Tomato

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Tomato to a garden.

Sun-warmed, garden-ripe flavor bursts with a bright, tangy sweetness and a classic tomato perfume—then settles into a silky, juicy bite with tender flesh and few hard cores.

This slicing tomato is made for thick, satisfying slices, delivering a balanced texture that holds its shape beautifully for everyday salads and fresh showcases. Grow it for a steady harvest of richly colored fruit that looks as lush as it tastes—ideal for turning garden abundance into vibrant, spoonable sauces and quick pickled preserves.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Determinate

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Tomato Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	Jul 20th	Oct 13th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	Jul 14th	Oct 7th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	Jul 8th	Oct 1st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 26th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Jun 29th	Sep 22nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Sep 19th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Jun 20th	Sep 13th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Jun 15th	Sep 8th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Jun 5th	Aug 29th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	May 27th	Aug 20th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	May 18th	Aug 11th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	May 1st	Jul 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Apr 6th	Jun 30th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Built for slicing: tender flesh and low hard-core bite make it satisfying raw, while its tangy-sweet balance holds up when reduced into a quick sauce or pickled for a sharper snap.

Best Uses

thick slices on flaky salt and olive oil for a clean, juicy showcase
everyday salads where the flesh holds shape instead of weeping
quick pan sauces and spoonable skillet reductions
fast pickles and fridge preserves for tangy, jammy bite

Flavor Profile

bright tangy sweetness classic tomato perfume silky, juicy bite with tender flesh

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil sea salt garlic balsamic vinegar fresh mozzarella black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly hits Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), and how can I manage it at home?

Early blight and Septoria leaf spot are common tomato fungal diseases, often starting as small dark spots on older leaves and spreading upward. Remove infected leaves promptly, keep plants spaced for airflow, water at the soil line (not the foliage), and use an appropriate labeled fungicide if spots are progressing after rain or humid weather. For pests, check weekly for tomato hornworms and hand-pick them; act early because they can defoliate plants quickly.

How often should I water Solanum lycopersicum during the main growing phase?

During active growth and fruiting, water deeply enough to wet the root zone consistently—typically about 1 to 2 times per week depending on heat and soil—aiming for evenly moist (not soggy) soil. Mulch around the base to reduce evaporation and prevent the wet-dry swings that lead to blossom-end rot and fruit cracking. If the top 1 inch of soil is dry, it’s time for a deep watering.

How do I know when my Solanum lycopersicum is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for their variety (green varieties should turn their mature color), with a firm-but-giving texture and no green shoulders near the stem. Most tomatoes mature around 85 days from transplant to harvest, but start picking as soon as fruits reach maturity to keep new fruit setting. Pick gently to avoid damaging stems and follow through with regular harvests every few days during peak production.