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
Leave a Comment
what would happen
i have some tomato seeds growing i am asking this because i just started gardening this year and im a young gardener but will you tomato's die if they dont have support?
growing tomato plants.
Hello, again, Jacob, Tomatoes do not die without support but they are more susceptible to rot and pests.
growing tomatos in same area year after year
What can I do to increase my tomato production, I have to grow 8-10 hybrid tomatos in the same 10' X 20' area year after year? This year the 3rd year, there were plenty vines and growth, but very few tomatos small tomatos.
small tomatoes
Check the soil nutrients. It sounds like you might have too much nitrogen, which can result in lots of leaves and vines, but discourages fruiting. If you think that this might be the case, then choose a fertilizer high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen. (To be sure, test the soil to assess what nutrients your plants will need.) Apply fertilizer at time of planting and then when the first fruit sets; after that, side dress once every 7 to 10 days. Good luck!
new tomatoes plants
Hi
Three weeks we used our home made compost from last year used of fresh vegetables and eggs shells. We spread in a corner of the plot preparing for spring flowers and!! all tomatoes seed have sprout! it is full of beautiful and strong plans of tomatoes. What can we do with them?. At the moment I am transplanting them to individual pots, just in case they do for next year. Can you advice me about this?.
late tomatoes
If you have tomato transplants when autumn is almost here, then your choices may depend on your climate. In colder climates, it might be best to bring the tomatoes indoors, if you can set them up in an area where the temperature is warm (daytime between 65 and 85F; nighttime cooler, but not below 55F), and there is lots of sunlight (between 12 and 16 hours; a south-facing window with supplemental grow lights might work). Plant them in 5-gallon containers or larger. Fertilize (after first 2 weeks) and water regularly. If you have indeterminate tomatoes, you’ll need to provide support, as they tend to sprawl; these are best, however, for growing over winter, as they will provide a crop over a longer period than determinates. When flowers form, be sure to tap the branches, to encourage pollen to distribute to other flowers. If you do not have room indoors, you can try to extend the season by placing the tomatoes in plastic tunnels or another season-extension system.
Leaves of tomato plants
Plants are 10 foot tall and bottom 2 or 3 foot of plant are dried up and are dark brown or black. What's going on!? Thank you.
black tomato stems
Hi, Rod, This cold be early blight, typical of very hot weather, or a wilt, which can result from over/under watering. Remove all diseased plant tissue from the ground. Practice crop rotation, or if you grow only tomatoes, do not plant in the same place each year. Space plants farther apart (how much depends on the expected size of the plant, its growth habit). Avoid overhead watering. Fruit might turn red on these plants. If threatened with frost, remove and ripen indoors.
Growing Tomatoes from Tomato Slices
Earlier this year I saw a picture showing tomato plants grown by placing tomato slices in a container. In early June I planted three plum tomato slices into one planter containing Miracle Grow Potting soil. I watered them regularly. Two weeks later I had seedlings. Today I have one large and two medium planters with tomatoes on all plants which are on the deck. We live in NJ, and the plants get adequate sun and shade daily. I water them daily, and they get Miracle Grow plant food as recommended. I'm thrilled with size of the plants, but I'm curious about the tomatoes currently on the plants. Since I planted plum tomato slices, I assumed that's the type that would grow. The plants contain both round and plum shaped tomatoes. What gives? Thanks for your help.
Reply
If you grow tomato plants from hybrid seeds, you will get tomato's from either or both of the two original types that where combined to make the hybrid. Sounds like you got lucky. Sometimes you get a plant that doesn't bear fruit.
tomatoes leaves
My tomatoes plants look lush and healthy. They a bearing good sized, firm, beautiful tomatoes. But many of the plants have clusters of moist, shriveled up leaves. Most of these clusters are on the bottom half of the plant. The stems appear healthy, and there are no spots on the leaves. I live in Northeastern PA. Is this the normal progression of tomatoes leaves?
late blight
Do the leaves also have mold? Late Blight is a fungal disease that can strike during any part of the growing season. It will cause grey, moldy spots on leaves. This disease will overwinter, so all infected plants should be destroyed.
Will tomatoes grow better if
Will tomatoes grow better if you remove leaves of plants
Pruning Tomatoes
If your tomatoes are overwhelmed with foliage, it might hinder growth a bit. We suggest to prune plants by pinching off suckers so that only a handful of stems are growing on each plant. You will get healthier and bigger tomatoes this way. Also remove any leaves that are touching the soil.
