Growing tomatoes at home is fun and satisfying, but it takes a little patience. The time it takes for your tomatoes to grow will depend on the variety you choose and your growing conditions. On average, you can expect tomatoes to take about 60 to 100 days from planting seeds to harvest. If you start with seedlings instead of seeds, you can speed things up and enjoy fresh, homegrown tomatoes even sooner.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different stages of growing tomatoes and what to expect at each step. From sprouting seeds to watching flowers turn into juicy tomatoes, we’ll share tips to help your plants thrive. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or growing tomatoes for the first time, you’ll find everything you need to make your tomato-growing journey a success. Let’s dig in!
How Long Will it Take for tomatoes to Grow After Planting?
This answer may vary depending on the type of tomato seedlings or young tomato plants you have. In addition, the environment where you plant the tomatoes can affect how fast they grow or produce yield.
a) Types of tomatoes you can plant:
The main types of tomatoes you can plant are determinate or early-season tomatoes and indeterminate or pole tomato varieties.
The main difference between these varieties is how long it takes the tomato plants to produce fruits. Then, you can also choose between the varieties depending on how much tomato harvest you expect. The determinate tomato plants produce fruit once, while indeterminate tomato plants produce fruit throughout the growing season.
It generally takes about 60-70 days for determinate tomato plants to mature, while it can take indeterminate tomato plants upwards of 80 days.
b) Growing conditions
The other factor that will affect how long a tomato seedling or plant takes to grow is the environment you plant it. Some environmental conditions to consider for growing tomatoes include:
- Soil type
- Temperature
- Amount of sunlight
If you are planting your tomatoes in well-drained, fertilized soil and receiving at least six hours of sunlight daily, they should be off to a good start. The ideal temperature for tomato plants is between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Unfortunately, tomatoes are susceptible to damaging diseases such as white spots on the leaves or black spots on the ripe tomatoes. As such, you must maintain the best-growing conditions until harvesting.
When to Plant Tomatoes for Fast Results
If you want to plant tomatoes that will produce yield fast, do so at the beginning of spring or late winter. This will give the young plants the best chance to grow and produce fruit before the hot summer months. However, you will first need to choose from different types of tomato seasons to determine how long it will take them to produce yield.
There are three types of tomato growing seasons: short, intermediate, and long-season tomato varieties.
Short-season tomato varieties can mature in as little as 50 days, while intermediate-season tomatoes can take 60-70 days, and long-season tomato varieties can take up to 100 days or more. Here are some examples of popular tomato varieties.
Cherry tomato plants are a type of determinate and short-season tomato plant that usually matures within 50-70 days. So, if you plant your cherry tomatoes around the beginning of spring, you can expect to harvest tomatoes by early summer.
Heirloom tomato plants are indeterminate and long-season tomato plants that can take 80 days or more to mature. So, if you plant your heirloom tomatoes around the beginning of spring, you can expect to see them yield fruit throughout the summer and into fall.
How to Choose Tomatoes to Plant for Faster yields
If you want to grow tomatoes for the quickest yield, you will want to choose determinate tomato plants with a short growing season. Since these tomatoes produce a harvest once in a season, they are also best for commercial farming. Some examples of determinate and short-season tomato varieties include:
- Early Girl Tomato
- Stupice Tomato
- Bush Goliath Tomato
On the other hand, if you want to grow tomatoes for a longer period, you will want to choose indeterminate tomato plants with a long growing season. Some examples of indeterminate and long-season tomato varieties include:
- Better Boy Tomato
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Brandywine Tomato
How to Determine How Fast Your Tomatoes Will Grow
The best way to determine how long it will take your tomato plants to grow is to read the seed packet or plant the tag. This information will tell you the type of tomato plant it is and the expected days to maturity. Alternatively, you can ask your local nursery or garden center for advice on which tomato plants will work best for your area and growing conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Long It Takes for Tomatoes to Grow
a) How long wil it take for tomato plants to grow from seeds?
After planting, tomato seeds can take two to three weeks to germinate in good conditions. Then, once the seedlings sprout, they will need to be transplanted into individual pots. After transplanting, it will take another six to eight weeks for the tomato plants to mature enough to be transplanted into the garden.
b) How long will it take for a tomato plant to produce fruit?
Once the tomato plants have been transplanted into the garden, it will take another 50-70 days to flower and produce fruit.
c) How could I help my tomato plants grow faster?
There are a few things you can do to help your tomato plants grow faster:
- Make sure you are using high-quality tomato seeds.
- Start your tomato plants indoors to get a head start on the growing season.
- Give your tomato plants plenty of water and nutrients throughout the growing season.
d) Do indoor tomatoes grow fast?
No, indoor tomatoes tend to grow slower than outdoor tomato plants. This is because they don't get as much sunlight and are more susceptible to pests and diseases.
e) How long will it take for tomatoes to ripen on the vine?
Tomatoes reach maturity from 50 to 100 days, depending on the variety you plant. In this same way, it will take the same time until you can harvest ripe tomatoes from the vine. However, it is imperative to maintain healthy temperatures throughout the seasons since very high temperatures will slow the ripening process.
f) How many tomatoes can I get from one plant?
The number of tomatoes you can get from one plant will depend on the type of tomato plant. For example, determinate tomato plants typically produce two to three pounds of fruit per plant, while indeterminate tomato plants can produce six to eight pounds per plant.
