How to Grow Young Lady
Wikimedia Commons
Young Lady
Solanum lycopersicum 'Young Lady'
vegetableYoung Lady is a determinate cherry tomato variety known for its early maturity and prolific production of small, sweet fruits. It's an excellent choice for containers and small spaces, producing abundant clusters of vibrant red tomatoes. This compact plant is popular among home gardeners for its reliability and consistent yields.
When should you plant Young Lady in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Young Lady timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Young Lady
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Young Lady
Around Jun 6≈ 50 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Young Lady dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-10; can be grown as an annual in zones 3-4
Sign up free to see if Young Lady grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Young Lady timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny green seedlings with cotyledons (seed leaves) emerging, followed by first true leaves. Plants are fragile and pale.
Keep soil consistently moist under grow lights or bright windowsill. Maintain temperature 70-75°F. Thin seedlings or transplant when first true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeks indoors; 1-2 weeks after transplanting outdoorsPlant develops bushy foliage with multiple branches and increasingly larger true leaves. No flowers yet. Compact habit characteristic of determinate variety.
Provide 14-16 hours of light daily if indoors. Pot up to larger containers as needed. Harden off before transplanting outdoors. Begin low-nitrogen fertilizing after 4-6 weeks.
Flowering
2-3 weeksSmall yellow flowers appear in clusters along branch tips. Plants become bushier and more compact. First flower clusters typically appear 4-6 weeks after transplanting.
Maintain consistent watering and begin weekly fertilizing with balanced or slightly higher phosphorus formula. Support branches with stakes or cages early. Avoid overhead watering.
Fruiting
3-4 weeksTiny green marble-sized fruits develop from flowers. Fruits gradually enlarge and begin color change from green to red over 3-4 weeks.
Maintain steady watering schedule; irregular watering causes fruit cracking and blossom end rot. Continue regular fertilizing every 7-10 days. Prune lower leaves as fruits ripen for air circulation.
Harvest
4-6 weeks of active harvestFully red, glossy cherry tomatoes ready for picking. Determinate variety produces most fruit in concentrated period rather than continuously.
Harvest fully red fruits for sweetest flavor. Pick regularly to encourage additional fruiting. Production peaks mid-season then gradually declines.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; encourage parasitic wasps
-
Spray with insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; reflective mulch
-
Increase humidity; strong water spray; neem oil or miticide sprays
-
Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation; fungicide sprays; mulch to prevent soil splash
-
Remove diseased foliage; copper fungicide; avoid overhead watering
Uses
Fresh eating and snacking
CulinaryYoung Lady cherry tomatoes are perfect for eating fresh off the vine. Their sweet flavor and bite-sized portion make them ideal for snacking, salads, and garnishes. [source]
Cooking and sauces
CulinaryThese abundant small tomatoes can be roasted whole, used in pasta sauces, or preserved as tomato jam. Their natural sweetness concentrates when cooked. [source]
Container gardening
HouseholdYoung Lady's determinate, compact growth habit makes it ideal for container growing on patios, balconies, and small spaces. One plant produces abundant harvests in a 5-gallon pot. [source]
Preserving and drying
CulinaryThe concentrated flavor of cherry tomatoes makes them excellent for sun-drying, making tomato leather, or fermented preservation. High yield allows for bulk processing. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting garden biodiversity. Companion plantings can further enhance pollinator activity around Young Lady plants. [source]
Harvest Tips
Pick tomatoes when fully red and glossy for sweetest flavor; can pick at light-pink stage to ripen indoors. Harvest regularly to encourage continued fruiting. In cooler climates, harvest all remaining fruit before first frost and ripen indoors. Determinate varieties like Young Lady produce most fruit within 3-4 week window.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Young Lady tomatoes are a determinate 'bush' variety, meaning they grow to a fixed height and produce most fruit within a concentrated timeframe, making them perfect for succession planting.
- 🌱 Cherry tomatoes have evolved to be sweeter than full-sized tomatoes because wild birds can better disperse the small fruits, and sweetness encouraged birds to eat them in the plant's evolutionary history.
- 🌱 Young Lady can be successfully grown in hanging baskets and upside-down containers, maximizing production in minimal space.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Young Lady planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Young Lady seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Young Lady timeline →