7．Tomatoes are generally easy to grow．Experts suggest you start seeds indoors if the ground is still cold．For best results with the least risk，they say，plant when the soil is warm，soon after the frost-free date for your area．
Small plants may be placed a third of a meter apart in rows．If you grow staked plants，set the sticks in the ground about half a meter apart．Some larger varieties of tomatoes may need about a meter between plants and at least a meter and a half between rows．The idea is to leave enough space for harvesting．
Work the soil to remove weeds（杂草）．But do not work the soil too deeply or you could damage the tomato plants．Water the plants regularly during long dry periods．Give them plenty of water．Plants in containers may need water daily or even more than once a day．Besides，do give the tomato plants complete organic fertilizers（肥料）．
Some gardeners train tomato plants to grow on supporting materials．Whatever you choose，make sure the supports are tall enough．Most modern tomato plants grow about a meter tall．Others reach almost two meters．
Tomatoes started from seed take forty-five to ninety days till harvest．The average air temperature should be about 24℃．In that case，you can pick the tomatoes when they are firm and fully colored．But if the weather is very hot，pick the tomatoes every day or two．Let them soften and develop their full color indoors．
There was a time when people thought tomatoes were poisonous．In fact，they are just the opposite．Tomatoes are good for you．But are they a fruit or a vegetable？Technically，a tomato is a fruit-the fruit of the tomato plant．But some fruits，including tomatoes，may be called"vegetables"because they are used in tasty foods instead of sweet cooking．
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Small plants may be placed a third of a meter apart in rows．If you grow staked plants，set the sticks in the ground about half a meter apart．Some larger varieties of tomatoes may need about a meter between plants and at least a meter and a half between rows．The idea is to leave enough space for harvesting．
Work the soil to remove weeds（杂草）．But do not work the soil too deeply or you could damage the tomato plants．Water the plants regularly during long dry periods．Give them plenty of water．Plants in containers may need water daily or even more than once a day．Besides，do give the tomato plants complete organic fertilizers（肥料）．
Some gardeners train tomato plants to grow on supporting materials．Whatever you choose，make sure the supports are tall enough．Most modern tomato plants grow about a meter tall．Others reach almost two meters．
Tomatoes started from seed take forty-five to ninety days till harvest．The average air temperature should be about 24℃．In that case，you can pick the tomatoes when they are firm and fully colored．But if the weather is very hot，pick the tomatoes every day or two．Let them soften and develop their full color indoors．
There was a time when people thought tomatoes were poisonous．In fact，they are just the opposite．Tomatoes are good for you．But are they a fruit or a vegetable？Technically，a tomato is a fruit-the fruit of the tomato plant．But some fruits，including tomatoes，may be called"vegetables"because they are used in tasty foods instead of sweet cooking．
| Title：（76）Growing Tomatoes | |
| Sowing and transplanting | Start seeds indoors when it is still cold outside． Plant them soon after the （77）frost date ends． Set proper （78）space/distance for the plants． |
| （79）Managing the field | Weed without （80）damaging the plants． Water the plants regularly，especially in dry periods． （81）Feed/Fertilize/Fertilise the tomato plants． Choose proper （82）supports to train the plants to grow tall． |
| Harvesting the fruits | Pick the ripe fruits when the temperature is about 24℃． Get in the fruits （83）earlier to ripen indoors if it's too hot． |
| Interpreting tomatoes | People used to consider tomatoes as a （84）poison but actually they aren't． A tomato can be called either a fruit or a （85）vegetable． |
