Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum • Solanaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Vegetable
🌍 Origin Region
Western South America and Central America
📅 Days to Maturity
60 to 85 days from transplanting to harvest depending on the specific variety, with an extended harvest window until the first fall frost.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-11 grown primarily as a warm-season annual.
About This Seed
Small, flattened, kidney-shaped to teardrop-shaped seeds with a fuzzy or hairy surface texture and a light tan to brown color. The resulting plant is a vine or bush bearing edible fleshy fruits.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring and Summer, start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, frost-sensitive
Germination
Germinates in 7-14 days at an optimal soil temperature of 70-80°F with high germination rates; light is not strictly required for germination but warmth is essential.
Planting Instructions
Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep, spaced 2 inches apart in seed trays, later thinning or transplanting outdoors 24-36 inches apart in well-draining, rich loam soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (6-8 hours daily) and consistent watering, keeping the soil evenly moist to prevent blossom end rot; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Companion Plants
Beneficial companions include basil, marigolds, and carrots; avoid planting near fennel, potatoes, and brassicas.
Special Characteristics
Highly productive, pollinator-friendly flowers, rich in lycopene, and comes in numerous indeterminate or determinate disease-resistant varieties.