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Annual Vegetable · 115 varieties

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Solanaceae — the same plant family as pepper, potato, eggplant, tomatillo and 3 more here. Relatives share pests and diseases, which is why rotation plans group by family.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an annual vegetable. It wants full sun and pH 6–6.8 soil, with about 1–2 in of water weekly. It matures in about 52–90 days from setting out a transplant. Watch for aphids and early blight. Below: its full sourced profile from 22 extension sources, plus a planting calendar timed to your frost dates.

Sun Full sun
Water Moderate
Matures 52–90 days — from transplant from transplant
Mature size 2–6 ft
Spacing 18–36 in
Soil pH 6–6.8
Frost Tender
When to plant tomatotypical · zone 6b
Your zone
…or your ZIP, for your real frost dates

Germinating
Seedlings
Establishing
Growing
Flowering
Fruit set
Ripening
Harvest

Typical dates for zone 6b — set your zone or ZIP for yours. This calendar assumes the crop is started indoors. Timing is a guide from the crop's sourced growth stages; confirm with your local frost dates and extension before you sow.

Growing tomatoevery fact says where it came from

What we will not put a number on

We do not give a feeding rate for this crop, and that is deliberate rather than a gap. The figures published by extension services are pounds of nitrogen per acre for a production field — they do not convert safely to a raised bed or a pot without knowing your soil test and your fertilizer's analysis, and guessing errs toward burning roots. It is also why every chart you find online disagrees with the next one.

We give watering as a depth per week rather than gallons per plant, because that is how it is actually measured and how the published figures are written. A gallons-per-plant number depends on your spacing, your soil and whether the plant is in a pot — so it would look more precise than it is.

Site & soil

Sun
Full sun
Soil pH
6–6.8
Soil texture
Well drained
Frost tolerance
Tender
Suffers in days above
85 °F
Suffers in nights above
70 °F
Stops setting fruit below
50 °F

No published figure for the temperature that would kill it, the coldest zone it survives and the warmest zone it takes. We looked — where a number is missing here it is missing from the research, not skipped. The crop’s frost and heat tolerance above still applies.

The plant

Mature height
2–6 ft
Mature spread
1–4 ft
Growth rate
Fastest
Spacing in row
18–36 in
Between rows
36–60 in
Planting depth
0.25–0.5 in
Container size
5–10 gal — low end is the minimum, high end is better
Support
Needs staking or a trellis
Grown from
Transplant

Water & feeding

Water needs
Moderate
Water per week
1–2 in/wk
Critical water
Flowering
Feeding
Heavy

Timing & fruiting

Days to maturity
52–90 days from transplant
Harvest cues
Fruit coloring
Chilling injury below
33 °F

There is no line here for how long from sowing to the first pick, because we have no figure to put there. We went looking and wrote down what we read — it is missing on purpose, not because nobody checked.

Planted again for autumn

South Carolina — Coastal Plain
Jul 1 – Jul 31
South Carolina — Piedmont
Not recommended here

Published by the extension service for its own regions, and quoted here for those regions only — converting them would mean assuming a frost date somewhere else. The chart says when, not whether to sow seed or set out plants, so we do not either. “Not recommended” is printed on the chart in place of dates, so it is a considered answer for that region and not a gap in what we looked up. Only South Carolina so far.

Set plants out by
late Aug typical · zone 6b

52 days to maturity from setting a plant out — that is what our sources measure for this crop, so this is a date for planting out and not a sowing date, counted back from the first frost above. Not published for anywhere in particular: it is your own frost date and this crop's own figure, which is why it works wherever you are. A days-to-maturity figure is a catalog number for a good season rather than a promise, and a cold month moves it.

Edible parts per source: fruit.

