How to Grow Tomato Early Girl

Tomato Early Girl

Solanum lycopersicum 'Early Girl'

vegetable

Early Girl is a determinate cherry-to-medium tomato variety known for producing ripe fruit in just 50-62 days, making it one of the fastest-maturing tomatoes available. It produces prolific clusters of smooth, bright red fruits weighing 4-6 ounces, with a balanced sweet-tart flavor ideal for fresh eating and cooking. This compact, bushy plant thrives in diverse climates and remains a gardener favorite for quick harvests in short growing seasons.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8+ hours preferred

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Water: Consistent moisture; water deeply 1-2 inches per week. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at soil level to reduce disease. More frequent watering needed in hot climates and containers.

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Spacing: 24 inches

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Days to maturity: 50-62 days from transplant to first ripe fruit

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Planting depth: 0.25 inches for seeds; transplants planted deeply (up to first true leaves) to encourage strong root systems

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Balanced fertilizer (5-10-10) Calcium (crushed eggshells or gypsum to prevent blossom end rot) Mulch (2-3 inches)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-10; especially valued in zones 3-6 for early season production

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

Growth Stages

Seedling

6-8 weeks

Tiny plants with seed leaves (cotyledons) and emerging first true leaves; plants are fragile and pale green

Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Provide bright light (16 hours daily under grow lights) and keep soil moist but not soggy. Maintain 65-75°F. Thin to strongest seedling per cell.

Vegetative Growth

2-4 weeks after transplanting

Stocky plant with multiple stems, dense foliage, and no flowers yet; leaves are dark green and compound

Harden off transplants over 7-10 days before planting outdoors after last frost. Plant deeply to bury stems. Water consistently and mulch around base. Early Girl is determinate, so limit pruning; remove only lower leaves as plant grows.

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Plant produces bright yellow clusters of small flowers in leaf axils; flowers open progressively along the stem

Maintain consistent watering during flowering; fluctuations cause fruit splitting and blossom end rot. Ensure good air circulation to prevent disease. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Do not over-fertilize nitrogen.

Fruiting

3-4 weeks per batch; Early Girl produces multiple flushes

Green marble-sized fruits develop where flowers were; gradually enlarge and begin color change from green to orange-red over 3-4 weeks

Continue consistent watering. Provide calcium through crushed eggshells or gypsum applied monthly. Support branches with fruit; use stakes or cages. Reduce nitrogen fertilization; apply low-nitrogen formula (5-10-10) if needed.

Harvest

2-4 weeks peak production; extends until frost (determinate variety produces most fruit in concentrated period)

Fruits turn fully bright red, slightly soft to gentle pressure, with mature glossy appearance; plant continues producing until frost

Harvest when fully colored and slightly soft; vine-ripened tomatoes have best flavor. For extended harvest, pick tomatoes at 'breaker stage' (first blush of color) and ripen indoors if frost threatens. Remove fruits regularly to encourage continued production.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Onion Borage Marigold Nasturtium Garlic

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Dill Potato Kohlrabi

Common Pests

Hand-pick caterpillars daily; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray if infestation is heavy; encourage parasitic wasps by planting borage nearby
Spray with strong water stream; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs
Increase humidity and air circulation; spray underside of leaves with water; apply neem oil or miticide if severe
Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves
Remove lower leaves (first 8-12 inches) as preventive; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide or sulfur; improve air circulation
and (Phytophthora infestans fungus)
Provide good air circulation; water only at soil level; apply fungicide (copper or chlorothalonil); remove affected leaves immediately; avoid planting near potatoes
Remove infected leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply fungicide if severe

Uses

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Fresh eating and salads

Culinary

Early Girl tomatoes have balanced sweet-tart flavor and firm flesh ideal for slicing fresh into salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Their smaller size (4-6 oz) and quick production make them perfect for home gardeners wanting near-instant gratification. [source]

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Cooking and sauce making

Culinary

The firm structure and good acid balance of Early Girl make them suitable for sauces, salsas, and cooked preparations. Their prolific production allows home cooks to preserve fresh tomato sauce. [source]

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Container gardening

Culinary

Early Girl's determinate, compact growth habit makes it ideal for growing in pots and containers on patios and balconies, bringing fresh tomatoes to small spaces. [source]

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Nutritional value

Medicinal

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, vitamin C, potassium, and folate—nutrients associated with heart health, immune function, and disease prevention. Early Girl tomatoes, like all tomatoes, deliver these benefits especially when vine-ripened. [source]

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Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

The yellow flowers of tomato plants attract bees and other pollinators, supporting garden biodiversity and helping set fruit. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Early Girl typically produces ripe fruit 50-62 days after transplanting, making it one of the earliest varieties. Harvest when tomatoes are fully red and slightly soft to gentle pressure, ideally in early morning. For continuous harvest, pick fruits regularly every 2-3 days; this encourages the plant to continue producing. Early Girl is determinate, meaning it produces most fruit in a concentrated 2-4 week window, then declines. To extend the season, make successive plantings 2-3 weeks apart. If frost threatens, pick tomatoes at the 'breaker stage' (first blush of red) and ripen them indoors at room temperature.

Fun Facts

🌱 Early Girl was developed in the 1970s specifically for short-season gardeners and cool climates, revolutionizing tomato growing in zones 3-5 by delivering ripe fruit within 50-60 days—nearly 2 weeks faster than standard varieties.
🌱 The variety is determinate, meaning it flowers and sets fruit all at once (rather than continuously), allowing gardeners to plan succession plantings for extended harvests throughout the season.
🌱 Early Girl remains one of the most widely grown home garden tomato varieties worldwide and is trusted by northern gardeners who thought they couldn't grow vine-ripened tomatoes in their climate.

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