Tomatoes are a farm favorite! Many of us have family that has grown tomatoes, or we grew up helping out in the family garden. It seams that most of the time when someone starts a garden, Tomatoes are usually the first thing that goes in, if not the only thing!

I have a few notes that can help you along your way growing tomatoes.

The "Optimum Growing Soil Temperature" is what you should grow your seedlings right after germination. Once the seedlings are big enough to transplant, keep to the "Optimum Day-time & Night-time Temps".

It is important that Tomatoes have cooler nights than in the day, it directly affects fruit production, pollination, fruit size and shape. Tomatoes need a cooler night and a warmer day to fruit properly.

Tomato flowers do indeed need pollination from other Tomato flowers, though it can be pollinated from flowers on the same plant. Pollen can be distributed from flower to flower efficiently with wind or Bumble Bees, or even by hand - I've read that using an electric tooth brush works great, just turn it on and let it vibrate the flowers gently and they will distribute their pollen.

Tomatoes like a little acidic soil, regular water and good drainage. Tomatoes also like nitrogen, so compost is good for them as well. Stay away from composting wood chips, and the decomposition of wood usually sucks nitrogen out of the soil.