What tends to go wrongmost-cited first
PestsAphidsCutwormsFlea beetlesTomato hornwormColorado potato beetleTomato fruitwormSpider mitesStink bugsWhiteflies
DiseasesEarly blightLate blightSeptoria leaf spotFusarium wiltVerticillium wiltBacterial spotTobacco mosaic virusAnthracnoseTomato yellow leaf curl virus
Not illnessesBlossom end rotPhysiological leaf roll

The last row is nothing catching your plant. Those come from the growing conditions — water, feeding or sun — so they are fixed by changing what you do, not by spraying.

Compiled from the extensions cited below. Which ones actually show up depends on your region — your extension's local list is the last word.

Companionswhat to plant near tomato
✓
BasilTrialed

Basil can cut thrips numbers on tomatoes, and a modest yield gain shows up when it is planted at good density. They also want the same heat and water, so the bed suits both.

✓
French marigoldTrialed

Grown thick and turned into the soil, they suppress root-knot nematodes. A couple between plants mostly just look nice.

✓
Sweet alyssumTrialed

Its flowers feed hoverflies, and hoverfly larvae eat aphids. Commercial lettuce growers interplant it for that exact job.

✓
LettucePractical

A tall tomato throws exactly the shade lettuce wants once summer heat makes it flower and turn bitter (bolt).

✓
CarrotsTraditional

'Carrots Love Tomatoes' is a book title, not a trial. They coexist fine — just expect the tomato to shade them by August.

✓
Onions & garlicTraditional

Chart canon says onions and garlic make good tomato neighbors. No trials to point at, no conflict either.

✕
Black walnutPractical

Walnut roots release juglone, and tomatoes are on every sensitivity list. Keep beds well clear of the canopy.

✕
FennelPractical

Fennel foliage and seed are rich in trans-anethole, and extracts of them held back germination and seedling growth across a range of species in testing. Whole-plant effects at garden spacing are milder than the "fennel kills everything" reputation, but the chemistry is real — give it its own pot.

✕
PotatoesPractical

Same family, same late blight. One sick bed infects the other.

✕
Sweet cornPractical

Corn earworm and tomato fruitworm are the same moth. Side by side, you're setting its table twice.

✕
Cabbage familyTraditional

Flagged on the classic charts, mechanism murky. Skip the pairing if you've got the space.

Companion pairings from university extensions; badge = how strong the evidence is.

⚠ Reported toxicityverbatim from cited sources

Different parts differ — the edible part is the fruit; the notes below flag other parts or preparations.

PeopleToxic leaves, Toxic stems

Petsdogs, cats, horses

Recorded exactly as the source states it — not medical or veterinary advice. If a person or animal may have eaten a toxic part, call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) or your vet / the ASPCA line (888-426-4435).

