The two I own and love are "100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden".#2 "The Great Tomato Book" which talks about organic methods.

Which of the two do you think is better?

Which of the two do you think is better?

***

Actually neither of those books presents a lot of info about culture of tomatoes, which includes a wide variety of issues. That is, as I wrote below culture encompasses a lot of issues and there many alternative ways of doing almost everything.

Both books are really primers as regards presentation of heirloom tomato varieties and much less re culture except for sowing seed and a bit more.

And I should know about the 100 Heirloom one b'c I wrote it and am also somewhat familiar with the other one.

There is no one way to grow tomatoes, so I think it's best to ask what questions you have and let others speak to your questions.

There's also a great deal of info on tomato culture in the backposts here at GW.

Culture really starts with sowing seed, and if you click on the FAQ link at the top of this page there;s an excellent FAQ there.

But culture also includes sowing seed, how and when to do transplants of the seedlings, hardening off, when to plant out, how to plant your plants, what amendments to add, if any, whether to grow by sprawling, staking, caging or trellising, etc.

Carolyn

The 2 best books on tomato culture are

Giant Tomatoes
and
How to Grow World Record Tomatoes: A Guiness Champion Reveals His All-Organic Techniques

Ask your library to get them for you. the two above are well worth reading. You really should read both since they cover different topics. Both are quick to read. Lots of pictures and very interesting. But get from the library before deciding if you need to purchase them.
. .
. .
.

there is a book called
Tomato Plant Culture: In the Field, Greenhouse, and Home Garden

that is worthless and junk and of no value at all and super expensive. It retails for $100 and maybe is OK at $1. I got it from the library and sure was glad to save my money on this one.

The 2 best books on tomato culture are
Giant Tomatoes
and
How to Grow World Record Tomatoes: A Guiness Champion Reveals His All-Organic Techniques

*****

They might be the best books for you ON, b'c you're interested in growing competition sized fruits as many of your posts here have indicated, but I don't think they're the best books for a novice gardener looking for general information about the larger picture of general tomato culture.

I'll have to do a wee bit of thinking and see if I can come up the names of a couple of books about general tomato culture. Although there's tons of info available off the net.

Carolyn

There's a bunch of good info online about tomato culture. Some of the best is found at the many university extension service Web sites. Cornell has some good stuff for the Northeast. Ohio State University and Purdue have great info for the Midwest ... as does University of Missouri for the Midwest west of the Mississippi. Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Florida has great tomato growing info for the Southeast. If you're in the Northwest, I'd Google Oregon State University extension and for California ... hmmmm ... what does someone in the know say? Cal-Davis?

Give your extension services a shot. They're free and have lots of garden publications available online.

As a matter of fact GIANT TOMATOES is packed full of general cultural information in addition to information on growing for size. Great pics too.

HOW TO GROW WORLD RECORD TOMATOES has nothing to do with
competition size fruit. His organic fertilization method emphasizing compost is for optimizing yield not size. Offers a very precise technique , not everyone's cup of tea, but his many world records certainly attest to its
merits. ($9 used/ great book)

I actually prefer books over the myriad of info. floating around on the internet. But I am a book collector on anything to do with growing tomatoes.

Dangould, I also reluctantly have to agree with your assessment of TOMATO PLANT CULTURE as I did pay close to $100 for it. I would not call it 'worthless junk' though and I am happy I own it but can't see the justification for that price tag for such a slim volume.

Outsiders you might want to broaden your scope to organic gardening books in general if you want to grow tomatoes organically. PLus consider HOW TO GROW WORLD RECORD TOMATOES to learn an appreciation of compost and alfalfa meal. You can , of course, check any book out at the library before purchasing.

For general basic information TOMATOES put out by Burpees (written I believe by Hendrikson) is pretty good but has nothing on heirlooms.

There is no one perfect book--I like to pick and choose ideas from all of them.

Here is a link that might be useful: WIlber's book

HOW TO GROW WORLD RECORD TOMATOES has nothing to do with
competition size fruit. His organic fertilization method emphasizing compost is for optimizing yield not size. Offers a very precise technique , not everyone's cup of tea, but his many world records certainly attest to its
merits. ($9 used/ great book)

******

Farkee, isn't that the book that advocates using composted Kudzu vine as an organic amendment?

Maybe I'm thinking of another book and not that one.

I just went back to the top to reread what the poster wanted and that was a book on heirloom tomatoes and culture,preferably organic. So it would be OK for Wilber's type of organic culture.

Outsider, heirloom tomatoes aren't grown any differently than hybrid tomatoes, really.

Carolyn

I ran across a good little book on tomatoes at the library last Wednesday. It's at home right now, so I'll post the title, author, etc. later this weekend. It does contain some details on tomato culture that a novice seed starter/gardener might find helpful.

