Tomatoes

The first decision is growth habit. Determinate tomatoes, often called bush tomatoes, reach a more limited size and tend to produce much of their crop over a relatively concentrated period. They are useful for containers, small gardens, preserving, and gardeners who want a more compact plant.

Indeterminate tomatoes continue growing, flowering, and setting fruit through the season until cold weather or disease stops them. They usually need strong staking, caging, or trellising, but can provide a longer harvest. Many cherry and beefsteak tomatoes belong to this group. Compare plant size and growth habit carefully before planting – an indeterminate tomato can easily exceed 6 ft. (1.8 m) in favorable conditions.

Tomato varieties range from tiny currant and grape tomatoes to fruits weighing well over a pound. Cherry and grape tomatoes are generally prolific and excellent for snacking and salads. Slicer tomatoes balance size, juiciness, and flavor for everyday use, while large beefsteak tomatoes are prized for sandwiches and fresh eating.

Paste and plum tomatoes usually contain more flesh and less juice, making them useful for sauces, roasting, and preserving. Tomatoes also come in red, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, and near-black shades. Color can influence flavor, but it should not be the only selection criterion – productivity, texture, disease resistance, and adaptation to your climate matter just as much.

Days to maturity can make the difference between an abundant harvest and green fruit at the end of the season. Early-season tomatoes are especially useful in cool climates or short growing seasons, while midseason and late varieties can produce larger or more complex-flavored fruit where summers are long enough.

Heat matters too. Tomato pollen becomes less effective during extreme heat, and very high temperatures can cause blossom drop and poor fruit set. Gardeners in hot climates should look for varieties known to set fruit under heat, while those in cool-summer regions benefit from cultivars bred to ripen at lower temperatures. Disease resistance is also worth checking, particularly where Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, nematodes, or tomato viruses are recurring problems.

Tomatoes perform best in full sun, fertile soil, good drainage, and consistent moisture. Most need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, although more sun is often beneficial where summer heat is not extreme. Keep soil evenly moist rather than alternating between drought and heavy watering, which can contribute to cracking and blossom-end rot.

Support taller varieties before plants become heavy with fruit, and leave enough space for air circulation. Mulching helps conserve moisture and reduces soil splash onto lower leaves. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer, which can produce lush foliage at the expense of flowers and fruit.

Explore Gardenia’s tomato plant profile for growing requirements, plant size, soil, watering, pests, diseases, and other essential information.

Tomatoes are productive plants, but they are vulnerable to several pests, diseases, and physiological problems. Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, flea beetles, stink bugs, cutworms, and hornworms may feed on plants, while early blight, late blight, Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, leaf spots, and viral diseases can damage foliage and fruit.

Many tomato problems begin with growing conditions rather than infection. Irregular watering can contribute to fruit cracking and blossom-end rot, excessive heat can reduce fruit set, and crowded plants can remain wet longer after rain or irrigation. Starting with resistant varieties, rotating crops, keeping foliage dry when possible, and removing diseased plant debris can reduce problems considerably.

Companion planting can also help you make better use of garden space. See Gardenia’s guide to the best and worst companion plants for tomatoes.