All 115 varietiesthe ones with their own page are linked
Variety TypeHabit DaysColorSizeDisease
Ace 55 Heirloom Slicer Bush 85 Red Large VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Aker's West Virginia Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 85 Red
Amana Orange Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 Orange
Amish Paste Heirloom Plum Paste Vining 85 Red
Anna Russian Heirloom Oxheart Vining 70 Pink
Aunt Gertie's Gold Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 75–80 Yellow Large
Aunt Ruby's German Green Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 Green, Yellow Very Large FUSARIUM_WILT VERTICILLIUM_WILT
Azoychka Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 73 Yellow, Orange
Beefmaster F1 Beefsteak Vining 80 Red Very Large VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES
Beefsteak Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 85 Red Large
Bellstar Plum Paste Bush 74 Red
Berkeley Tie-Dye Slicer Vining 70 Pink, Green, Striped
Better Boy F1 Slicer Vining 75 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES
Better Bush F1 Slicer Bush 68 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES
Big Beef F1 Beefsteak Vining 70 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES TOBACCO_MOSAIC_VIRUS ALTERNARIA ST
Big Boy F1 Beefsteak Vining 78 Red
Big Daddy F1 Beefsteak Vining 78 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Big Mama Hybrid F1 Plum Paste Vining 80 Red
Big Rainbow Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 75 Bicolor, Yellow, Red Very Large
Black Cherry Cherry Vining 64 Purple Small
Black from Tula Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80–85 Black, Red Large
Black Krim Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 Purple, Black Large
Blondkopfchen Heirloom Cherry Vining 75 Yellow Small
Brandywine Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 78 Pink Very Large
Bush Early Girl F1 Globe Bush 63 Red Medium VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES TOBACCO_MOSAIC_VIRUS ALTERNARIA
Bush Goliath F1 Slicer Bush 68 Red Large VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Carbon Heirloom Slicer Vining 80 Black, Red
Celebrity F1 Slicer Bush 70 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES TOBACCO_MOSAIC_VIRUS ALTERNARIA
Champion F1 Slicer Vining 70 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES TOBACCO_MOSAIC_VIRUS
Cherokee Green Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 Green
Cherokee Purple Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 Purple
Chocolate Cherry Cherry Vining 70 Purple Small
Chocolate Stripes Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 79 Purple, Red, Striped Large
Cosmonaut Volkov Heirloom Slicer Vining 65 Red
Costoluto Genovese Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 90 Red Medium
Cream Sausage Plum Paste Bush 80 Yellow Small
Defiant PhR F1 Globe Bush 65 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 LATE_BLIGHT EARLY_BLIGHT
Dr. Wyche's Yellow Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 Yellow
Early Girl F1 Slicer Vining 60 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2
Fantastico F1 Grape Bush 50 Red LATE_BLIGHT
Federle Heirloom Plum Paste Vining 85 Red Large
First Lady F1 Globe Vining 70 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES ALTERNARIA
Five Star Grape F1 Grape Vining 62 Red Small
Fourth of July F1 Slicer Vining 49 Red
Gardener's Delight Heirloom Cherry Vining 72 Red Small
German Johnson Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 Pink Large
Glacier Heirloom Globe Bush 55 Red Small
Goliath F1 Slicer Vining 65 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 TOBACCO_MOSAIC_VIRUS TOMV
Granadero F1 Plum Paste Vining 75 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 TOMV ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES TSWV
Great White Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 White Large
Green Grape Cherry Bush 70 Green Small
Green Zebra Slicer Vining 72 Green, Striped Small
Health Kick F1 Plum Paste Bush 74 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT TSWV
Heinz 2653 Plum Paste Bush 68 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Hillbilly Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 85 Bicolor, Yellow, Orange, Red Large
Homestead Heirloom Globe Bush 80 Red Medium
Hungarian Heart Heirloom Oxheart Vining 85 Pink
Husky Cherry Red F1 Cherry Dwarf 65 Red Small VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Indigo Rose Globe Vining 80 Purple, Black, Red Small
Isis Candy Cherry Heirloom Cherry Vining 67 Bicolor Small
Jet Star F1 Globe Vining 72 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Juliet F1 Grape Vining 60 Red EARLY_BLIGHT LATE_BLIGHT
Kellogg's Breakfast Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 85 Orange Very Large
Legend Slicer Bush 70 Red Large LATE_BLIGHT
