蜜桃恋人

How to Grow Tomato Plants: The Complete Guide

red tomatoes ripening on the vine in the garden
Photo Credit
Helios4Eos/Getty Images
Botanical Name
Solanum lycopersicum
Plant Type
Vegetable
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Acidic
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Yellow

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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Tomatoes

Catherine Boeckmann

Are you growing garden-fresh tomatoes this year? There is simply nothing like them! Learn all about how to grow tomatoes, starting tomatoes, different varieties, and planting dates with the 蜜桃恋人’s Tomato Growing Guide.

About Tomato Plants

Tomato plants are tender, warm-season crops that love the sun and cannot bear frost. It’s important not to put plants in the ground too early. 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.

Tomatoes take 60 days to more than 100 days to harvest, depending on the variety (see more about varieties below). Due to their relatively long growing season requirements (and late planting date), most gardeners plant small 鈥渟tarter plants鈥 or transplants instead of seeds after the weather has warmed up in spring. Many gardeners purchase their transplants at a garden center or nursery, but you can certainly grow your own from seed indoors. 

Here are a few guidelines for buying transplants:

  • 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, stress damage, or flowers or fruits already in progress.
Read Next

Planting

Select a site with full sun! In northern regions, 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight are preferred. In southern regions, light afternoon shade (natural or applied, e.g., row covers) will help tomatoes to survive and thrive. Dig the soil to about 1 foot deep and mix in aged manure and/or compost. Give it two weeks to break down before planting.

Also, choose a space where tomatoes (and members of their family, especially eggplants, peppers, and potatoes) have not grown in the previous couple of years. See tips on crop rotation.

When to Plant Tomatoes

Tomatoes are long-season, heat-loving plants that won鈥檛 tolerate frost, so wait until the weather has warmed up in the spring. See our Planting Calendar for when to start tomatoes in your location.

If you are starting tomatoes from seed, sow indoors six weeks before the last expected spring frost date in your area. Sow seeds 1/2-inch deep in small trays. Plant seedlings outdoors about two weeks after that date or when temperatures stay in the mid-50 degree range both day and night. See our full guide to starting tomato seeds indoors.

If you have a long enough growing season, it is also possible to direct-seed tomatoes in the garden soil (1/2-inch deep)鈥攂ut not before the soil is at least 55掳F. Note that 70掳F soil is optimum for maximum germination within five days. 

Hardening Off Tomatoes

If you鈥檙e buying or growing the start plants, you鈥檒l need to 鈥渉arden off鈥 the seedlings for a week before transplanting them into the ground. Set them outdoors in the shade for a few hours on the first day. Gradually increase this time each day to include some direct sunlight. Learn more about hardening off seedlings.

Tomato seedlings

How to Plant Tomatoes

  • Transplant your seedlings (or your nursery-grown plants) into the ground outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is at least 60掳F. See our Planting Calendar for suggested transplanting dates.
  • Place tomato stakes or cages in the soil when planting. Staking and caging keep developing fruit off the ground (to avoid disease and pests) and also help the plant to stay upright. See instructions on how to build stakes, cages, and tomato supports.
  • Optional: When you transplant tomatoes, add a handful of organic tomato fertilizer or bone meal (a good source of phosphorus) to the planting hole. Do NOT apply high-nitrogen fertilizers such as those recommended for lawns, as this will promote luxurious foliage but can delay flowering and fruiting. 
  • When planting seedlings, pinch off a few of the lower leaves. Here are two ways to set seedlings in the soil:
    1. Place each root ball deep enough so that the bottom leaves are just above the surface of the soil. Roots will grow all along the plant鈥檚 stem underground. Plant seedlings 2 to 3 feet apart. Crowded plants will not get sufficient sun, and the fruit may not ripen.
    2. Alternatively, lay long, leggy transplants on their sides in trenches 3 to 4 inches deep. Bury the stems up to the first set of true leaves. Roots will develop along the buried stem. If you plant this way, consider setting four tomato plants in compass-point positions (north, south, east, and west). This formation enables you to fertilize and water the plants in the middle.
  • Remember to allow enough space for the plants to spread out.
  • Water well to reduce shock to the roots.

