Growing heirloom tomatoes is no different than growing hybrid tomatoes...they are no more disease prone than hybrids.

Always plant after all risk of frost has passed, you may lose if you try to rush the season.

Select a site with full sun, and a richly amended soil - a shovelful of compost or well aged manure works well.

Don't over-fertilize, you will have more leaves than fruit! An occasional foliar feed of seaweed spray can assist with plant health.

Plant tomatoes deep to encourage development of a strong root system.

And now the big debate - to stake or not to stake? Personally, I don't sucker my tomatoes or stake them, partly because of the labour involved, but also because I don't believe it is necessary. If your tomatoes are well spaced, as in 3 feet between plants and 5 ft between rows, they can sprawl and grow as nature sees fit.

Mulching under the plants minimizes loss from contact with the ground.

Water on a regular basis and enjoy!