh tomatoes every day. Drizzle fruity extra-virgin olive oil over them, sprinkle with a little coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper, and top with fresh, chopped herbs for an easy treat. Everyone knows that green basil is the soul mate of the tomato, but for a beautiful effect, use sprigs of both purple and green varieties.