# Is it tacky to grow tomatoes in the front yard? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774 "2003-05-07T22:26:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/61 "2003-05-27T17:51:03Z")
Nope, not tacky at all. I grow tomatoes as you do: tucked in amongst the flowers. Now I suppose if I tilled up the whole yard and planted veggies in rows, that might be tacky. I also must point out that before tomatoes were considered edible (they are of the deadly nightshade family), they were grown as ornamentals, by Thomas Jefferson, for one. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/62 "2003-06-02T15:21:55Z")
Hey! No kidding?! “My garden’s not tacky. It’s historical.” Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/63 "2003-06-02T16:26:52Z")
Tomato plants were originally grown as ornamental plants when they were first brought to Europe and they were regarded by many as being poisonous. The only qualm I’d have with growing them in the front garden is the potential for casual theft. You could always make them look more decorative by growing alternate red and yellow-fruited plants. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/64 "2011-07-08T20:19:45Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > “My garden’s not tacky. It’s historical.” Heh. And criminal, by[Oak Park, MI standards](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/julie-bass-may-face-jail-time-for-planting-vegetables/2011/07/08/gIQAZZOv3H_blog.html). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/65 "2011-07-08T20:26:07Z")
Attack of the killer zombie tomatoes! ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/66 "2011-07-08T20:38:51Z")
I grow them in the side yard, which just barely gets enough sunlight. The front yard would be perfect but I haven’t gotten up the courage to plant any there yet. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/67 "2011-07-08T21:33:52Z")
Heck, I have a whole garden in my front yard. I think people like it–I’m always finding people out there looking at it and trying to figure out what kind of cucumbers (lemon) or watermelon (moon & stars) I’m growing. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/68 "2011-07-08T22:04:14Z")
> [@article](#): > > According to the city, a yard must have “suitable, live, plant material,” and Bass’ yard violates the “suitable” part of the requirement, Rulkowki said . > > “If you look at the definition of what suitable is in Webster’s dictionary, it will say common,” he explained Yeah, “suitable” isn’t vague. I hope she fights it. ETA: We have strawberries, not tomatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/69 "2011-07-08T22:18:18Z")
Just realized how old this thread is. Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/70 "2011-07-09T00:28:57Z")
Well then. I’m tacky, this is already known. And I do happen to have two tomato plants in my front yard. The tires and toilet planter are blocking them though. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/71 "2011-07-09T00:30:06Z")
Well dammit I enjoyed the thread anyway. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/72 "2011-07-09T02:37:27Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > The tires and toilet planter are blocking them though. What does it mean, “Toilet Planter”? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/73 "2011-07-09T03:00:46Z")
Knock yourself out, I grazed sheep, turkeys and geese in my front yard, side yard, back yard, out in the pasture … I have to drain my hot tub and clean it, someone left the top off and I found 4 geese and a duck paddling around in it this morning. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/74 "2011-07-09T03:24:58Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What does it mean, “Toilet Planter”? [Google images are your friends](http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1345&bih=597&q=%22Toilet+Planter%22&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&oq=%22Toilet+Planter%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=undefined&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=3146l3146l0l1l1l0l0l0l0l162l162l0.1l1). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/75 "2011-07-09T03:40:33Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > [Google images are your friends](http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1345&bih=597&q=%22Toilet+Planter%22&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&oq=%22Toilet+Planter%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=undefined&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=3146l3146l0l1l1l0l0l0l0l162l162l0.1l1). Humor…it is a difficult concept. But thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/76 "2011-07-09T03:56:34Z")
I think this is kind of a hipster/green thing to do these days, so you’ll probably just look insufferably cool 😃 I’m much less cool, so now I’m just wondering if insufferably is actually a word. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/77 "2011-07-09T04:02:19Z")
What about those upside-down hanging tomato things you see advertised on tv – are they any good? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/78 "2011-07-09T05:15:49Z")
I scoffed the law of my landlord and city and grew Tomatoes and Peppers in my Front Flowerbed. Commando Flowerbed. They are doing bonkers. Pictures tomorrow… even Mr. Jefferson planted them for both the added charge of sustenance in suitable, live plant, material. If a code is going to interfere with my sustenence and survival then it is suitable live plant material. Flowers are nice, but if I can grow killer tomatoes or sustenance in a corner of my yard, front or back, I will do it. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/79 "2011-07-09T05:47:43Z")
This is the first year in a while that we haven’t had a pumpkin patch growing in the front yard. I kind of miss it. I think next year we’ll put it back. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774/80 "2011-07-09T12:17:59Z")
> [@T.Slothrop](#): > > I even grew corn in the front yard on an Army Post. That’s where the sunshine was. > > Call it a victory garden. This is what I was going to say. A number of folks did it during WWII, according to my grandmother. I use(in a backyard garden) Grandma’s tomato cages, and each year I take her the first ripe tomato of the season. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-tacky-to-grow-tomatoes-in-the-front-yard/173774.md?page=5)