Growing Tomatoes in Containers

  • Use a large pot or container (at least 20 inches in diameter) with drainage holes in the bottom. 
  • Use loose, well-draining soil (e.g., at least 12 inches of a good 鈥減otting mix鈥 with added organic material).
  • A tray of some sort should be placed under the pot to catch any excess water that drains out the bottom.
  • Choose determinate types, such as bush or dwarf varieties. Many cherry tomatoes grow well in pots. Taller varieties may need to be staked.
  • Plant one tomato plant per pot and give each at least 6 hours of sun per day.
  • Keep soil moist. Containers will dry out more quickly than garden soil, so check daily and provide extra water during heat waves.
  • Learn more about how to grow tomatoes in containers.

Growing

Watering Tomatoes

  • Water in the early morning so that plants have sufficient moisture to make it through a hot day.
  • Water generously the first few days that the tomato seedlings or transplants are in the ground.
  • Then, water with about 2 inches (about 1.2 gallons) per square foot per week during the growing season. Deep watering encourages a strong root system.
  • Avoid overhead watering and afternoon watering. Water at the base/soil level of a plant to avoid splashing water on the leaves (which invites disease).
  • Mulch the plants 5 weeks after transplanting to retain moisture, keep soil from splashing the lower leaves, and control weeds. Apply 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch, such as straw, hay, or bark chips.
  • To help tomatoes through periods of drought, find some flat rocks and place one next to each plant. The rocks prevent water from evaporating from the soil.

Fertilizing Tomatoes

  • You should have already worked compost into the soil before planting and added some bonemeal to the planting hole when transplanting.
  • Side-dress plants, applying liquid seaweed or fish emulsion or an organic fertilizer every two weeks, starting when tomatoes are about 1 inch in diameter (some folks say golf ball-size). If you are using an organic granular formula such as Espoma Tomato-Tone (4-7-10 or 3-4-6), pull mulch back a few inches and scratch 2 to 3 tablespoons fertilizer around the drip line of the plant. Water in, and replace mulch.
  • Continue fertilizing tomatoes about every 3 to 4 weeks until frost.
  • Note: Avoid fast-release fertilizers and avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. As stated, too much nitrogen will result in lush foliage but few flowers and little or no fruit.

Pruning Tomatoes

  • If growing vining tomatoes, pinch off suckers (new, tiny stems and leaves between branches and the main stem). This aids air circulation and allows more sunlight into the middle of the plant.
  • Gently tie the stems to stakes with rags, nylon stockings, twine, or soft string.
  • As a plant grows, trim the lower leaves from the bottom 12 inches of the stem.

Check out this post for even more tomato tips.

Tomatoes. Photo by Ozgurdonmaz/Getty Images
Photo by Ozgurdonmaz/Getty Images

Types

The first job is deciding what to grow, and with at least 10,000 different varieties of tomato, there鈥檚 certainly plenty to choose from, including cherry tomatoes, paste types, varieties with standard round fruits, and chunky beefsteak tomatoes.

Whatever you grow, they鈥檒l fall into one of two categories: 鈥榖ush鈥 tomatoes, sometimes called determinate tomatoes, which grow to around three feet (1m) tall, and 鈥榲ining鈥 tomatoes, also called indeterminate or 鈥榗ordon鈥 tomatoes, which continue growing to produce fruits on one long stem. Learn more about the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes.

Do you only have a hanging basket? Hey, that鈥檚 no problem鈥攖here are compact tomatoes for this situation, too.

  • Determinate tomatoes, better known as bush varieties, grow 2 to 3 feet tall. These varieties tend to provide numerous ripe tomatoes at one time. They 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 ideal for containers and small spaces. Most paste tomatoes are determinate, which works well for making sauce and canning. Because they produce determinate tomatoes at the same time, they are a good selection for 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.
green_zebra_tomatoes_v_zaitsev_gettyimages_full_width.jpg
Tomatoes aren鈥檛 only red! The flavorful heirloom 鈥楪reen Zebra鈥 is featured here, a high-yielding indeterminate plant. Credit: VZaitsev/GettyImages

Tomatoes come in a wide range of flavors, colors, and sizes. The choice also depends on how you use this versatile fruit in the kitchen. Cherry tomatoes are great for salads. Beefsteaks are great for sandwiches. 

Romas are not usually eaten fresh out of hand but are perfect for sauces and ketchup. See our separate Guide to Growing Roma Tomatoes.

Also, tomatoes can be susceptible to pests and diseases. To avoid problems, choose disease-resistant cultivars whenever possible. 

Early Varieties (fewer than 70 days to harvest)
Early-maturing cultivars such as Early Girl may be slightly less flavorful but will produce fruit 2 to 3 weeks earlier than mid or late-season cultivars. 

