Everybody ought to grow tomatoes, even if it’s just one in a pot.

The tomatoes you grow will taste far better than anything sold at a grocery store, where the tomatoes are bred to be tough, not tasty.

Why do I mention this in March? Now is the time to start some tomatoes from seed inside. You need seeds, seed starting mix and a container with drain holes. You could also use the peat pots but after you read my Thursday column, you may be too guilt-ridden.

Place the seeds a quarter-inch deep, water, cover the container with plastic wrap, and place it in a warm location. When the seedlings emerge, make sure the container is moved to the sunniest spot in the house and take off the plastic wrap. Keep the soil moist. Don’t forget to thin the seedlings. More info: www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/tomato/tomato_growing.html

Too much work? You can also order a few seedlings now and have them delivered to your door mid-May. I used to start my tomatoes indoors until I discovered I could order 10 different tomato plants. Plus the man of the house was getting a little irritated with tomato starts covering every south-facing window. My favorite place to order is Territorial Seed Co.: www.territorial-seed.com/stores/1/index.cfm. If I could only grow one tomato, it would be Sungold. Tomato varieties to try: www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/05/12/100hg_tomatoes001.cfm

If all else fails, you’ll soon see tomato starts at nurseries, big box stores and farm stands. Wait until around Mother’s Day to buy. You don’t want them outside until after the last frost. Did I mention the plant sales? We’ve put together a calendar for Thursday’s Home and Garden section that will list dozens of local sales, many of which will have tomato starts.

What’s your favorite type to grow?