Fall Tomatoes
We live in south alabama when would we plant for fall tomatoes and what variety would br best
growing tomatoes in fall
Lucky you! Some suggestions for fall-season tomatoes include these cherries: Red Robin (55 days to maturity), Sun Gold (55 to 58 days), Black Cherry (65 days). Among the heirlooms you could try Early Wonder (55 days), Green Zeba (78 days), and Brandywine (69 to 80 days). Hybrids include Early Girl (50 to 52 days) and Jetsetter (about 64 days).
We hope this helps!
tomato plant leaves turn yellow
What would make the plant leaves turn yellow?
Yellow Leaves on Tomatoes
Hi Barbara,
Yellow or “chlorotic” leaves on tomato plants is most commonly a sign of a nutrient deficiency. The only way to know for sure is to have your soil tested by your local Cooperative Extension agency.
Tomatoes
Plants are in 5 gallon buckets on deck and small tomatoe growths already but Squirrels and birds pecking at them...Anything I can do to prevent this from happening?
squirrel- and bird-proofing tomatoes
Bird-netting placed around the tomatoes (but not resting on them) will help to prevent birds from pecking. You can attach the netting to a homemade wooden frame shaped like a cube. Squirrels can sometimes chew through the netting–in that case, construct a cage with chicken wire. Make the cage light enough, though, so that you can easily lift it (or have an access panel) when you need to tend to your plants. As for size, allow for the growth of the tomato plant – indeterminate tomatoes can grow quite large. Hope this helps!
tomatoes
I live in a suburb of Los Angeles California. I'm late in growing my vegetables this year but I was wondering if I could still plant tomato plants.
planting tomatoes late
Some people plant tomatoes in the Los Angeles area in early June, although tomatoes may not produce as much fruit if temperatures are higher than 90F (blossoms drop). You may get tomatoes late summer, though, if temperatures behave. See the planting calendar below and put in your location for a recommended planting schedule:
https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar
Tomatoes not turning red
I live in the deep south, tomato plants are for heat in this area. Plants are loaded with tomatoes, good size but they are not turning red. Previous years the tomatoes have turned red by now. I don't know what to do.
Tomatoes Not Turning Red
It could be that the soil temperature is not optimal (below 80 degrees F); if hotter, the plant puts energy into root development, which deters ripening. Try removing some of the smaller tomatoes–that will put less stress on the plant and might help speed up the ripening process.
Growing tomatoes under insect cloth
I've grown tomatoes in large pots for years, with great success. Live in Albuquerque, NM; lots of sun; very low humidity. The last 2 years, I've had disastrous crops - problems w/bugs, end rot, curly leaf - you name it. Bought new pots, all new potting soil (always), bought tomatoes from Connecticut to try to not have local pests to start. The county extension experimented with 'row cloth' and grew 70% more tomatoes. So, I've covered each plant with very lightweight 'row cloth' - plants are growing very nicely, and I already have a few tomatoes on one plant. Dumb question - do I need to uncover plants for a period each day or are the plants what is called self-pollinating? I've had past success without knowing what really made it work, other than sun, food and water! Thanks so much!
Tomatoes are “self
Tomatoes are “self-pollinating” plants. Each flower has both a stamen and a stigma (male and female parts). Tomatoes don’t need pollinators to bear fruit but the plants do need help to release the pollen. Wind can shake the pollen loose or you can shake the plants gently by hand.
Blooms steam turning yellow and falling off
I'm not sure what is happening. Or the cause of it. After the bloom opens and then the bloom ready to form the tomato the steam at the head if the bloom turns yellow and then black then falls off.
blossom drop
Tomato blossoms may drop prematurely for several reasons. These include if the plant is, over several days, subjected to high daytime temperatures over 85, or nighttime temps over 70 or below 55. Low or high humidity may also cause it. These conditions all affect pollination. Other factors: lack of pollinators, or too much or too little nitrogen. Diseases or not enough water might also create the problem.
possible tomato disease?
I live in South Texas (San Antonio). I am trying several varieties of tomatoes in containers. I have one patio tomato one Cherokee purple and one other; all my tomatoes have all gotten a large crack in the main stem of the plant. I cant seem to find any information on this. A friend told me it was probably a disease and to throw them out but they are all bearing fruit but I hate to toss them out if I don't need to! Thank you for any tomato tips.
any siggestions/ideas?
split, or cracked, stem
This is a tough one, and we went outside for guidance. It could be a few things and none sound good, unfortunately; here’s what we found (click through)
• https://agdev.anr.udel.edu/weeklycropupdate/?p=2164
• look really closely here: http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/DiagnosticKeys/TomWlt/TomWilt...
• maybe this: https://extension.umd.edu/growit/fusarium-wilt-tomato-vegetables
We hope this helps—
Pages