Ask yourself two questions

If you want to grow tomatoes, first you have to ask yourself two questions:

1. What kind of space & time do you have?

It goes without saying you must have a sunny spot. Is this spot small or large? Tomatoes come in two types.

Determinate: Have a fixed size they won't grow beyond, and bear their fruit in a short time span.

Indeterminate: Will grow and grow unchecked unless you intervene, and bear their fruit in stages.

Determinates are best for small spaces, for when you don't have time to prune and manage, while indeterminates are great for large spaces where they can grow as they please (or, as you please if you have the time to direct them).

2. What are you going to do with the tomatoes?

Tomatoes also come in different varieties. Do you want to recreate grandma's sauce from the Old Country? Buy a "saucing" tomato. Do you like thick slices on your summertime BBQ burgers? Buy a "slicing" tomato. And so on.

As always, if you have any questions, ask your local nursery employee. They can point you to varieties that are best for your needs and best for your local weather. For example, here in Portland, varieties that fruit early and can tolerate cooler, wetter weather (such as the prolific Siberian choices) are popular.