We get tired of having to eat the mealy winter impersonators. That's why every spring and summer, Southerners set out tomatoes in pots on porches or any place we can squeeze a few plants into our yards. Here are some tips for growing summer's favorite flavor.

• Plan your garden before you plant it. Choose a location that receives a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight. Put stakes in the ground before you even plant your tomatoes. That way you can drive in stakes with no risk of injury to the young plant roots. Metal reinforcing rods work well holding up top-heavy tomato plants; they are easy to drive into the ground and won't rot. Many people prefer wire cages. These cages work fine, but make sure they are secured to the ground with small stakes to prevent them from turning over.
  
  
• Tomatoes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors from the giant Big Beef to the tiny, tasty Sweet Million. The small cherry type of tomatoes needs less space and works well in small gardens.
  
  
• Choose the plant that's right for you. There are two kinds of tomatoes, determinate and indeterminate. Determinate plants grow short and bushy, and all their fruit ripens at once. These plants work well in cages and are convenient for canning. Some popular varieties include Celebrity, Floramerica, Heatwave, and Roma. Indeterminate tomato plants are tall and vinelike, needing strong stakes. They tend to have a longer, more spread out fruiting period. Some of the popular indeterminate tomatoes are Early Girl, Better Boy, Big Beef, and Lemon Boy.