Tomatoes

Garden Help > Vegetables

UC Links

Pest management: Tomato cultural tips, pests, and diseases

The Basics

When to plant

• Transplant: May–June, possibly April
• For best results, wait until daytime temperatures are regularly over 70°F
• Start in pots for transplants: February–April; ready to transplant in 6 weeks 

Harvest window: July–October, depending on variety

Fertilization: Overfertilization results in excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.

Care overview

• Cage or stake plants to support expected growth. Indeterminate varieties can grow 6 feet tall or more.
• Water regularly but not excessively.
• Harvest tomatoes when fully colored and beginning to soften.

Videos

• Planting Tall Tomato Seedlings [5:26]
• Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes [1:28]
• Growing Tomatoes and Peppers Successfully[1:29:28]

More links

• Growing Great Tomatoes
• High-Density Tomato Growing
• Tomato Tips by Months

Recommended Varieties for Santa Clara County^*

Classic: Black from Tula, Carmello, Dona, Early Girl, Gold Medal, Lime Green, Orange Strawberry, Santa Clara Canner, Stupice

Beefsteak: Aunt Ginny's Purple, Aunt Ruby's Green, Big Rainbow, Brandywine from Croatia, Cuostralee, Ed’s Millennium, Ernie's Plump, Ernie's Round, Green Giant, Hillbilly, Russian 117, Stump of the World

Cherry: Black Cherry, Chadwick, Galinas, Sungold, Sugary, Sun Sugar, Sweet 100, Sweet Chelsea

Paste: Amish Gold, Amish Paste, Jersey Devil, Opalka, Principe Borghese

Also, see our list of Spring Garden Fair Tomato varieties.

^* Many other varieties may also do well here in Santa Clara County. This list is based on UC Master Gardener trials, taste tests, and feedback from local growers.