Understanding tomato growth habits helps you plan spacing, staking, and harvest timing.

Determinate tomatoes produce one large crop over a shorter period and then stop producing. Planting multiple determinate varieties with different maturity dates can help extend your harvest.

Indeterminate tomatoes continue growing and producing fruit until frost once production begins. These varieties typically require staking or cages and benefit from light pruning.

Semi-determinate tomatoes are more compact than indeterminate types but still produce fruit steadily through most of the season.

Choosing between heirloom and hybrid tomatoes often comes down to flavor preferences and disease resistance.

Heirloom tomatoes are grown from seed that has not been cross-pollinated for 40 or more years. Gardeners often prize them for exceptional flavor, though they may produce fewer fruits and can be more susceptible to disease.

Hybrid tomatoes are intentionally crossbred to highlight specific traits such as disease resistance, fruit size, yield, or plant habit. Many gardeners plant a mix of heirloom and hybrid varieties to enjoy both flavor and reliability.

Neither heirloom nor hybrid tomatoes are GMO. Genetically modified seeds are not available to home gardeners for food crops.

Tomatoes require full sun, with at least six hours of direct afternoon sunlight. Plant in well-drained soil to prevent disease, amending clay soils with compost, peat, or manure as needed.
Plant tomatoes once soil temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees, typically between May 10 and May 20. Cold soil and temperatures below 50 degrees can stunt growth and delay production.
If starter plants are leggy, plant them in a shallow trench, leaving about six inches of the plant exposed above ground. Roots will form along the buried stem, creating a stronger plant.
Mulching with grass clippings or mulch helps retain moisture, reduce weeds, and prevent fruit cracking caused by uneven watering.

Tomatoes are made up of about 95 percent water, so consistent moisture is essential for healthy growth and flavorful fruit. Plants need one to two inches of deep water per week.
Slow, soaking irrigation encourages deep root growth. Avoid overhead sprinklers, which wet foliage and can contribute to disease without delivering adequate moisture to the roots.
Using a soaker hose delivers water directly to the soil, helping maintain even moisture while keeping foliage dry.

Tomatoes perform best with a low-nitrogen fertilizer, where the first number is lower than the next two (such as 5-10-10 or 10-30-20).
Apply a granular or slow-release fertilizer at planting and again when fruit begins to set. Fertilize two weeks after the first harvest and again one month later. Always follow label directions, especially when using organic or liquid fertilizers.

Suburban Recommends:

For organic gardeners, Espoma® Organic Tomato-Tone provides balanced nutrition with added calcium to support healthy growth and fruit development.

For an easy-to-use blended option, FoxFarm Happy Frog® Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer helps improve soil biology while feeding tomatoes throughout the season.

Space tomato plants 24–36 inches apart, depending on the variety. Proper spacing improves air circulation and reduces disease.
Staking or using tomato cages improves yield, keeps fruit clean, and makes harvesting easier.
Determinate and semi-determinate tomatoes usually require little pruning. Indeterminate varieties benefit from removing side shoots or topping plants to prevent excessive height and encourage productive growth.

Suburban Recommends:

Supporting tomato plants with sturdy tomato supports improves airflow, keeps fruit off the ground, and simplifies harvesting.

Space tomato plants 24–36 inches apart, depending on the variety. Proper spacing improves air circulation and reduces disease.
Staking or using tomato cages improves yield, keeps fruit clean, and makes harvesting easier.
Determinate and semi-determinate tomatoes usually require little pruning. Indeterminate varieties benefit from removing side
For the best flavor, allow tomatoes to ripen on the vine. Harvest once color changes but before the fruit becomes soft.
Do not refrigerate tomatoes, as cold temperatures reduce flavor. Green tomatoes can be harvested before frost and ripened indoors by wrapping them in paper or placing them in paper bags at 60–65 degrees.

Suburban Recommends:
Harvesting is easier and more enjoyable with the right equipment, and exploring our Gardening Gear helps make picking, carrying, and handling tomatoes more comfortable during harvest time.

Using quality Garden Tools ensures clean cuts, reduces damage to plants, and makes harvesting and cleanup quicker and easier.

Heirloom Varieties
Amish Paste, Beefsteak, Black Krim, Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Marzano, Mortgage Lifter, Mr. Stripey, Pineapple, San Marzano, Valencia. Not all varieties are available at all times.

Hybrid Varieties
Beefmaster, Better Boy, Big Beef, Big Boy, Bush Champion*, Celebrity*, Cherry Sweet 100, Cherry Sun Sugar, Cherry Sweet Million, Early Girl, Grape Juliet, Jet Star, Lemon Boy, Mountain Fresh Plus*, Patio*, Roma*, Rutgers, BHN 589 / Neosho’s Favorite*
*Determinate varieties

Walnut trees release a chemical called juglone that inhibits the growth of many plants, including tomatoes. Vegetable gardens should be planted at least 50 feet away from walnut trees. Never use systemic products on edible crops.

Growing tomatoes is about consistency. With proper planting, steady watering, balanced nutrition, and early problem prevention, tomato plants reward gardeners with abundant harvests and excellent flavor.

To explore tomato varieties and get personalized advice, visit one of our Suburban Lawn & Garden locations. Our Garden Advisors are always happy to help you grow with confidence.

Let’s Grow Together.