Lemon Boy F1 Slicer Vining 72 Yellow VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES
Manitoba Heirloom Globe Bush 58 Red Medium VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Marglobe Heirloom Globe Bush 72 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Martino's Roma Heirloom Plum Paste Bush 75 Red
Marvel Stripe Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 85 Bicolor, Yellow, Orange, Red Very Large
Matt's Wild Cherry Heirloom Cherry Vining 60 Red Small EARLY_BLIGHT LATE_BLIGHT
Midnight Snack F1 Cherry Vining 70 Red, Purple
Moneymaker Heirloom Globe Vining 77 Red
Mortgage Lifter Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 95 Pink Very Large
Mountain Merit F1 Slicer Bush 75 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FFF ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES TSWV LATE_BLIGHT EARLY_BLIGHT ST
Mountain Pride F1 Globe Bush 70 Red Large VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 ALTERNARIA ST
Mr. Stripey Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 75–80 Yellow, Red, Bicolor Very Large
Nepal Heirloom Globe Vining 78 Red
New Girl F1 Slicer Vining 62 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Nyagous Heirloom Globe Vining 80 Black
Old German Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 77 Bicolor
Omar's Lebanese Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 80 Pink
Opalka Heirloom Plum Paste Vining 82 Red Large
Oregon Spring Globe Bush 60 Red Medium
Park's Whopper F1 Beefsteak Vining 65 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES TOBACCO_MOSAIC_VIRUS
Patio Hybrid F1 Globe Dwarf 70 Red Medium
Paul Robeson Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 75 Purple, Black, Red Medium
Pineapple Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 90 Bicolor, Yellow, Red Very Large
Plum Regal F1 Plum Paste Bush 75 Red Small VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 LATE_BLIGHT TSWV EARLY_BLIGHT
Polish Linguisa Heirloom Plum Paste Vining 73 Red
Pruden's Purple Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 67 Pink Very Large
Red Pear Heirloom Cherry Vining 70 Red Small
Riesentraube Heirloom Cherry Vining 77 Red
Rio Grande Plum Paste Bush 80 Red
Roma VF Plum Paste Bush 65 Red Small VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Rutgers Heirloom Globe Bush 75 Red Medium VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
San Marzano Heirloom Plum Paste Vining 78 Red Small
Siletz Slicer Bush 70–75 Red
Speckled Roman Heirloom Plum Paste Vining 85 Red, Yellow, Striped
Striped German Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 78 Bicolor, Red, Yellow Large
Stupice Heirloom Globe Vining 52 Red Small
Sub Arctic Plenty Heirloom Globe Bush 60 Red Small
Sun Sugar F1 Cherry Vining 62 Yellow Small FUSARIUM_WILT TOMV
Sungold F1 Cherry Vining 57 Orange Small FUSARIUM_WILT TOBACCO_MOSAIC_VIRUS
Super Marzano F1 Plum Paste Vining 78 Red Large
Supersteak F1 Beefsteak Vining 80 Red Very Large VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES
Supersweet 100 F1 Cherry Vining 60 Red Small VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT
Sweet 100 F1 Cherry Vining 65 Red Small
Sweet Million F1 Cherry Vining 60 Red Small FUSARIUM_WILT TOMV
Sweet Tangerine F1 Slicer Bush 68 Orange
Taxi Globe Bush 64 Yellow
Tigerella Heirloom Globe Vining 55–65 Red, Orange, Striped Small
Tiny Tim Heirloom Cherry Dwarf 45 Red Small
Viva Italia Hybrid F1 Plum Paste Bush 75 Red VERTICILLIUM_WILT FUSARIUM_WILT_RACES_1_2 ROOT_KNOT_NEMATODES ALTERNARIA BS
Yellow Brandywine Heirloom Beefsteak Vining 78 Orange Very Large
Yellow Pear Heirloom Cherry Vining 78 Yellow Small
Sources22 cited · 18 organizations
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  • Alabama Cooperative Extension System
  • Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC
  • Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center
  • Cornell Garden-Based Learning
  • Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section)
  • NC State Extension
  • North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
  • Oregon State University Extension Service
  • Penn State Extension
  • University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
  • University of Illinois Extension
  • University of Maryland Extension
  • University of Maryland Extension, Home & Garden Information Center (Maryland Grows blog)
  • University of Minnesota Extension
  • University of Missouri Extension
  • University of Tennessee Extension
  • Utah State University Extension

We compile bare facts from these university-extension and horticultural sources, never copied prose. 22 of the 23 values on this page carry a citation. The rest are marked est; hover one and it says why — either nobody publishes a figure we could point at, or a person set it and attached no source. Figures vary with climate and seed source; confirm with your local extension before you buy.

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