Growing tomatoes at home is super easy and requires little maintenance. All they need is good soil, enough sun, and plenty of water! Anyone can learn how to grow tomatoes, no matter how much gardening experience you have.
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some can grow to be huge, while others are tiny and sweet. The beauty of growing your own tomatoes is you can choose which ones you want to grow and eat! And there’s no shortage of tomato varieties to choose from.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about growing tomatoes at home.
Different Types of Tomatoes
As there are more than 10,000 tomato varieties to choose from, I usually decide which to plant based on taste. Then, I consider where I’ll be planting my tomatoes: in the garden, in a container, or in a hanging basket. The local climate and growing season will also affect your choice.
Tomatoes can also be split into a few categories, including:
- Determinate tomatoes: These tomato plants produce all their fruit at once, making them a great option for canning or large harvests. They also tend to be more compact, making them a good choice for smaller spaces.
- Indeterminate tomatoes: For a more continuous harvest, choose indeterminate tomatoes. These plants produce fruit throughout the entire growing season until the first frost.
- Early-season tomatoes: If you have a short growing season, go for early-season tomatoes. These varieties produce fruit in just 40-70 days.
- Mid-season tomatoes: These are best for regions with moderate growing seasons, as they take 60-80 days to produce fruit.
- Late-season tomatoes: Warmer climates usually have a longer growing season. This makes them the perfect place for late-season tomatoes, which can take 80-100 days to produce fruit.
As for tomato varieties, here are some popular ones:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Beefsteak tomatoes
- Heirloom tomatoes
- Roma tomatoes
- Grape tomatoes
When Should You Plant Tomatoes?
You’ll want to wait for the last frost to pass in your area before transplanting any tomatoes outdoors. They hate the cold!
I usually start my tomato seeds indoors around 4 weeks before the last frost date. The young plants should then be ready for transplant 1-2 weeks after the last frost. If you’re growing tomatoes indoors, you can start them at any time of the year – as long as they have enough light and warmth to thrive.
What Are the Best Growing Conditions for Tomatoes?
No matter which variety you choose to grow, tomatoes need similar growing conditions to thrive. Here are some general guidelines:
Sunlight
Tomatoes need a lot of light to grow successfully. Full sun for around 6-8 hours a day is a good idea, although they can grow in a little shade. Just keep in mind that the harvest can be smaller in these conditions. Tomato plants can also benefit from some shade in warmer climates during the hottest parts of the day.
A grow light is a great option for indoor tomato plants.
Soil
Tomatoes need well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. They don’t do well in heavy clay soils. Add a little compost or organic matter to the soil before planting to give your plants a good start. A soil pH of 6.0-7.0 is ideal.
Temperature
Some varieties can handle cooler temperatures, but most tomatoes thrive in warm weather. The ideal growing temperature for tomatoes is between 70-80°F (21-26°C). They can survive in temperatures as low as 55°F (13°C), but anything below that can stunt their growth.
Location
So long as the sunlight, watering, and temperature requirements are met, you can grow tomatoes just about anywhere! They tend to do best outdoors in garden beds or pots but can also be grown indoors in containers. A greenhouse is perfect for anyone wanting to grow tomatoes year-round!
Container
The size of your chosen container will entirely depend on which tomato variety you’re planting. You can grow big tomatoes in pots, but they’ll need more space to grow. You can always repot your tomato plant into larger containers if needed!
Always choose a container with good drainage holes to avoid waterlogging the soil.
How to Grow Tomatoes
I find tomatoes are one of the easiest plants to grow from seed. They germinate pretty quickly (in around 2 weeks, depending on the variety) and are relatively low maintenance. You can also choose any type of tomato you like, from cherry to beefsteak and everything in between!
Tomato seedlings are also readily available at your local garden center if you prefer to skip the germination process. Either way, both are great options for starting your tomato plants.
Growing Tomatoes from Seed
- Start them indoors around 4-6 weeks before the final frost in your area.
- Add some seed starting mix into small containers and sow 1-2 seeds per container.
- Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- Put them in a warm spot or use a heat mat to help with germination. The soil needs to be around 70-80°F (21-26°C) for the seeds to sprout.
- Put the seedlings under a grow light or at a sunny, south-facing window once they start to grow.
- When the new plants have their second set of leaves, transplant each one into its own 4-inch pot.
- If moving the transplants outside, harden them off first by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over a week.
