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Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Vegetable

The most popular home garden vegetable, tomatoes reward attentive growers with abundant harvests of flavour-packed fruit. They are heavy feeders that thrive in warm soil enriched with compost and benefit enormously from companion planting.

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full Sun

Water Needs

Moderate

Soil

Rich, well-draining loam; pH 6.0–6.8

Spacing

24–36 inches

Days to Maturity

60–85 days from transplant

Growing Zones

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Thrives in USDA Zones 4–11

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Keep Away From

When to Plant

  • Start Indoors

    6–8 weeks before last frost

  • Transplant

    After last frost, soil 60°F+

  • Harvest

    60–85 days from transplant

Organic Growing Tips

  • Interplant with basil to repel aphids and whiteflies; basil also enhances tomato flavour.

  • Apply straw mulch 3–4 inches deep to retain moisture and prevent soil-splash fungal diseases.

  • Spray diluted neem oil every 7–10 days as a preventive against early blight and mites.

  • Pinch off suckers and stake plants to improve airflow and reduce fungal pressure.

Common Pests

  • Tomato Hornworm
  • Aphids
  • Whitefly
  • Spider Mites
  • Early Blight

All pest management in Garden uses safe, organic, non-toxic methods only. No synthetic pesticides, ever.