Tomatoes are the No. 1 reason I garden.

I can a lot of salsa and stewed tomatoes, and I enjoy making and eating fried green tomatoes. I also make roasted tomatoes and tomatoes with buttered cracker crumbs warmed under the broiler for a few minutes. And of course, I enjoy eating fresh tomatoes from our garden.

Whatever reasons you grow tomatoes, the following tips will help you improve your harvest:

1. Water consistently. Tomatoes need consistent moisture to grow leaves and produce and ripen fruit. Plants can become stressed if they don’t receive enough water. This can leave the plant vulnerable to diseases and unable to absorb and use nutrients.

Uneven watering also affects the fruit. Tomatoes may crack if the plant doesn’t have enough moisture. If it rains after a dry period, the fruit may split from the extra shot of moisture. Alternatively, overwatering tomato plants will lead to saturated soil that suffocates plants.

The goal is to try to keep the soil evenly moist. Water your tomatoes when the soil feels dry an inch or two below the surface. Water deeply, at the base of the plant, so the moisture soaks into the soil and reaches the roots.

2. Scout for insects and disease. At least once a week, walk through your garden and look at your tomato plants. Check the leaves — especially the lower leaves — for leaf spots and holes. Look over the fruit for damage, soft spots or cracks.

Related:5 tips for growing lots of tomatoes

One of the most common pests you may find are tomato hornworms. Hornworms are large green caterpillars that feed on tomato leaves and fruit. If you find some, drop the worms into a jar of soapy water.

Some tomato diseases will kill plants. Scout your plants often, and remove yellow or brown leaves and any rotten or damaged fruit.

3. Pick often. Harvest tomatoes frequently so the plant can focus its energy on growing and ripening more fruit. Once your tomatoes begin ripening, check the plants each day and pick those that are almost ready; let them ripen fully indoors.

If you are like me, you live for vine-ripened tomatoes, but the reality is, the longer the fruit remains on the vine, the more susceptible it is to damage from pests and spoiling. Luckily, tomatoes continue to mature off the vine and will have the same flavor as those that ripen on the plant.

It’s better to pick tomatoes before they are fully ripe to reduce the chances of losing the fruit altogether. Some reasons for harvesting tomatoes when partially ripe include:

Related:It’s not too late to plant these 11 vegetables

As tomatoes ripen, they change from green to yellow-green, and then to their final color.

4. Harvest carefully. Take care not to damage tomato plants when harvesting. Almost-ripe tomatoes will come off the vine with a simple twist, or you can use clippers or a sharp knife.

Bring tomatoes inside and store at room temperature on a kitchen counter or any location away from direct sunlight. Your tomatoes should fully ripen in two to four days. Once ripe, use the tomatoes within a few days.

Growing tomatoes requires a little work, but the reward is worth the effort.