- When you’re ready to plant your tomatoes in their final locations, be sure to bury them deep – deeper than they were in their containers. This will help them develop a stronger root system. Remove any lower leaves if they touch the soil.
- Water your new plants well.
Planting an Established Tomato Plant
- Find a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
- Remove any weeds, rocks, and debris from the soil surface. Add some compost or organic matter.
- Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the plant’s root ball.
- Loosen up the roots of your tomato plant before planting – this will help it establish itself better in its new location.
- Place the tomato plant in the hole. Plant it deeper than it was in the container to help develop a stronger root system.
- Fill in the hole with soil and lightly pack it down.
- Water your new plant thoroughly.
7 Tips for Growing Tomatoes Successfully
We want our tomato plants to thrive and produce tons of juicy, ripe fruit! Here are some tips to help you grow many delicious tomatoes:
Water Often
It’s a lot of hard work for the plants to produce those juicy tomatoes, so they’ll need plenty of water. They’ll need around an inch of water per week, but in hot weather, they may need more – water at the base of the plant or use a drip irrigation system to avoid damaging the leaves.
Don’t let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Add Some Fertilizer
Give your plants a little boost by using some tomato-specific fertilizer every fortnight during the growing season. This will help them grow strong and produce more fruit.
Provide Support
Tomato plants can get heavy once the fruit develops – especially tall growing varieties. Support the plants by using stakes, tomato cages, or trellises. This will keep them from falling over and help distribute the weight of the fruit.
Wait to Add Mulch
Mulch is great for preserving water and keeping the soil cool, but tomatoes thrive in a warm soil temperature. Wait until the soil has warmed up before adding a layer of mulch around the base of the plants.
Prune Your Plants
Tomato plants don’t need regular pruning, but light trimming can help them grow bigger and healthier. Remove any suckers (branches that grow between the main stem and branches) as they take away energy from the main plant.
Also, remove any leaves from the bottom of the plant for good air circulation and to prevent diseases.
Watch for Pests and Diseases
Aphids, fruit worms, and other pests can damage your tomato plants. Larger pests like deer and rabbits may also nibble on your plants. You can treat these issues with natural remedies, but for larger animals, you may need to use a physical barrier like netting or fencing.
Additionally, keep an eye on your plants for any signs of disease. If you notice discolored or wilting leaves, dark spots on the fruit, fungal diseases, or late blight, take care to treat the plants to prevent the spread of disease. Regularly checking your plants can help catch and address these issues early on.
Use a Fan
This tip only applies to indoor or greenhouse-grown tomato plants. Tomato plants have delicate stems and can benefit from a gentle breeze. Using a fan on a low setting can help strengthen the stems and prevent them from becoming too weak.
How to Harvest Tomatoes
Tomatoes produce yellow flowers before producing fruit. Once the flowers have self-pollinated, small green tomatoes will appear. They’ll be ready to harvest once they reach their full mature color (usually red, but can vary based on variety) and are firm to the touch. Twist or pull the tomato off of its stem to harvest.
If the tomatoes resist being picked, they may need a few more days to ripen. You can gently squeeze them to see if they are ripe – they should give slightly but not feel mushy.
How to Store Tomatoes
Store your tomatoes whole and unwashed at room temperature for maximum flavor. Wash only before eating.
If you have an abundance of ripe tomatoes, you can also store whole or chopped tomatoes in the freezer for later use. Simply place them in a freezer-safe container or bag and add them straight to your recipes as needed.
Best Ways to Use Tomatoes
There’s no end to the delicious ways you can use tomatoes in your meals! I love adding them to salads, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. You can also make homemade salsa or roast them with other veggies! Here are some of my favorite recipes for tomatoes:
- Dutch oven chili
- Roasted asparagus and tomatoes
- Zucchini pasta
- Pasta Primavera
- Bruschetta Caprese
- Creamy tomato sauce
- Corn tomato salad
- Homemade tomato soup
- Cherry tomato salad
Fresh, frozen, whole, or chopped – tomatoes make a great addition to any meal!
Tomatoes can thrive in both a garden bed and a container. If planting in a pot, ensure enough space for the tomato plant to grow and provide adequate drainage. It should also have access to plenty of direct sunlight.
No! Those small yellow flowers will eventually turn into tomatoes. Don’t pinch them off unless you want to sacrifice potential tomatoes.
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