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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Hi Laura, It depends where
Hi Laura, It depends where you live. In most regions, it's fine to plant transplants that you'd buy at a garden center. See this page for Best Planting Dates for your zip code: Almanac.com/plantingtable
I'm considering starting a
I'm considering starting a garden. I would like to eat healthier. And, the idea of a garden is a great way to memorialize my grandmother.
Hi I'm from Philippines my
Hi
I'm from Philippines my father and i is planting a tomatoes. We put a bamboo stick on every side of the plants to prevent it to fall in the ground an also a support for the stems. We have more than a 800-1000 tomatoes that are growing now. My question is, its okay to put a bamboo stick ? Or is there a chemical to strenghten the stem. Sorry for my english. Hope you can help and advice me until the harvest time.
Bamboo poles should be OK as
Bamboo poles should be OK as long as they're not chemically treated. There is no way, chemically or otherwise to strengthen a tomato stem. It must be supported by poles,or let to lay down on the ground.
thank you for your comment.
thank you for your comment. we are harvesting our tomatoes now. the firts time we harvest its more like 150kilos all and we sell in the market 1$per kilo converts into peso its about 45peso per kilo or even less. its very cheap here
I have started 10 tomato
I have started 10 tomato seeds, 6 came up. I planted all 6 in 1 plastic pot. They are "bunched up" together. Each has started to bear fruits. Could I still transplant the bunch on a bigger pot?
Yes, you can transplant to a
Yes, you can transplant to a bigger pot. Normally, you transplant your seedlings when they have 2 sets of leaves and the second set is at least a half-inch long. Transplant to a 4 to 6 inch container with drainage holes. One seedling per pot. Fill new pots one-third to one-half full with moistened soil.
I have a lot of pine trees in
I have a lot of pine trees in my yard,
so I have an abundance of pine straw.
I have been putting paper with pine straw on it around my tomatoes to keep out grass. The plants look good but the fruit is small. Is the pine straw hurting my tomatoes?
Tomatoes and also onions and
Tomatoes and also onions and potatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH between about 6.0 and 6.8. Pine needles are acidic and will lower the pH of the soil. You may want to test your soil to see if the pine needles have lowered the pH too much. For bigger tomatoes add compost to the soil or water with compost tea (put compost in a bucket and add water).
I have planted some tomatoes
I have planted some tomatoes in several grow boxes. They all look great but one. The fertilize has started getting that fuzzy mold look all over it. What causes this and what can we do about it. Will it kill the tomatoes. Is there such a thing as ruined fertilizer? Thanks
This will be my first time
This will be my first time gardening and I wanted to grow my tomatoes in my backyard. How deep should I plant the tomatoes and what time of the year should i start growing them? Thank you.
Plant after the danger of
Plant after the danger of frost is past. Temperatures are consistently above 50° F at night and 65°F during the day.
Plant each tomato deeper than it was growing in its pot, burying it up to within 3 or 4 branches from its top. Firm the soil around the plant and water lightly. Planting within a shallow collar made from tin cans or toilet paper rolls will discourage cutworms.
My tomato plant looks like it
My tomato plant looks like it is dying. I am trying to bring it back, should I pick off the tomotoes that are growing on it. There are around 6 small tomatoes.
Hi, Vickey, Without knowing
Hi, Vickey, Without knowing the problem, it's difficult to say. See if any of these diseases afflict your plants:
http://www.almanac.com/content...
http://www.almanac.com/content...
http://www.almanac.com/content...
Those are only a few possibilities.
You might also take a picture of your plant/s and consult a local garden center.
Beginner gardener here, been
Beginner gardener here, been reading about most of the plants i would like to attempt at growing, tomatoes being one of them.
Back to my point, what does it mean by water two inches? I know it doesnt mean only two inches in area. So im guessing depth?
Correct. You are trying to
Correct. You are trying to give as much water over the entire week as a one-time 2-inch rainfall (2-inch depth over your entire garden plot). A rain gauge set on the ground near your plants will help you to check the amount of water that they are receiving.
You can also use a small,
You can also use a small, clean Tuna can set next to your plants. Water until the tuna can is filled, twice a week.
