How to Grow Tomatoes for a Bountiful Harvest All Summer Long

Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops of summer. These juicy red fruits come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, from small cherry tomatoes to round and squat beefsteak varieties. Growing tomatoes in your garden is a rewarding experience that will fill your kitchen with delicious, fresh fruit all summer long. To ensure your tomato plants thrive, we spoke to a gardening expert who shared her tips for how to plant and care for tomatoes.

Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

There are two main types of tomatoes: determinate and indeterminate. When deciding what to plant, it is helpful to know which type will best suit your needs.

Determinate Tomatoes

Determinate tomatoes have a compact structure. "They produce their fruit over a concentrated period, often a few weeks to a couple of months, before growth stops," says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon App. "This makes determinate varieties well-suited for canning and preserving, as they yield a large crop all at once, simplifying harvest."

Indeterminate Tomatoes

Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season. "They have a vining habit, often growing taller and requiring support like stakes or trellises," says Spoonemore. "Indeterminate tomatoes offer a prolonged harvest, with fruits ripening gradually from early summer until the first frost, making them ideal for fresh eating."

How to Plant Tomatoes From Seed

The best way to grow tomatoes from seed is by starting them indoors six to eight weeks before your area's last frost date. "This allows the seedlings to grow strong before transplanting outdoors," says Spoonemore.

1. Fill trays or pots with seed starting mix and moisten it.
2. Make 1/4-inch-deep holes in each tray or pot, placing two to three seeds in each pot.
3. Cover the seeds lightly with seed starting mix.
4. Water gently and cover with a plastic dome to retain moisture.
5. Place the seeds in a warm spot (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) with plenty of light.
6. Remove cover once seeds germinate, which typically takes seven to 14 days.

How to Plant Tomatoes From Seedlings

You can also buy seedlings from your local nursery and plant them directly in the ground rather than starting from seed. Do so once the threat of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures remain consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, says Spoonemore.

1. Choose a sunny spot in your garden with well-drained soil.
2. Add compost or organic fertilizer to the soil.
3. Gradually expose seedlings to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days.
4. Once the seedlings have been hardened off, dig holes deep enough to plant the seedlings up to the first set of true leaves.
5. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 3 to 4 feet apart.
6. Water thoroughly after planting.
7. Add mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

How to Care for Tomato Plants

Tomatoes need full sun, fertile soil, and frequent watering in order to thrive in the garden.

Sunlight

Tomatoes are a sun-loving plant that requires at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily to thrive. With too little sun, tomatoes can become leggy and less productive. However, be careful not to give this fruit too much sun, or it may become sunburned.

Soil

Tomatoes prefer well-draining, fertile soil. Before planting tomatoes, add a generous amount of compost to the soil and a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer. If your soil is limestone-based, amend it with a bit of sulfur.

Water

Water tomatoes frequently and deeply when they are first planted. Once this fruit gets established, provide about 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week. You'll know your tomato plants need to be watered when you poke a finger into the soil and the first 2 inches is dry. Be careful not to get the leaves wet when watering, says Spoonemore.

Fertilizer

Feed your tomato plants a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer about every two weeks during the growing season. Start fertilizing two weeks after the seedlings have been planted, says Spoonemore.

Temperature

Tomatoes are warm-weather plants and grow best in late spring throughout summer. Their ideal temperature range is 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and about 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

How to Prune Tomato Plants

Pruning tomatoes throughout the season encourages the plant to produce more fruit. “Start by identifying and removing suckers, the small shoots growing between the stem and branches when they are 2 to 4 inches long,” says Spoonemore.

You should also remove leaves from the bottom 12 inches of the plant to improve air circulation and reduce disease risk. “Regularly trim any yellowing or diseased leaves and excess foliage to allow sunlight to reach the fruit,” says Spoonemore. “Optionally, pinch off the top of the main stem a few weeks before the first frost to redirect energy to ripening fruit.”

How to Propagate Tomato Plants

Propagate tomato plants in late spring or early summer when the plants are actively growing. Select healthy, disease-free stems when propagating. “Cut 6 to 8-inch sections from the tips, ensuring each cutting has several sets of leaves,” says Spoonemore. “Remove the lower leaves, leaving the top set intact.” Place the cuttings in a glass of water or plant them directly in moist, well-draining soil. After propagating, keep the cuttings in a warm, bright area out of direct sunlight until roots develop. This usually takes one to two weeks.

How to Harvest Tomatoes

The best part of growing tomatoes is enjoying the fruits of your labor. “To harvest tomatoes, gently grasp the fruit and twist it off the vine, or use pruning shears to cut the stem just above the fruit,” says Spoonemore. “Tomatoes are ready for harvest when they have fully developed color and are slightly soft to the touch, depending on the variety.”

Begin harvesting your tomatoes when they begin to break color, and then let them ripen on your counter, says Spoonemore. She adds that you should harvest tomatoes in the morning when temperatures are cooler and the fruits are less likely to be stressed. 

How to Store Tomatoes

After harvesting tomatoes, store them at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, with the stem side down. “Avoid refrigerating tomatoes if they are not fully ripe, as cold temperatures can affect their texture and flavor,” says Spoonemore. “For fully ripe tomatoes that need to be stored longer, refrigerate them but allow them to return to room temperature before eating to restore some of their flavor. For long-term storage, consider canning, freezing, or drying the tomatoes.”

Pests and Problems

Like many plants, tomatoes are susceptible to certain pests and diseases. "Some common pests are aphids, tomato hornworms, mealybugs, nematodes, and spider mites," says Spoonemore. Regularly check your tomato plants for these pests and treat them as soon as possible. Typically, insecticidal soap is a safe option when treating these pests.

Some diseases you may encounter when growing tomatoes include blight (early and light), powdery mildew, and fusarium wilt, says Spoonemore. One of the most common tomato diseases is blossom-end rot, which causes the end of the plant's fruit to develop areas of black rot. It is irreversible, but it can be prevented by checking the calcium of your soil and managing environmental stressors.