Different cultivars may take anywhere from 60 to 100 days toharvestafter transplanting the seedlings into the garden.
However, knowing more about the seven stages of growth can help track your plant’s progression.
Learn the signs of each growth stage of tomatoes to know when to harvest your fruit.
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When seeds germinate, that’s the first stage of your tomato plant’s life cycle.
At this stage, the plant is also growing its true leaves that it’ll soon use for photosynthesis.
This stage also takes place indoors in a warm and sheltered environment with plenty of light or available sunshine.
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You’ll continue to grow plants indoors, keeping the soil moist and not wet.
Tip
If you’ve seeded into cells, watch for roots to fill the space.
Plants will take up water quickly and dry out quickly.
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Soil temperatures should remain between 65 to 70 degrees outdoors for successful transplanting.
Vines and lush leaves will rapidly grow over the next 20 to 25 days.
Shallow roots will grow in the top 8 to 12 inches of the soil to absorb nutrients.
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The plants will be about 12 to 18 inches tall and you’ll see small yellow flowers blooming.
Determinate tomatoes produce all of their flowers at the same time.
Indeterminate types will flower all season long.
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During this stage, temperature swings may cause your plant to lose flowers.
Flower loss may occur when daytime temperatures exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit or nighttime temperatures dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pollination Stage
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The fifth stage is pollination.
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Flowers need to be fully opened for successful pollination.
You’ll spot bright yellow pollen on the flower anthers or fallen onto petals and surrounding leaves.
Pollination fails, fruit doesn’t form, and flowers drop.
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Dry plants produce small fruit or the fruits fail to develop and fall off.
The life cycle of a tomato plant depends on its cultivar or variety.
Small determinate fruits develop more quickly while indeterminate tomatoes, likebeefsteakand many heirloom varieties, take longer.
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Generally, it takes from 60 to 100 days from germination to harvest.
Several early varieties are bred to bear ripe fruit as early as 50 days from setting out.
The average time for most types ranges between 60 and 100 days from when they are sown.
Only use Epsom salt for your tomato plants if they have a magnesium deficiency.
Some signs to look out for are bright green veins or yellow, red, or brown discoloration.
