🍅

Tomatoes Growing Guide

Complete organic cultivation guide for tomatoes

55-90

Days to harvest

summer

Primary season

intermediate

Difficulty

Database Varieties

Track Tomatoes in Solara

Plan your tomatoes plantings, track harvests, and build data year over year.

No credit card required

Tomatoes are the backbone of most diversified vegetable farms, commanding premium prices at farmers markets while providing reliable yields. For organic growers, success hinges on variety selection, proper timing, and disease prevention through cultural practices.

History & Background

Originally domesticated in Mexico, tomatoes were brought to Europe in the 16th century. Many of today's beloved heirloom varieties were developed by immigrant communities in America during the 19th and early 20th centuries, passed down through generations of careful seed-saving.

All Tomatoes Varieties

78 from database

Soil Preparation

Tomatoes thrive in well-drained, fertile soil with pH 6.2-6.8. Prepare beds 2-3 weeks before transplanting: 1. **Soil Test**: Test for nutrients and pH. Tomatoes need adequate calcium to prevent blossom end rot. 2. **Compost**: Apply 2-3 inches of finished compost and work into top 6 inches. 3. **Amendments**: Add bone meal (1 cup per plant) for phosphorus and calcium. 4. **Bed Forming**: Create raised beds 4 inches high for improved drainage. **Critical**: Never plant in soil that grew nightshades in the past 3 years.

Planting Instructions

**Starting Transplants (6-8 weeks before transplanting):** 1. Sow seeds 1/4" deep in cell trays with seed-starting mix 2. Maintain 70-75°F soil temperature for optimal germination (5-10 days) 3. Provide strong light immediately after emergence (14-16 hours) 4. Pot up to 4" pots when first true leaves appear 5. Harden off for 7-10 days before transplanting **Transplanting:** 1. Wait until soil is consistently 60°F+ and frost danger has passed 2. Dig holes deep enough to bury stem up to first set of leaves 3. Add 1 tablespoon bone meal to each hole 4. Water deeply with diluted fish emulsion 5. Install stakes or cages at planting time (don't disturb roots later) **Spacing**: 24" in-row, 36" between rows for indeterminate varieties

Care & Maintenance

**First 2 Weeks:** - Water deeply every 2-3 days until established - Watch for cutworm damage; use collars if needed **Ongoing Care:** - **Watering**: 1-2" per week, consistent moisture prevents cracking and blossom end rot - **Mulching**: 3-4" straw or leaf mulch after soil warms to retain moisture - **Pruning**: Remove suckers below first flower cluster for indeterminate varieties - **Trellising**: Train to single or double leader system - **Fertilizing**: Side-dress with compost tea every 2-3 weeks during fruiting **Critical Tip**: Inconsistent watering is the #1 cause of cracking and blossom end rot.

Organic Pest Management

Tomato Hornworm

Symptoms

Large holes in leaves
Defoliation from top down
Dark green droppings on leaves

Organic Treatments

Hand-picking (best done at dusk)
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

Aphids

Symptoms

Curled leaves
Sticky honeydew
Stunted growth

Organic Treatments

Strong water spray
Insecticidal soap
Neem oil

Flea Beetles

Symptoms

Tiny holes in leaves ("shothole" damage)
Particularly on young plants

Organic Treatments

Diatomaceous earth
Pyrethrin spray as last resort

Harvest & Post-Harvest

Harvest Tips

**When to Harvest:** - Harvest when fruit reaches full color but still firm - For best flavor, harvest in morning after dew dries - Heirlooms are ready when shoulders soften slightly and color deepens **How to Harvest:** - Use pruning shears or twist gently with upward motion - Leave calyx (green cap) attached for longer shelf life - Handle gently - bruises reduce marketability and storage **Frequency:** - Check plants every 1-2 days during peak season - Remove any cracked or damaged fruit to redirect energy

Post-Harvest Handling

**Storage:** - Never refrigerate ripe tomatoes (destroys flavor compounds) - Store stem-side down at room temperature (65-70°F) - Use within 5-7 days for best quality **For Market:** - Single layer in flats, stem-side up for display - Separate by variety and size for consistent pricing - Include variety name signs - customers appreciate knowing what they're buying **Value-Added Opportunities:** - Heirloom tomato sampler packs (premium pricing) - "Seconds" for sauce at reduced price (moves imperfect fruit) - Dried tomatoes in CSA boxes

Economics (per 50-foot bed)

Costs

Seeds/Transplants: $30
Inputs (compost, etc.): $50
Labor (12 hrs): $240

Expected Yield

80 lbs

per 50-foot bed

Pricing

Retail: $4-$8/lb
Wholesale: $2.5-$4/lb

Crop Rotation

Good Predecessors

Legumes
Brassicas
Alliums
Cover crops

Avoid Following

Solanaceae (peppers, eggplant, potatoes)
Tomatoes

Rotation Rule: Wait at least 3 years before planting tomatoes (or other Solanaceae) in the same bed.

Related Crop Guides

🫑

More Tomatoes Resources

🤝

Tomatoes Companion Plants

Discover which plants grow best alongside tomatoes and which to avoid.

View companion guide →

📍

Find Your Growing Zone

Enter your ZIP code to get personalized tomatoes planting dates for your area.

Check your zone →

🌱

Variety Explorer

Browse all 78+ tomatoes varieties with zone suitability ratings.

Explore varieties →

Back to all crop guides

Weekly Growing Tips

Get seasonal planting reminders, crop rotation tips, and farm planning strategies delivered weekly.

Track Your Tomatoes in Solara

Use this guide to plan, then track your actual plantings and harvests. Build your own data over time.

Tomatoes Growing Guide

Track Tomatoes in Solara

History & Background

All Tomatoes Varieties

Amish Paste

Ananas Noire

Arkansas Traveler

Aunt Ruby's German Green

Beefsteak

Better Boy

Big Beef

Big Boy

Big Rainbow

Black Cherry

Black from Tula

Black Krim

Black Krim

Box Car Willie

Brandywine

Brandywine (Pink)

Bush Early Girl

Campari

Caspian Pink

Celebrity

Cherokee Purple

Cherokee Purple

Chocolate Cherry

Cosmonaut Volkov

Costoluto Genovese

Cream Sausage

Cupido

Defiant PhR

Dr. Wyche's Yellow

Early Girl

Eva Purple Ball

German Johnson

Goliath

Great White

Green Grape

Green Zebra

Hillbilly

Indigo Rose

Iron Lady

Isis Candy

Jaune Flamme

Jet Star

Juliet

Lemon Boy

Marglobe

Marmande

Marvel Stripe

Midnight Snack

Mortgage Lifter

Mountain Fresh Plus

Mountain Merit

Opalka

Park's Whopper

Patio

Paul Robeson

Persimmon

Pineapple

Principe Borghese

Pruden's Purple

Purple Cherokee

Red Grape

Roma

Rose de Berne

Rutgers

San Marzano

San Marzano

Stupice

Sungella

Sun Gold

Sungold (F1 Hybrid)

Supersonic

Supersweet 100

Sweet 100

Thessaloniki

Tigerella

Tiny Tim