Solanum lycopersicum, tomato (Solanaceae) (image 1 of 5)

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Vegetables

Solanum lycopersicum

tomato

Solanaceae Western South America (Andes)

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium

Overview

Solanum lycopersicum is a warm-season annual vegetable in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), grown for its edible fruit. A tender perennial in frost-free climates, it is cultivated as an annual in temperate gardens. Growth habit divides into two groups: determinate types form bushes 24-48 inches (60-120 cm) tall that set most of their fruit within a two- to three-week window, and indeterminate types produce vines reaching 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) with support, flowering and fruiting until frost. Stems and pinnately compound leaves are covered in short hairs that release a pungent scent when brushed. Small yellow flowers 0.5-0.75 inch (12-19 mm) across form in clusters and self-pollinate. Fruit ranges from 0.5 inch (12 mm) currant and cherry types to beefsteaks over 4 inches (10 cm) across, in red, pink, orange, yellow, purple, green, and near-black. Days from transplant to first ripe fruit span 55-90 depending on cultivar. Plants require full sun, warm soil above 60F (16C), and steady moisture; fruit set drops when night temperatures exceed 75F (24C) or fall below 50F (10C). Foliage, stems, and unripe fruit contain the alkaloid tomatine and are not eaten. Indeterminate cultivars require staking or caging, and all types are killed by the first autumn frost.

Native Range

Wild ancestors of the tomato grow in the coastal deserts and Andean foothills of western South America, from Ecuador and Peru to northern Chile. Domestication occurred in Mesoamerica, and the plant reached Europe in the 16th century before spreading worldwide.

Suggested Uses

Tomatoes are grown in vegetable beds, raised beds, and containers of 5 gallons (19 L) or larger, as well as in greenhouses for a longer season. Compact and dwarf cultivars are grown in hanging baskets and window boxes. Fruit is eaten fresh, cooked, canned, dried, or processed into sauces and juices.

How to Identify

Pinnately compound leaves 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) long carry 5-9 toothed leaflets and release a sharp scent when crushed. Stems are angular, brittle, and covered in short glandular hairs, rooting readily where they contact moist soil. Yellow, five-petaled flowers 0.5-0.75 inch (12-19 mm) wide nod in branched clusters, followed by smooth, many-seeded berries. A green calyx stays attached at the stem end of each ripe fruit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 10'

Width/Spread1'6" - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer

Flowering begins 5-7 weeks after transplanting and continues until frost on indeterminate types, while determinate types flower over a concentrated two- to three-week period. Clusters of 4-8 yellow flowers open in sequence and self-pollinate, aided by wind and buzz-pollinating bees. Each flower ripens to fruit 45-60 days after it opens. Flower drop occurs when night temperatures fall below 55F (13C) or day temperatures exceed 90F (32C).

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

medium to dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 6.8(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Tomatoes grow in full sun with 6-8 hours of direct light and soil temperatures above 60F (16C). Determinate plants are set 24 inches (60 cm) apart and indeterminate plants 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart in soil enriched with compost and balanced fertilizer. Even soil moisture of about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of water per week reduces blossom-end rot and fruit cracking. A mulch layer 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) deep conserves moisture and limits soil-borne disease splash. Indeterminate cultivars are trained onto stakes, cages, or trellises, while determinate types require little support. Common problems include early and late blight, blossom-end rot from calcium and moisture fluctuation, and tomato hornworm feeding.

Pruning

Indeterminate tomatoes are pruned by pinching out the side shoots, or suckers, that form in the leaf axils, concentrating growth into one or two main stems. Lower leaves touching the soil are removed to slow disease spread. Determinate types are left unpruned, since removing shoots cuts their already-limited yield. Late in the season, pinching out the growing tips channels energy into ripening the remaining fruit.

Pruning Schedule

summer