Grow Epic Tomatoes, with Joe Lamp'l and Craig LeHoullier

Joe Lamp’l and Craig LeHoullier talk about how to grow tomatoes, and their new course, Growing Epic Tomatoes.

The Best Way to Grow Tomatoes

There’s more than one way to slice a tomato; there’s more than one way to grow a tomato.

Growing tomatoes is like many things in life…there are lots of ways you can tackle it.

Do you have a favourite way? Or a tomato-growing tip handed down in your family?

Different Strokes, Different Folks

In this episode, we take a deep-dive into growing tomatoes with two experts who have very different approaches to growing tomatoes.

  • Garden expert, author, and broadcaster Joe Lamp’l loves growing tomatoes. He’s met lots of gardeners using a wide range of tomato-growing techniques through his work as the host and producer of the Growing a Greener World television series, and through his podcast, The joe gardener Show.

  • World-renowned tomato grower Craig LeHoullier co-leads the Dwarf Tomato Breeding project, has named and popularized many well-known tomato varieties such as ‘Cherokee Purple,’ and is an expert on straw-bale gardening. He’s the author of the book Epic Tomatoes.

Tomato Talk

Lamp’l and LeHoullier talk about:

  • The tomato-growing methods they use in their own gardens

  • How their gardens differ

  • Tomato-growing ideas they’ve learned from each other

  • Favourite tomato varieties

  • Tomato-growing techniques they’ve seen in other gardens

They also share tips for new gardeners. “Don’t get hung up on the destination, but learn to love the journey,” says LeHoullier.

“Don’t get hung up on the destination, but learn to love the journey.”


If this episode piqued your interest in tomatoes, tune in to the December 2020 episode entitled Tasty Tomatoes for Small Spaces: The Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project. In the episode, LeHoullier tells us about this citizen-science initiative to breed dwarf tomato varieties.

Check out past episodes
Steven Biggs

Recognized by Garden Making Magazine as one of the "green gang" of Canadians making a difference in horticulture, Steven Biggs is a horticulturist, former college instructor, and award-winning broadcaster and author. His passion is helping home gardeners grow food in creative and attractive ways.


He’s the author of eight gardening books, including the Canadian bestseller No Guff Vegetable Gardening. His articles have appeared in Canada’s Local Gardener, Mother Earth News, Fine Gardening, Garden Making, Country Guide, Edible Toronto, and other magazines.


Along with over 30 years working in the horticultural sector and a horticultural-science major at the University of Guelph, Steven’s experience includes hands-on projects in his own garden including wicking beds, driveway strawbale gardens, and a rooftop tomato plantation—to the ongoing amusement of neighbours.


When not in the garden, you might catch him recording his award-winning Food Garden Life podcast or canoeing in Algonquin Park.

Previous
Previous

Grow Food Indoors + Regenerative Gardening

Next
Next

Co-operative Growing