Tomatoes: A Grower's Guide (Grower's Guides from the Market Gardener, 1)

Grow better tomatoes―more reliably, more profitably, and with less guesswork

Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding crops to grow―and one of the easiest to get wrong. Whether you're tending a backyard plot or managing a diversified market garden, Tomatoes: A Grower's Guide gives you the practical knowledge and confidence to produce healthy plants and abundant harvests from seed to storage.

Grounded in The Market Gardener Method, this beautifully illustrated guide distills Jean-Martin Fortier's decades of hands-on experience into clear, actionable strategies that work at a human scale. Instead of chasing trends or folklore, you'll learn what actually delivers consistent results in real growing conditions.

What this Book Offers

• A practical overview of tomato biology and growth habits, so you understand why techniques work
• Thoughtful guidance on selecting productive heirloom and hybrid varieties for different climates and goals
• Step-by-step cultivation methods, from propagation and transplanting to pruning, trellising, irrigation, and fertilization
• Proven organic approaches to disease prevention and pest management
• Harvest timing, season extension, and storage strategies to maximize yield and quality

Rather than overwhelming you with theory, this guide focuses on decisions that matter most―helping you avoid common mistakes and build a system that supports strong plants, flavorful fruit, and steady harvests.

Who this Book is For

• Home gardeners who want healthier plants and better yields
• Market gardeners seeking reliable, efficient tomato production
• Growers transitioning to biointensive, regenerative practices
• Readers of The Market Gardener looking for crop-specific information
• Anyone who wants clear, practical guidance―not vague advice

Jean-Martin Fortier is a farmer, educator, and internationally recognized leader in regenerative, small-scale agriculture. Through decades of work at his own microfarm and as a teacher to growers worldwide, he has refined methods that balance productivity, soil health, and quality of life.

Tomatoes: A Grower's Guide is part of the Grower's Guides from the Market Gardener series―compact, highly visual manuals designed to help growers take meaningful, practical steps toward more resilient and rewarding food production.

If you want to grow tomatoes with confidence, clarity, and care for the land, this guide shows you how.

Jean-Martin Fortier is a farmer, educator, and tireless advocate for regenerative, human-scale agriculture. His biointensive production methods have been adopted by growers worldwide. The author of several bestselling books including The Market Gardener which has sold over a quarter million copies in nine languages, he lives in Quebec, Canada.

Pierre Nessmann has worked as a journalist and landscape gardener for over 40 years. He is assistant editor for the two popular French gardening magazines Rustica Pratique and Rustica Weekly, and covers gardening and DIY stories for French national television and radio. He is the author of several books about vegetables, gardening and landscaping. He lives in Paris, France.

Flore Avram is a freelance artist and graphic designer specializing in scientific and botanical illustration. She has collaborated extensively with the French language children's publisher KiloWatt Editions, and with Inserm Magazine, a quarterly journal which explores health and biomedical research. She is based in Paris, France.