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Tomato

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

vegetable

Tomatoes are warm-season fruiting plants producing edible berries in a wide range of sizes, colors, and flavors. They are the most popular garden vegetable in North America and require warm temperatures, consistent moisture, and ample sunlight to thrive. Available in determinate (bush) and indeterminate (vining) varieties, tomatoes can be grown in gardens, containers, and greenhouses.

Looking for a specific variety?

Cherokee Purple Brandywine San Marzano Early Girl Cherry Beefsteak

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8+ hours preferred for best fruit production
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Water: Consistent moisture is critical; water deeply 1-2 inches per week. Avoid overhead watering to prevent disease. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at the base of plants in early morning. Inconsistent watering causes blossom-end rot and fruit cracking.
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Spacing: 24-36 inches between plants depending on variety; determinate 24 inches, indeterminate 36 inches inches
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Days to maturity: 60-85 days from transplant to first harvest (varies by variety)
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Planting depth: Start seeds 1/4 inch deep indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Transplant seedlings deep (up to first true leaves) to develop stronger root systems.

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
Compost aged manure bone meal for phosphorus kelp meal peat moss or coconut coir

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-11; grown as annuals in cooler zones and perennials in tropical regions

2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Small plants with 2-3 true leaves emerging. Cotyledons (seed leaves) appear first, followed by true leaves.

Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily under grow lights). Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Maintain temperature 70-80°F. Avoid overwatering which causes damping-off disease.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Rapid stem and leaf development. Plants grow 2-3 feet tall or taller depending on variety. Roots establish deeply in the garden.

Harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting. Plant deeply, burying stem up to first true leaves. Install stakes or cages early. Begin pinching suckers (side shoots) on indeterminate varieties. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer or one higher in nitrogen.

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Yellow flower clusters appear at leaf axils. Flowers are self-pollinating but benefit from air movement or gentle shaking.

Maintain consistent watering and temperature (65-85°F optimal). Avoid excessive nitrogen which delays flowering. Ensure adequate phosphorus and potassium. Provide support structures. Remove lower leaves as plants grow to improve air circulation.

4

Fruiting

3-4 weeks

Small green fruit develops where flowers were. Fruit enlarges and gradually changes color: light green, breaker stage (color breaking through), turning, pink, light red, and finally deep red (or other colors depending on variety).

Continue consistent watering to prevent blossom-end rot and cracking. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer. Mulch around base to regulate soil moisture and temperature. Prune excessive foliage to increase sun exposure but preserve some leaf cover to prevent sunscald. Watch for pests and diseases.

5

Harvest

Ongoing through frost

Fruits reach full color and size. Ripe tomatoes yield slightly to gentle pressure. Mature green tomatoes can be picked before frost and ripened indoors.

Harvest when fully colored for best flavor. Tomatoes ripened on the vine have superior taste. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Pinch off flower clusters 4-6 weeks before first expected frost to redirect energy to ripening existing fruit. Store at room temperature, never in the refrigerator if possible.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Onion Garlic Marigold Nasturtium Borage Lettuce Spinach Chives Thyme

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale) Fennel Potatoes Corn Dill Cruciferous vegetables

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick caterpillars or look for black droppings indicating their presence. Introduce parasitic wasps. Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for organic control.

  • Use yellow sticky traps. Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap. Introduce beneficial insects. Remove heavily infested leaves.

  • Increase humidity by misting. Spray with water to dislodge. Apply neem oil or sulfur. Use miticide spray for severe infestations.

  • Remove lower leaves touching soil. Improve air circulation. Apply copper fungicide or sulfur-based products. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Avoid overhead watering.

  • Apply copper fungicide preventatively. Remove infected foliage immediately. Ensure good air circulation. Space plants adequately. Avoid overhead watering. Resistant varieties are best prevention.

  • Maintain consistent watering. Avoid excessive nitrogen. Add calcium (lime or gypsum) to soil. Mulch to stabilize moisture.

  • Spray strong stream of water to dislodge. Use neem oil or insecticidal soap. Introduce ladybugs and lacewings. Yellow sticky traps to monitor.

Uses

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Fresh eating and cooking

Culinary

Tomatoes are essential in cuisines worldwide, eaten fresh in salads, cooked into sauces, salsas, soups, and stews. High in vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, they are a nutritional powerhouse in both raw and cooked forms. [source]

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Preservation and canning

Culinary

Tomatoes are traditionally preserved through canning, freezing, drying, and fermentation. Home-preserved tomato products include sauce, paste, juice, and salsa that provide fresh flavor year-round. [source]

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Heart and skin health

Medicinal

Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers. The combination of vitamins A, C, K and polyphenols supports cardiovascular and skin health. [source]

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Natural cleaning and stain removal

Household

Tomato juice and pulp contain natural acids that can remove stains from hands and surfaces, and historically was used as a mild cleaner. [source]

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Heirloom seed saving

Craft

Open-pollinated and heirloom tomato varieties allow gardeners to save seeds from the best performers for next season, preserving genetic diversity and local adaptations. [source]

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

Harvest Tips

Harvest tomatoes when fully colored and yielding slightly to gentle pressure. For best flavor, allow tomatoes to ripen fully on the vine. Tomatoes can be picked at the 'breaker stage' (when color first breaks through) and ripened indoors at 68-77°F. Twist or cut fruit gently from vine. To hasten ripening of remaining fruit before frost, pick all but the largest fruits and pinch off remaining flower clusters 4-6 weeks before expected first frost. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight; refrigeration (below 55°F) damages flavor and texture.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Tomatoes were domesticated in Mexico around 500 BCE and weren't introduced to Europe until the 16th century, where they were initially thought to be poisonous due to their association with nightshade plants.
  • 🌱 The flavor of a tomato peaks at the breaker stage and develops no further after picking; tomatoes ripened on the vine have significantly superior taste compared to those picked green and ripened indoors.
  • 🌱 A single indeterminate tomato plant can produce 100+ fruits in a season, and some gardeners report harvesting from the same plant for over a year in frost-free climates where they become perennial.

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