  • 鈥楨arly Cascade鈥: indeterminate trailing plant, fruit in clusters; disease-resistant
  • 鈥楨arly Girl鈥: indeterminate, meaty fruit; produces through the summer

Mid-season Varieties (70 to 80 days to harvest)

  • 鈥楩loramerica鈥: determinate; disease-resistant; firm, deep red flesh, strong plant
  • 鈥楩antastic鈥: indeterminate; disease- and crack-resistant; meaty, rich flavor, heavy yields

Late-season Varieties (80 days or more to harvest)

  • 鈥楢mish Paste鈥: indeterminate; heirloom; large plum tomatoes, acorn-shaped fruit; juicy, excellent for sauce.
  • 鈥楤randywine鈥: indeterminate; heirloom; beefsteak with perfect acid-sweet combination; many variants are available
  • 鈥楾omato, Roma VF鈥: determinate; compact Roma tomatoes; resistant to wilts. Meaty interiors and few seeds; heavy-yielding; good for paste and canning.
roma_tomatoes_ben185_getty_images_full_width.jpg
Roma tomatoes. 
Credit: Ben185/Getty

Cherry Tomatoes 

  • 鈥楽un Gold鈥: 57 days to maturity; indeterminate; resistant to Fusarium wilt and tobacco mosaic virus; bright tangerine-orange color on grapelike trusses; intensely sweet taste
  • 鈥楳att鈥檚 Wild Cherry鈥: indeterminate, disease-resistant (including blight)
  • 鈥榊ellow Mini (F1)鈥: 57 days to maturity; indeterminate; sweet, juicy favor; compared with other cherry tomatoes, Yellow Mini resists the splitting that is caused by too much rain or inconsistent watering; high resistance to tobacco mosaic virus.
yellow_tomato_johnnyseeds_0_full_width.jpg
Cherry tomatoes (鈥榊ellow Mini F1鈥).&苍产蝉辫;
Credit: .

Large Tomatoes

  • Beefsteak, Beefmaster, Ponderosa, and Oxheart are noted for their large fruit. However, these larger fruited types often are more susceptible to diseases and skin cracking. 
black-krim-label_mighty_mato_full_width.jpg
 Black Krim heirloom beefsteak tomato. 80 days; indeterminate; wonderfully rich flavor. 
Credit: .

Check out this helpful video on how to choose tomato varieties.


Learn how to choose tomato varieties.

Harvesting

  • Leave garden tomatoes on the vine as long as possible.
  • Harvest tomatoes when they are firm and very red, regardless of size, with perhaps some yellow remaining around the stem. Harvest tomatoes of other colors (orange, yellow, purple, or another rainbow shade) when they turn the correct color.
  • If temperatures start to drop and your tomatoes aren’t ripening, use one of these methods:
    1. Pull up the entire plant, brush off dirt, remove foliage, and hang the plant upside down in a basement or garage.
    2. Place mature, pale green tomatoes, stem up in a paper bag and loosely seal it. Or wrap them in newspaper and place in a cardboard box. Store in a cool (55掳F to 70掳F), dark place. Cooler temperatures slow ripening; warmth speeds it. Check weekly and remove soft, spotted, diseased, or ripe fruit.
  • Never place tomatoes on a sunny windowsill to ripen. They may rot before they are ripe!
  • Watch this video for tips on how to ripen green tomatoes. 
  • You can harvest seeds from some tomato varieties. Learn how here.

How to Store Tomatoes

  • Never refrigerate fresh garden tomatoes. Doing so spoils the flavor and texture that give them that garden tomato taste.
  • To freeze, core fresh and unblemished tomatoes and place them whole in freezer bags or containers. Seal, label, and freeze. The skins will slip off when they thaw.

See more on properly storing tomatoes and other vegetables.

Gardening Products

Wit and Wisdom

  • The tomato has a strange history because it’s of American origin, but it was unknown as a food in this country. Spanish explorers brought the seed to Europe, and then it returned to the New World!
  • Initially, tomatoes were thought to be poisonous and only grown in the 19th century as an ornamental plant called 鈥淭he Apple of Paradise鈥 in Germany and 鈥淭he Apple of Love鈥 in France.
  • The mistaken idea that tomatoes were poisonous probably arose because the plant belongs to the Nightshade family, of which some species are truly poisonous. 
  • In 1781, there is a record of Thomas Jefferson, an experimental farmer, raising tomatoes for his guests!
  • People have argued for quite a long time about whether tomatoes are fruits or vegetables!
  • Ease a headache by drinking tomato juice blended with fresh basil.
  • The various varieties of tomatoes range in size from as large as grapefruits to as small as marbles. 
  • Compact tomato plants may be referred to as 鈥渄warf,鈥 鈥渕icro,鈥 or 鈥減atio.鈥

Pests/Diseases

Tomato Problems

If no flowers form, plants may not be getting enough sun or water. Too little of either can stop flowering.

