Our Growing Tomatoes Guide takes you from planting to harvesting! Find out when to plant America’s favorite garden crop, the best way to grow tomatoes, how long it takes a tomato to bear fruit, and what tomatoes need to thrive. We’ll touch on how to transplant, stakes and cages, the best tomato varieties, and more tomato tips!
There’s a reason why tomatoes are the #1 home garden vegetable. The taste of a tomato right off the vine is incomparable to a typical grocery store type.
Tomatoes are warm-weather vegetables and sun worshippers!
- In northern regions, tomato plants will need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily; 8 to 10 hours are preferred.
- In southern regions, light afternoon shade (natural or applied, e.g., row covers) will help tomatoes to survive and thrive.
How Long Does It Take to Grow a Tomato?
This is one of our most common questions. The exact “days to harvest” depends on the cultivar and it can range from 60 days to more than 100 days.
In addition, tomatoes can not be started too early in the ground as they are a tender warm-season crop that can not bear frost. In most regions, the soil is not warm enough to plant tomatoes outdoors until late spring and early summer except in zone 10, where they are a fall and winter crop. See when to start tomatoes for your location.
Due to their relatively long growing season requirements (and late planting date), plant small “starter plants” or transplants instead of seeds. Choose young tomato plants from a reputable nursery. Good starter plants are short and stocky with dark green color and straight, sturdy stems about the size of a pencil or thicker. They should not have yellowing leaves, spots, or stress damage nor have flowers or fruits already in progress.
Types of Tomatoes
- Determinate tomatoes, better known as “bush” varieties grow 2 to 3 feet tall. These varieties tend to provide numerous ripe tomatoes at one time, do not put on much leaf growth after setting fruit, and tend to fruit for a (relatively) brief period of time. They are generally productive earlier than the vining varieties, and not in the latter part of the growing season. Determinate tomatoes do not require staking or caging. These plants are idea for containers and small spaces. Most paste tomatoes are determine (which works well for making sauce and canning).
- Indeterminate tomatoes, better known as “vining” varieties produce the largest types of mid- to late-season slicing tomatoes all summer and until the first frost. Because indeterminates experience more leaf growth, their production tends to be spread more evenly throughout the season. Indeterminate tomatoes need staking. They are ideal in large gardeners. Most beefsteak and cherry tomatoes are indeterminate.
Tomatoes come in a wide range of flavors as well as colors and sizes, from tiny grape-sized types to giant beefsteaks. The choice also depends on how you will use this versatile fruit in the kitchen. For example, Roma tomatoes are not usually eaten fresh out of hand, but are perfect for sauces and ketchups. Tomatoes do need vigilant care, as the crop is susceptible to pests and diseases. To avoid problems, choose disease-resistant cultivars whenever possible.
Image: Tomatoes aren’t only red! Featured here is the flavorful heirloom ‘Green Zebra,’ a high-yielding indeterminate plant. Credit: VZaitsev/GettyImages
Check out this video to learn more about how to choose tomatoes.
Reader Comments
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tomatoes
Thank you for this information. I have one problem which affects my tomatoes. There is a worm eating the leaves and they are dry.
Tomato pests
Since you mention both “worms” and “leaves,” then you may be looking at a Tomato Hornworm. They cause defoliation. You can pick them off (with gloves) and drop in soapy water.
See all solutions on the Tomato Hornworm page in our Pest Library
Will not ripen
My tomatoes have reached their full size (Romas) but there's still not a bit of "blush" on them and they remain green. I live in Florida, where the temperature has already reaching 90 degrees in mid-May. Is the heat preventing them from ripening? Should I simply pick the biggest ones and try to get them to ripen indoors? Thanks.
Green Roma Tomatoes
Yes, you are correct. When temperatures exceed 85 to 90 F, the ripening process slows significantly or even stops. The optimum temperature for ripening tomatoes is 70 to 75F. Do not remove leaves in an effort to ripe; this will not work. The key is picking them when they are showing the first signs of ripening (no earlier) and keeping them at room temperature. Do not refrigerate, as this will absolutely destroy their flavor.
no blossoms on plants ??
have three heirloom tomatoes in pots , only one has any blossoms ?? all look healthy but not setting blossoms ?? what is up ?
