Who can resist a juicy, tangy tomato, fresh from the garden? Just smelling that pungent aroma of sun-ripened tomatoes or thinking about how they're going to taste makes you drool. Besides all the great dishes you can create with tomatoes, they're a fantastic accompaniment to any meal.

If you're tired of supermarket tomatoes that don't taste anything like past memories --it may be time to grow your own. Growing tomatoes has never been easier. Even if you only have a vacant window-space or a spare pot on your patio, you can grow tomatoes that will tantalize your taste buds - not to mention the satisfaction you feel when you nurture those tomatoes from baby seedlings and then pick them straight from the vine.

Begin your tomato growing odyssey by choosing seedlings that are disease-resistant and plant them after all chances of frost has passed. Choose an area that gets full sunlight, proper drainage and protection from wind. Be sure the soil is organically rich before you dig - then remove the bottom leaves from your tomato seedlings and plant them in the soil so that it covers the removed leave's spots. Stake your tomato plants to minimize root damage and then water thoroughly (without wetting the plant's leaves).

Now that your tomato seedlings are planted, you're ready to nurture them into healthy plants that will produce the best tomatoes you've ever tasted. Here are some tomato growing tips that will help you avoid the common problems of growing tomatoes:

• Water regularly and early at the base of the tomato plants while they're in their early stages (trickle irrigation is a good way to ensure your tomato plants are getting enough, but not too much, water.

• Periodically investigate your tomato plants for disease and prune those dead or dying leaves regularly.

• Avoid Blossom End Rot (brown rot on the bottom of the tomatoes that turns black in time) on your tomato plants by watering on a regular basis so the soil doesn't dry out - but don't over water. If it rains for several days in a row, use mulch to deter the drenched effect.

• Avoid Early Blight (a fungal disease) by making sure the soil doesn't retain high levels of water. If you do see your tomato leaves turning yellow, then brown and falling off the plant - remove it from the others as soon as possible.

Soon, you'll be benefiting from the fruits of your efforts by enjoying your tomato harvest in soups, sauces, omelets or simply as a side dish to a delectable meal.

Growing tomatoes isn't just fun - it's downright rewarding and delicious. When you know what your tomatoes need to grow and you are picking bucket-loads of them you will be the envy of your neighborhood. Start the backyard revolution today and discover how to grow the most mouth-watering tomatoes you have ever eaten.

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