Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Warm‑season · frost‑sensitive · start indoors

115–150 days from seed to harvest

55–90 days to harvest after transplant

Ideal21 – 29 °C

Tolerates13 – 35 °C

Tomato is a warm-season, frost-sensitive fruiting vegetable in the nightshade family. The usual start is indoors, then transplant, and harvest is about 55–90 days from transplant (about 8 to 13 weeks).

Primary method: start indoors

Tomato is usually started indoors, then moved outside when the weather suits the tolerable range.

Start seed. Sow seed indoors. Germination typically takes 6–14 days.
Grow seedlings. Keep seedlings growing indoors until they are ready to harden off. About 6 weeks (39 days)
Harden off. Gradually acclimate indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting. About 7 days
Transplant. Move seedlings outside once daytime air stays inside the tolerable range. 13 – 35 °C.
Grow to harvest. About 9–11 weeks indoors before transplant (about 60 days total). 55–90 days from transplant (about 8 to 13 weeks).

Typical days from indoor sowing to harvest — not calendar dates.

Start seed
Day 0–14
6–14 days
Grow indoors
Day 14–53
39 days
Harden off
Day 53–60
7 days
Transplant
~Day 60
when days stay within 13 – 35 °C
Grow outdoors
Day 61–115
54 days
Harvest
Day 115–150
55–90 days from transplant

Direct sowing

Direct sowing is not the usual method for this plant, so there is no separate direct-sow schedule here.

Care basics

Sun: full sun, at least 6 hours of direct sun.

This plant does not tolerate frost.

Types and varieties

Other names: Cherry tomato, Grape tomato, Beefsteak tomato, Roma tomato, Garden tomato. Variety groups are not listed here.

Growing facts

Growing requirements for this plant. Temperatures are daytime air temperatures in °C.
Attribute	Value
Plant name	Tomato
Scientific name	Solanum lycopersicum
Family	Solanaceae (nightshade family)
Time to harvest	55–90 days from transplant (about 8 to 13 weeks)
Days to germinate	6–14 days
Ideal growing temperature	21 – 29 °C
Minimum tolerable temperature	13 °C
Maximum tolerable temperature	35 °C
Start indoors	Yes, usual method
Direct sow	Not the usual method
Season type	Warm-season, frost-sensitive
Typical start method	Start indoors, then transplant
Light	full sun, 6+ hours direct sun

Glossary

Ideal temperature: The preferred daytime range for good growth.
Tolerable temperature: A wider range where the plant can still grow, less optimally.
Harden off: Gradually acclimating indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
Transplant: Moving seedlings into the garden.
Days to harvest: The usual time to harvest, counted from the start point named beside the number (seed, transplant, or planting).

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