No flowers on tomato plants
We added this information in the guide above. If no flowers form, plants may not be getting enough sun or water (too little can stop flowering). Flower drop-off could be due to high daytime temperatures (over 90°F). Provide shade during the hottest part of the day by using row covers or shade cloth.
Tomatoes in unheated Greenhouse
Ive recently started tomatoes from seeds. I started them inside on a heat mat and undergrow lights. My grow lights are small and I decided to move them out into my unheated greenhouse for more even lighting but im worried that it will be too cold at night. It get into the low 40s F. Is this too cold for tomatoes? Should I bring them inside at night? Any other advice at using a unheated greenhouse when it is still chilly spring weather? I live in northern Indiana and sadly our temperatures are about 10 degrees colder than average. Thanks for any advice!
Tomatoes in Unheated Greenhouse
While nighttime temps are still below 50°F, it’s a good idea to bring the plants indoors. During the day, as long as temps hover around 50°F or more in the greenhouse, the plants can live there. Note that you’ll still need to put them through some sort of hardening off process before putting the tomatoes outside permanently. This can be done in the greenhouse, to some extent, by exposing them to cooler temps during the day slowly over time.
Tomato Seedlings
I started tomato seedlings under a dome with a heated mat. About 2 weeks ago, I moved the seedlings under a grow light with a fan blowing a light breeze for a few hours a day. They were doing fine and the first 2 sets of leaves began to grow. Then one day I noticed small black dots on the leaves. Is this fungus? Is there any way to save the seedlings? Otherwise they are growing well and look healthy.
Tomato Leaves
If they’ve been getting ample air flow around their leaves, fungi seems unlikely. Nevertheless, look up septoria leaf spot and see if it matches what you’re seeing. If you happened to use old soil that had been in contact with tomatoes in the past, it could’ve brought diseases with it.
Cages
Buy a roll of concrete reinforcing wire, around 50-70 some dollars, with 4-6 inch squares. You can make upwards of 25 cages that are six feet tall, by cutting the lowest ring out you can make built in stakes to support it. Easiest method yet rather than staking and tying. Use greensand, kelp, bone meal, kelp or fish meal, organic amendments in your holes, perhaps a landscape fabric and mulch. Try treating seeds and seedlings with salicylic acid for stress tolerance, humid and fulvic acid supplements for great growth. Don’t prune tomatoes, you’re only eliminating food for the growing plant, or fruiting buds. Only exception is topping a leggy plant to promote bushiness.
GMO
Thank you for a wonderful website. I have cause for thought that with all the different varieties of tomato, how can we know which have been purely hybrid, Genetically interfered with in a laboratory and injected with insecticide to produce a variety resistant to pests etc. I am wanting to be as organic and natural as possible?
organic tomatoes
Hi Steven, Good question. If you’re interested in organic tomatoes, growers must actually have a label certified by a USDA-approved state agency. The certification means that the tomatoes are produced using pest management and fertilization methods that do not include synthetic compounds. If you don’t see this certification, the plant may not be organic if even it’s claimed organic. You would need to trust the grower.
Also, we prefer buying our seeds and plants from the catalog seed companies. Then, it’s very clear in the catalog what you are ordering. Plus, ordering direct is usually less expensive. Here is a list of catalogs of both organic and non-organic seed supplies: https://www.almanac.com/content/garden-seed-catalogs-mail
planting tomatoes
I plant mine in a horizontal trench, leaving only the top 5 inches of a 2 foot plant above soil. This has produced huge root systems and enormous productions compared to other ways that Iv'e planted. I done shallow, and deep vertical planting. Last year 10 plants produced 450+ lbs of tomatoes. mmmm tasty. We planted cherokee purple, black krim, moneymaker, supersteak and big rainbow.
Planting Tomatoes
I've been looking for a tomato page like this with more information! This is perfect. I really want to plant tomatoes this year.
Floramerica Seeds
I have performed an exhaustive search on the internet for these seeds but cannot find them. Does anyone know where I could purchase these? Thanks in advance!
tomato seeds
It seems that this hybrid tomato was featured in catalogs back in 2012 and 2013 but mostly discontinued for some reason.
We see that a UC Davis cooperative extension adviser recommended this tomato variety for CA zones: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7018
Here’s the author’s contact info if you wish to ask her about the variety: http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/?facultyid=767
Sorry we couldn’t be of more help. Hope this points you in the right direction.
Very good post. I am going
Very good post. I am going through some of these issues as well..