If plants are producing abundant flowers but no fruit, it could be due to insufficient light, inadequate watering or irregular watering schedule, extreme temperatures (above 75掳F during the night and 90掳F during the day), or insufficient pollination by bees.

If flowers form but drop off the plant, this is due to high daytime temperatures (over 90掳F). Provide shade during the hottest part of the day by using row covers or shade cloth.

Low humidity can also affect pollination. The ideal is 40 to 70 percent. If humidity is low, mist the plant to help pollen to stick.

Tomato Pests

Tomatoes are susceptible to insect pests. To avoid overpopulation of insect pests, follow these basic tips:

  1. Monitor tomato plants daily, checking under leaves, checking fruit, and checking near the soil.
  2. To dislodge many pests like Aphids, spray plants with a good jet stream from the hose.
  3. Handpick bigger insects like Tomato Hornworms with gloves on, dropping them into a bucket of soapy water.
  4. Apply insecticidal soap directly to the insect on the plant. This works for smaller pests, such as aphids and spider mites.
  5. Apply horticultural oils or sprays diluted in water. Neem oil sprays block an insect鈥檚 air holes.
  6. If you choose as a last resort to use insecticides like Sevin, keep in mind that you may be killing beneficial insects as well.

When it comes to tomato diseases and other problems, most of the work is in prevention. Here are some tips to avoid tomato diseases:

  1. Plant disease-resistant tomato varieties. Tomato disease-resistant codes are listed on seed or seedling packets (example: F = Fusarium Wilt).
  2. Rotate crops at least every three years in the same spot. Avoid planting other members of Solanaceous/nightshade family in the same area as well. This includes potato, pepper, and eggplant.
  3. Ensure well-draining soil. Always mix in compost or organic matter.
  4. Water consistently! Do not overwater or underwater. Uneven watering may cause a condition called blossom end rot.
  5. Destroy infected plants. Unfortunately, you often need to remove and discard infected plants, or the disease will overwinter. Do NOT put them in your compost pile. 
  6. Solarize the soil. If the problem is really bad, you can treat your soil by covering it with plastic during the hottest part of the summer for 6 to 8 weeks; the sun will destroy the bacteria.

Tomato Diseases

  • Blossom-End Rot causes the bottom side of the tomato to develop dark, sunken spots due to a calcium imbalance due to uneven watering. See the link for remedies and prevention.
  • Early Blight is a fungal disease that causes leaves to drop. In July, the risks of blight increase, due to the combination of high humidity and warm days and nights. It starts with dark, concentric spots (brown to black), about 1/2-inch in diameter, on the lower leaves and stems. If you catch it early and destroy infected leaves, your plant may survive. The best defense for outdoor tomatoes is good ventilation and stripping off the lower leaves as the fruits develop. This also helps the ripening process, as tomatoes have maximum exposure to the sun. 
  • Late Blight is a fungal disease that causes grey, moldy spots on leaves and fruit, which later turn brown. The disease is spread and supported by persistent damp weather. Unfortunately, once your tomato has late blight, there’s really no solution. See our blog on 鈥淎void Blight With the Right Tomato.鈥
  • Mosaic Virus creates distorted leaves and causes young growth to be narrow and twisted, and the leaves become mottled with yellow. Unfortunately, infected plants should be destroyed (but don’t put them in your compost pile).
  • Fusarium Wilt starts with yellowing and wilting on one side of the plant and moves up the plant as the fungus spreads. Unfortunately, once this disease strikes, the plant needs to be destroyed.
  • Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that leaves white spots or a dusting of white on the leaves. It can be managed. See the link to learn more.
  • Cracking: When fruit growth is too rapid, the skin will crack. This usually occurs due to uneven watering or uneven moisture from weather conditions, such as (very rainy periods mixed with dry periods). Keep moisture levels constant with consistent watering and mulching.

See our article all about Tomato Diseases and Disorders.

Check out this helpful video to see how to fix the top 10 tomato problems!