Could you please elaborate on
Could you please elaborate on this? Is the tuna can to drip irrigate? Or is it that when the water evaporates from the can it's time to water? Or something else? I had been living in an apartment for 15 years, now I'm in a house and this is my very first attempt at gardening ANYTHING! I love the idea of growing my own food!
Thanks in advance!
~Snib
The tuna can will act as a
The tuna can will act as a guide. When you water, watch the can and when it is full, you are done. A tuna can is about two inches high so it makes a good "rain gauge".
Good luck!
Hi, I'm new to this and just
Hi, I'm new to this and just moved into a new place that has only a back wooden patio. I want to grow tomatoes in a 20 gallon storage tote. Any advice on how that might play out? Also I'm thinking of putting my early girl transplant on one end and some cherry tomato seeds on the other. Would the two different varieties of tomatoes in a small space be problematic?
Hi Leigh, Tomatoes grow well
Hi Leigh,
Tomatoes grow well in containers and a storage tote will work well if you make sure it has drainage holes. Use good quality soil mixed with compost or aged manure. Plant the seeds first and let them germinate before you plant the Early Girl transplant.
i am learning about tomatoes
i am learning about tomatoes for homework and was wondering about how long it takes for them to grow(approximately)
Days to maturity for tomatoes
Days to maturity for tomatoes depends on the variety. Generally, it takes 45 to 60 days to mature to a ripe red. Early-season varieties can take less time; late-season varieties can take more time. Growing conditions also affect maturation.
Hello, I am looking to do a
Hello, I am looking to do a science project with tomato seeds. So far I have not chosen a type of tomato but I am looking for some advice on a type of tomatoe seed to simply germinating on a wicking sheet and having an automated dripper drip on the sheet to allow the seeds to draw whatever moisture it needs. And will this set up work for tomatoes? What type of tomato would work best?
Thanks.
Germination rate will depend
Germination rate will depend on many factors, including the age of the seed, the variety, how the seed has been stored, the conditions it is in (warmth, water, etc.), whether it is healthy, and so on. For your experiment, be sure to get certified disease-free seeds, and use seeds that are fresh for best results (packaged for 2015). Select seeds that look healthy and plump. Provide warmth, of between 70F to 80F; a seedling heat mat is helpful, or the top of the refrigerator. Spread the seeds so that they are not touching each other. The seeds will need air as well as water, so be sure that they are not waterlogged.
As to the variety or type of tomato: Check the "days to germination" times listed on seed packets. Some varieties might have longer germination times than others.
As soon as your seeds have sprouted, they'll need to have access to nutrients, light, etc. A soilless mix is good. Be very careful not to disturb the new root when planting the sprouted seed. Good luck!
Hello, I have not seen this
Hello,
I have not seen this question asked. This was my first year to tomatoes in containers and I sadly had minimal success but am willing to try again next spring with new information in hand. My question is this, after the tomato
crop is done, is the soil that the tomatos were growing in still good for growing
anything else? Can I use that soil for frowing bulbs or flowers? Do I need to
"treat" the soil or amend it further for flowers or other vegetables?
Hi Joan, Yes, you can reuse
Hi Joan,
Yes, you can reuse the soil next year. Just don't grow tomatoes in the same soil two years in a row. You can leave the soil in the containers if you put them in an area that doesn't freeze. Otherwise empty the soil into a trash can or heavy duty plastic bag. Remove any roots or weeds first. Next spring amend the soil with about one third fresh soil/compost mix and start planting.
I have replanted from seed in
I have replanted from seed in mid September some Rutger and Beefsteak tomatoes. They are in individual pots and I have 6 of them andalso some beets planted at same time. WHen time comes for first frost I want to bring them indoors. Will they still thrive and fruit being they are indoors for the winter? They will be by my window that brings in a lot of sun. Will they still fruit when being indoors?
You'll need to pollinate
You'll need to pollinate them, perhaps with a feather.
I take an electric toothbrush
I take an electric toothbrush and pollinate the tomato flowers by giving the fruit gentle vibrations. You can also take a Q-Tip as well and just rub the outside of the flower, then rub the tip of the flower
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