Tomato die fro the bottom up
We live in coastal SC and our soil is very fine sandy soil. Our tomatoes grow to full size and have tomatoes on them when they start turning yellow at the bottom and start dying from the bottom up. cannot figure out what the problem is.
yellow at the bottom
Hi, there. It sounds like it could be blossom end rot. See pics here and advice (basically, your soil needs to be amended, but read on): https://www.almanac.com/pest/blossom-end-rot
Hope this helps. Let us know if it seems like your problem. Thanks!
Not blossom end rot
Definitely not blossom end rot. Tomatoes are fine, the plants turn yellow from the bottom up, wilt and die.
yellowing...
Well, that’s the good news. Because a picture is worth — well, you know —I am going to suggest you look here to see if these plant pics look like yours: https://ucanr.edu/sites/UrbanAg/files/263164.pdf
If that yields no clue, try this: http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/DiagnosticKeys/TomLeaf/TomLea...
and that’s all we’ve got at this time. You might inquire at your local cooperative extension, found here https://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services
We hope something helps. Let us know what it is, please.
tomatoes
My plants are growing like crazy,But they getting so tall.6foot plus. if I don't tied them to the
stake they fan out.4 ft across. It don't matter if I grow by the stakes the still get 6 ft.If I grow
in a cage and they still grow 6ft and try to fan out over the cage.I have put stakes in the cage
and they grow even taller.And have seen tomatoes all long the stem and they are still growing with new blooms on top of these long stems.Doing great here in Kansas
Tomatoe Questions
The sun is scorching my tomatoes also I'm getting bad spots on the outside, because of this I have decided to go ahead & pick before the tops turn, the base of the tomatoes is orange to red they have been dusted with 7 dust once. Is it best to wash now or wait till I'm ready to eat & the tops have turned red, no bad spots on these they are beautiful & I don't want to loose them. Thanks for your help Brenda
early harvest
Hi there. There are two schools of thought on whether to wash or not. Some gardeners wash their just-picked tomatoes in water, rub the skin gently to remove dirt etc., rinse, and then dry them carefully with a paper towel. This helps to remove pathogens on the surface of the tomato. Other gardeners prefer not to wash until just before eating the tomatoes, because the water may encourage disease if it is left on the tomato or gets inside via the stem scar or any wound or crack. There is also the slight risk of causing injury to the fruit when washing it. Whichever method you choose, avoid ripening tomatoes in direct sunlight, which can also encourage disease. Refrigeration, on the other hand, can ruin flavor. Room temperature (above 55 F) is best; stored in a single layer (no stacking).
Fully grown plant and tomatoes
tomatoes are still green. When I cut tomatoes in half they are green throughout. Very hard
Green Tomatoes
Make sure the plant is getting enough sun and water. Other than that, more time is what’s needed!
Young struggling plant with green tomaotes
Hello,
I bought a young New Girl tomato plant at a farmers' market. I kept it in its little pot for a few days, and it began to grow tomatoes. I then transplanted it to my garden. It hasn't seemed to grow much and is very dry by the end of the day. Should I pluck the tomatoes off to let the plant grow more instead of putting its energy into growing the tomatoes?
Reply to your question regarding your tomato plant
I am fairly new to gardening but what I have learned through my own experience and research is that before transplanting a tomato plant pick off the all the tomatos, flowers and the bottom leaves. This has helped my plants tremendously! I left a tomato on one plant just to see what happened and it stunted the growth of the whole entire plant. My plant nor my tomato would grow, so after a few weeks I plucked the tomato off and it's finally growing now. On 22 of my plants that I have on my porch I had to pluck off leaves due to leaf spot and and the new leaves are growing back bigger and brighter. My garden plants have grown so tall and bushy and need plucked again. When you pluck them they do look a little sad and I was very worried that what I was told would be the end of my plants, but it wasn't! It just took time for them to grow better. Also, anytime your leaves start to discolor or get holes im them then pluck them off. The plant will spend way too much time trying to correct bad leaves that it takes away from the rest of the plant which in turn does not allow it to grow properly. I hope this helps you and that your plant starts growing good! Good luck!
Tomatoes plant shock
I planted my flowering plant in a garden box. It was cool the first couple of nights so I covered it with a sheet but this morning when I removed the sheet all the leaves were wilted. Will it come back or have I lost it.
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