Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum • Solanaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Vegetable/Fruit
🌍 Origin Region
Western South America (Andes region); widely adapted globally.
📅 Days to Maturity
60-85 days from transplanting. Harvest when fully colored and slightly soft to the touch. Indeterminate types produce until frost.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-11 as a summer annual. Only perennial in tropical Zones 10-11.
About This Seed
Seeds are small (2-4mm), flat, oval-to-teardrop shaped, and light tan/buff in color with a fuzzy, pubescent texture due to tiny hairs. The resulting plant is a branched vine or bush with deeply lobed green leaves and yellow flowers, producing edible fleshy berries.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Warm season; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; extremely frost-sensitive.
Germination
Takes 6-14 days at 70-85°F (21-29°C). High germination rate. Requires moisture and warmth; light is not strictly required but helps prevent legginess once sprouted.
Planting Instructions
Plant 1/4 inch deep. Space plants 18-36 inches apart depending on variety. Prefers well-draining, loamy soil enriched with organic matter; pH 6.0-6.8.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun (6-8+ hours). Consistent moisture is critical; avoid overhead watering to prevent disease. Moderately drought-tolerant once established.
Companion Plants
Beneficial: Basil, Marigolds, Garlic, Carrots. Avoid: Brassicas (Cabbage/Broccoli), Fennel, and Potatoes (shared diseases).
Special Characteristics
Subject to blight and wilt. High in Lycopene and Vitamin C. Pollinator-friendly (self-pollinating but benefits from bees).