Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum • Solanaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Vegetable/Fruit
🌍 Origin Region
Central and South America (Andes region), widely adapted globally
📅 Days to Maturity
60-85 days from transplanting depending on variety; long harvest window until first frost.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-11 as a tender annual; perennial in tropical climates (Zones 10+).
About This Seed
Small, flat, teardrop-shaped seeds about 2-4mm in size. They have a characteristic buff color and a fuzzy, pubescent surface (trichomes) visible when raw. The plant is a sprawling or climbing herbaceous vine with serrated green leaves and yellow flowers.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Warm season; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; extremely frost-sensitive
Germination
Takes 5-10 days at 70-80°F (21-27°C). Light is not required for germination but helpful. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Planting Instructions
Plant 1/4 inch (6mm) deep. Space plants 18-36 inches apart depending on variety. Prefers well-draining, loamy soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours daily). Requires regular, deep watering to prevent blossom end rot; drought can cause fruit cracking.
Companion Plants
Basil, Marigolds, Carrots, and Nasturtiums are beneficial. Avoid planting near Potatoes, Fennel, or Walnut trees.
Special Characteristics
Seeds have a natural gel coating in the fruit that inhibits germination until fermented or dried. Highly attractive to pollinators like bumblebees (buzz pollination).