(NAPSI)-Edible gardening has become a cultural phenomenon. The need to save money at the grocery store and the desire to have better-tasting fruits and vegetables has sparked an increase in home gardening. According to the Garden Writers Association, 41 million U.S. households have a vegetable garden and 37 percent plan to expand the size of their edible garden this year.

Do you want to take the first step? Consider growing tomatoes in a container right on your patio or balcony.

“Growing tomatoes is one of the most popular forms of edible gardening,” says Bayer Advanced™ Garden Expert Lance Walheim, author of “Vegetable Gardening.” “They can be grown from seeds or plants and they make an excellent addition to a salad.”

Tips For Successful Tomato Growing

• Choose your tomato: The Patio Hybrid tomato was developed just for containers, but you can also grow varieties such as Celebrity, Early Girl, Sweet Tangerine, or Northern Exposure.

• Containers: The bigger the better, but containers that are at least five gallons are the best size for promoting growth. Make sure the container has a hole in the bottom for drainage.

• Soils and fertilization: Use a high-quality potting soil and fertilize twice a month.

• When to water: The rule of thumb is to water the base of the plant when the top two inches of soil have dried. Container-grown tomatoes can require daily watering as the plant gets bigger.

• Destructive insects and diseases: Whiteflies and tomato hornworms like to eat tomatoes. Diseases such as blight and powdery mildew can harm your plants as well. The brand-new Bayer Advanced Natria™ Insect, Disease and Mite Control RTU contains sulphur and pyrethrins to control insects and diseases that affect tomatoes in one ready-to-spray application. Be sure to read and follow all label directions. Visit BayerAdvanced.com for more gardening information and to view how-to videos or call (877) BAYERAG.