Want a bumper crop of tomatoes? Listen to this guy

David Freed spent most of his adult life in the restaurant business, but when he sold the 8th Street Grill, his University Park coffee shop, in 2007, he discovered there were plenty of other things to do with his time. “You can do it your way if you want,” he said, “and be known as a bonsai tomato person, growing tiny plants with tiny tomatoes, But if you want a lot of tomatoes, follow the suggestions I give you.” Ensure your plants get sun In Freed’s experience, cherry tomatoes need at least four hours of full sun a day, and bigger tomatoes need six to eight. Two of his top recommendations are heirloom varieties, ‘Brandywine’ and ‘Cherokee Purple,’ but he also includes several hybrids, including his favorites: ‘Better Boy’ and ‘Big Beef.’ Use potting soil, even in the garden Freed plants in 15-to-20-gallon containers and in the ground, but either way he always uses a potting soil that lists sphagnum peat moss or peat moss as its first ingredient. For in-ground planting, dig a hole that’s 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide, discard the native dirt and fill the hole with your potting soil, which is designed to retain moisture, he said. Water slow and deep Tomatoes use 2 to 3 gallons of water a day, so it’s imperative the soil around their roots stay moist, Freed said.