Tomato Growing Guide

This Tomato Growing Guide covers everything you need to know to grow healthy, productive tomato plants from planting to harvest. Learn when to plant, proper spacing, watering and fertilizing practices, pest and disease management, and how to choose the right tomato varieties for fresh eating, cooking, or preserving.

Quick Overview

Category	Details
Planting Time	Spring after last frost
Soil Temperature	60–85°F (best growth at 70–80°F)
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun (8+ hours)
Watering Requirements	1–1.5″ per week; consistent moisture
Spacing (In-Ground)	Rows: 72–96″; Plants: 36–48″
Spacing (Raised Bed)	18–24″ apart; wider for indeterminate
Fertilizer Guidelines	Heavy feeder; moderate nitrogen, high phosphorus & potassium

Growing Guide Details

Plant Classifications

Tomatoes fall into two main growth habits. Determinate tomatoes grow to a set height and produce most of their fruit in a short window, making them ideal for containers, small gardens, and bulk harvests for canning. Indeterminate tomatoes continue growing and producing fruit all season long, requiring staking or trellising but offering steady harvests until frost.

What Variety to Choose?

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• Hossinator: Heavy-producing, large slicing tomato with rich flavor and dependable performance—built for serious garden yields.

• Celebrity: A reliable determinate hybrid with excellent disease resistance and consistent yields.

• Amish Paste: A determinate paste tomato with dense flesh, perfect for sauces and canning.

• Better Boy: A classic indeterminate slicer with large, flavorful fruit and high productivity.

• Cherokee Purple: An heirloom indeterminate with rich, complex flavor for fresh eating.

• Sun Gold: An indeterminate cherry tomato known for exceptional sweetness and early harvests.

When to Plant

Indoor Start:
Start tomato seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last expected frost date.

Outdoor Transplant:
Transplant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and night-time temperatures remain above 55°F. Tomatoes are frost-sensitive and slow down significantly in cool soil.

Light & Space Requirements

Sunlight:
Tomatoes require full sun—at least 8 hours daily—for best fruit set and flavor.

In-Ground:
Space determinate varieties 24–36″ apart and indeterminate varieties 24–36″ apart in rows 36–48″ wide.

Raised Beds & Containers:
Allow extra airflow between plants. Large containers (5–10 gallons) are required for healthy root development.

Staking & Support:
All tomato plants benefit from support to keep fruit off the ground, improve airflow, and reduce disease pressure.

Determinate Varieties:
Use sturdy cages or short stakes (3–4 ft) to support heavy fruit loads and prevent branches from breaking.

Indeterminate Varieties:
Require tall, strong support (6–8 ft) such as stakes, trellises, or string systems. Tie plants regularly as they grow to keep them upright and manageable.

Row Plantings:
The Florida Weave method is an efficient way to support multiple plants while maintaining structure and airflow.

Spacing + Support:
Proper spacing is critical when using cages or trellises—crowded plants restrict airflow, increasing disease risk and reducing overall yield.

Pro Tip: Plant tomatoes deep—burying ⅓ to ½ of the stem encourages strong root formation and sturdier plants.

Hossinator Tomato

Soil & Fertility

Soil Requirements:

pH between 6.2–6.8

Rich in compost or organic matter

Well-draining, loamy soil

Fertilizer Schedule:

Before Planting:
Mix 1½ cups of HOSS Complete Organic Fertilizer per 10 ft of row

2 Weeks After Transplanting:
Side-dress with 2 cups of HOSS Complete Organic Fertilizer per 10 ft row.

If using Fertilizer injector, 1 cup 20-20-20 Fertilizer and 1-2 cups microboost per 20 ft row.

Alternate Every 14 Days:
Mix 1 to 2 cups of Hoss Calcium Nitrate –AND – 1 to 2 cups of Hoss Micro-Boost Micronutrient Supplement per 20 ft. of row.

* To prevent Blossom End Rot: Apply ½ cup of Hoss Pelletized Gypsum Soil Conditioner per plant. Spread evenly around plants rootsat bloom set and every 2 weeks after.

Pro Tip: Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes foliage at the expense of fruit.

Pest & Disease Control

Pest/Disease	Control Method
Thrips	Garden Insect Spray, Take Out
Horn Worms	Garden Insect Spray, Monterey BT, Take Out
Aphids	Horticulture Oil, Bug Buster-O, Take Down, Take Out
Stinkbugs	Horticulture Oil, Take Out
Flea Beetle	Horticulture Oil, Bug Buster-O, Take Down, Take Out
Whiteflies	Horticulture Oil, Bug Buster-O, Take Down, Take Out
Spider Mites	Horticulture Oil, Bug Buster-O, Take Out
Cutworms	Diatomaceous Earth
Fusarium Wilt	Crop Rotation; select resistant varieties
Bacterial Wilt	Crop Rotation; select resistant varieties, Liquid Copper
Tomato Mosaic Virus	Crop Rotation; select resistant varieties
Early Blight	Crop rotation and select resistant varieties; Complete Disease Control (drench), Liquid Copper
Late Blight	Crop rotation and select resistant varieties; Liquid Copper, Garden Phos
Bacterial Spot	Liquid Copper, Garden Phos

Irrigation & Watering Schedule

• Needs 1-1.5” water per week

• Keep soil consistently moist (not soggy)

• Use Drip Irrigation Kits to keep moisture away from the fruit and leaves.

Better Boy Plus

Harvesting & Storage

Harvest:
Pick tomatoes when fully colored but still firm. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production.

Storage:
Store tomatoes at room temperature for best flavor. Refrigeration dulls taste but can be used short-term if needed.

Preservation Tip:
Tomatoes freeze well whole or chopped and are ideal for canning as sauces, salsas, or crushed tomatoes.

Sustainability & Garden Tips

• Rotate tomatoes yearly to prevent soil-borne disease
• Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce soil splash
• Prune indeterminate plants to improve airflow
• Support plants with cages or trellises early
• Compost healthy plants after the season ends

FAQs

Why are my tomato plants flowering but not setting fruit?

High heat, poor pollination, or excess nitrogen can prevent fruit set.

Can tomatoes be grown in containers?

Yes—use large containers and choose determinate or compact indeterminate varieties.

What causes blossom end rot?

Blossom end rot is caused by an inability to transport calcium to the fruit, typically resulting from inconsistent soil moisture or environmental stress including a lack of available calcium in the soil.

Should I prune tomato plants?

Pruning is recommended for indeterminate tomatoes to improve airflow and fruit quality.

How long do tomatoes take to mature?

Most varieties mature in 60–85 days, depending on type and growing conditions.

Published on June 07, 2023
Updated on April 06, 2026

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