Meanwhile, "100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden," while containing some interesting general information, and is a good read in those certain "private" settings, essentially can be characterized as the darn best TOMATO PORN on the market today. Like Playboy or Hustler, 100HT4AG's photography :::drool::: draws the eye more lustily than the text :::LOL:::

Bill

Oh Bill, you and your tomato porn...

But sure as shooting he's right... pictures ARE fab...

Carolyn:

Since you have commented on "Giant Tomatoes," can I assume you actually read it?

Marv

Carolyn:
Since you have commented on "Giant Tomatoes," can I assume you actually read it?

Marv

*****

Marv, below is what I said, assuming that a book about Giant Tomatoes was about giant tomatoes. And no I haven't bought it b'c I'm not interested in growing giant tomatoes, as well you know.( smile) I have seen others who are devotees of competition sized tomatoes talk about your book, though. And I got the impression that growing techniques were more specific to encouraging growth of large fruits rather than your book being a book about general growing methods for a novice gardener.

Am I wrong about that impression based on the folks I've seen talk about your book?

( from Carolyn's post above)
The 2 best books on tomato culture are
Giant Tomatoes
and
How to Grow World Record Tomatoes: A Guiness Champion Reveals His All-Organic Techniques
*****

(They might be the best books for you ON, b'c you're interested in growing competition sized fruits as many of your posts here have indicated, but I don't think they're the best books for a novice gardener looking for general information about the larger picture of general tomato culture.)

Carolyn

"Am I wrong about that impression based on the folks I've seen talk about your book? "

Carolyn, I would never pass judgements on a book's content without reading it. You haven't read any of the 3 books mentioned??? (World Record Tomatoes, Giant Tomatoes, or The Great Tomato Book)

Why not just recommend (or dismiss) a book that you have actually read?

"But culture also includes sowing seed, how and when to do transplants of the seedlings, hardening off, when to plant out, how to plant your plants, what amendments to add, if any, whether to grow by sprawling, staking, caging or trellising, etc."

GIANT TOMATOES does cover all of these topics. Some topic areas include multiple approaches or methods. The book also covers soil preparation, mulching, saving seeds, composting , and various tomato problems. All would be useful for the novice grower.

Of course the book goes into much detail on fertilization and pruning specifically for size. Only one brief comment by a grower says that if you are not growing for size don't prune at all.

And you can , of course, find a few mistakes. There is not a book around that doesn't have some. Plus you may find methods that you disagree with.

Finally, IT IS about growing giant tomatoes but anyone interested in growing tomatoes will find some useful basic information that pertains to tomato growing , in general.

I think a beginner would learn alot from it but I would not make it the only book to own or read.

Here are the books that I have that include culture of tomatoes:
American Tomato,Complete Guide to Growing & Using Tomatoes
Tomatoes (Burbee)
The Great Tomato Book
Tantalizing Tomatoes
Terrific Tomatoes (Luebbermann)
Terrific Tomatoes (Organic Gardening)
Giant Tomatoes
100 Heirlooms for the American Garden
World Record Tomatoes
Organic Tomatoes, The Inside Story
All About Tomatoes
Growing Tomatoes (NK Lawn and Garden)
Growing Tomatoes (Bird and France)
Tomato Culture
Tomatoes (edited by Heuvelink)
Tomato Plant Culture
Tomatoes for Everyone
Let's Grow Tomatoes
Texas Gardener's Guide To Growing Tomatoes
Tomatoes in South Africa

For absolute beginner's information Burbee's is still pretty good. Most of the books have very limited varietal recommendations. The second poster mentioned The Great Tomato Book and that does cover a little bit of everything plus organic recommendations. My favorite book is still World Record Tomatoes--amazing story and technique.

For organic growing there is The Vegetable Gardener's Bible and How To Grow More Vegetables. For heirloom inspiration and lots of basic info Carolyn's book is also a must have. Best to purchase rather than check out at library.
And for basic raised gardening information-Square Foot Gardening.

I have:
The Great Tomato Book
Tantalizing Tomatoes
Terrific Tomatoes (not sure which one)
Giant Tomatoes (I have no intention of trying to grow a big one, but there is A LOT of interesting information in this bugger).
100 Heirlooms for the American Garden
World Record Tomatoes (yes this is the kudzu one)
And no single one has provided all... and that's kinda the fun of it... finding more tomato porn...

But I should say 100 toms is on my nightstand... :)

Tom

Two recent books I've enjoyed are "Ripe: The Search for the Perfect Tomato" by Arthur Allan, which is a very detailed account of the tomato industry (very interesting, but less about selecting and growing your own tomatoes), and "Heirloom: Notes From an Accidental Tomato Farmer," by Tim Stark. Heirloom is a wonderful read, exceptionally well-written (aspiring writer turns farmer), and is all about Tim's story of growing organic tomatoes pesticide-free and bringing them to New York City's Union Square vegetable market and having them gobbled up by the best chefs in NYC. I loved Tim's book.