Recipes

Spinach-Stuffed Tomatoes
Tomato Herb Bread
Skillet Chicken With Fresh Tomatoes
Chicken-Stuffed Tomatoes
Fresh Tomato Tart
Cherry Tomato and Beet Crostini
Fresh Tomato and Zucchini Au Gratin

Cooking Notes

Tomatoes are nutritious and low in calories. One medium-sized tomato provides 57% of the recommended daily allotment (RDA) of vitamin C, 25% of vitamin A, and 8% of iron, yet it has only 35 calories.

Capture the garden-fresh taste of tomatoes all year long! See this helpful post on how to can tomatoes.

Many people also love dried tomatoes, so learn how to dry your own tomatoes here.

See our Best Tomato Recipes Ever!

Vegetables
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it鈥檚 not surprising that she and The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 found each other. She leads digital content for the 蜜桃恋人 website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Hi, Kathy, Nice going!
鈥 Yes, prune off new blossoms. And clip vigorous new shoot, too鈥攂u do not remove an excess of foliage, as these help to provide nutrients to the fruit. Ripening a lot of fruit takes a lot of energy and may slow the ripening of the entire crop.
鈥 Check your earliest frost date ( http://www.almanac.com/content/frost-chart-united-states/KS/Dodge%20City ) an in the weeks prior, begin to remove the most mature fruit to ripen in doors. Because the red tomato pigments lycopene and carotene are not produced at temps about 85掳F (but not belw 50掳F), the cooler weather that usually comes at end of summer should help to bring on the red color.
鈥 In later Sept, as night time temps run to around 50掳F, you can cover the plants if there are tomatoes still trying to turn red and give them a few more days. But at this time (or sooner, if you prefer), remove green ones to ripen indoors.
Your local weather conditions and specific plants are your key determinants here. Better to bring them in to ripen than risk losing even one.

Eugene Roberts (not verified)

9 years 4 months ago

I purchased a dozen Heirloom plants from Burpee.This is only my second attempt.I turned the soil and mixed in mushroom soil before plantimg.Now here in SE Pennsylvania my plants are growing like mad.I did something different by using 1 1/2 inch PVC schedule 40 to make a frame that would be six feet high centered over the plants.From the top I hung tomato rollers one for each plant and dropped the string to the center stalk of each plant.No instructions were given and simple pictures however they showed the branches 'clipped' with the plastic supports that they provide with the rollers and attached to the vertical string.That didn't make sense to me since the entire plant would be squeezed together making pruning impossible.I decided to let out excess line and make loops every foot.Then I used the clips that were provided to each branch and clipped to the loops.This provided plenty of width for the plant to grow while making it each to prune.Sufficient sunlight and plenty of air have produced an amazing amount of tomatoes on each plant...I am talking about over thirty per plant.Unheard of by anyone that plants them.NOW my question.With so many tomatoes growing on each plant should I sacrifice some small ones to let the others grow larger or let them all grow?
I would be more than glad to supply photos
Gene

Wow! That's a lot of tomatoes! There is no need to thin the tomatoes. Fruit thinning may instead increase problems like fruit cracking on the tomatoes left on the vines.
Enjoy your tomato harvest!

Ellen M T (not verified)

9 years 4 months ago

I have tomato plants that are growing like crazy and producing lots of tomatoes that I hope are on their way to turning red. I never fertilized. Should I still try to fertilize? Which kind is recommended if so.

Hi, Ellen, you don't say where you are (north, south, east, west), so it's not clear if your tomatoes are "on schedule" for ripening. However, this being only July, there would be plenty of time almost anywhere for them to turn red.
As for fertilizer, we are inclined to say, if it ain't broke ... ya' know? (Don't fix it.) But if you want to, use a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen (N) and relatively higher in phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). An 8鈥32鈥16, for example, or even a 5鈥10鈥10.
We advise fertilizing two weeks before and two weeks after the first picking. (see above)
Here's a chart for watering frequency: http://www.almanac.com/content/when-water-vegetables
Sounds like you're having a great season!

Rick Harmon (not verified)

9 years 4 months ago

What is the difference of determinate and indeterminate tomatoes?

Rick, Please see information on determinate tomatoes versus indeterminate tomatoes here:  www.almanac.com/blog/gardening-blog/tomato-tips

Beth Tucker (not verified)

9 years 5 months ago

I am growing beefsteak tomatoes. I have found some of my tomatoes with rotten spots on the bottom. They are not touching the ground, and have cages around them. I have my plants 20-24 inches apart. They are very bush like, i have not pruned any branches away. What could cause this???

Sounds like blossom end rot, Beth, as noted above as a potential hazard.
See here for solutions: http://www.almanac.com/content/blossom-end-rot