Tomato plants are warm-weather crops that are widely grown for their tasty and adaptable fruit all over the globe. The tomato is a blooming plant in the nightshade family that has over 10,000 variations. Although often labeled as a vegetable by nutritionists, tomatoes are actually a fruit, as they grow from a flower and have many seeds inside of it.
Tomatoes are commonly eaten raw, such as in salads, can be cooked, grilled, pickled or preserved, and are often processed into juices, purees, pastes, sauces, and condiments. They adapt themselves nicely to canning and may be found in grocery shops across the globe in whole, chopped, or pureed cans.
Dying tomato plantContents
What is the lifespan of a tomato plant?
The average lifespan of a tomato plant is one growing season, or about 8-12 months, but when well-cared for in ideal conditions, tomato plants can live anywhere from two to five years. Harvesting fruit from tomato plants might take anywhere from 60 to 100 days.
A tomato plant may thrive for many years under ideal circumstances. However, most home gardeners treat their plants as annuals, replanting each year to ensure a fresh crop of tomatoes. A tomato plant may give an abundance of tasty fruits for several seasons if properly cared for. In fact, when posing this question to fellow gardeners many push their tomato plants to 6 or 7 years before they stop producing fruit.
There are certain things you can do to help your tomato plant live longer. If you live in a warmer area with a longer growing season, you can prune your tomato plant so that it doesn’t get too big and sprawling. You may also grow tomatoes inside or in a greenhouse, which can lengthen your plants’ growth season and protect them from adverse weather conditions.
Types of tomato plants
Determinant
A determinate tomato plant is one that grows to a certain size and then stops growing. Determinant plants are often known as bush varieties, and typically grow two to three feet tall and produce fruit for about 4-6 weeks. After the plant has finished fruiting, it dies. Most commercial tomatoes are determinate varieties, as they are easier to grow in large quantities.
Determinate tomato plants typically have a shorter lifespan than indeterminate varieties, but they can produce a larger quantity of fruit in a shorter amount of time; one determinant plant can produce up to 10 pounds of tomatoes. Since they can withstand shorter growth seasons, determinate tomato plants are better suited to colder areas.
Lifecycle
ripe tomatoesA determinate tomato plant’s life cycle can be divided into four stages: germination, growth, flowering, and fruiting. The process through which a seedling begins to develop is known as germination.
After breaking through the dirt, the seedling begins to sprout leaves and roots and grows higher. Once the plant has reached its full height, it begins to produce flowers.
When the flowers have been pollinated, the fruits begin to develop.
Once it blooms and sets fruit, the plant will continue to produce tomatoes until it is killed by frost or disease. The whole lifespan of a tomato plant may take anywhere from 50 days to several months, depending on the type.
Indeterminant
Indeterminate tomato plants continue to develop and provide fruit for the rest of their lives. These plants are often vine-like in appearance and may grow to be very big, reaching heights of six feet or more. Indeterminate tomatoes take more care than determinate types since they continue to grow and produce fruit continuously. While determinate tomato plants produce all of their fruit at once, indeterminate tomato plants produce fruit continuously throughout the growing season. As a consequence, gardeners who desire a consistent supply of fresh tomatoes frequently choose indeterminate tomato plants.
Lifecycle
An indeterminate tomato plant’s lifespan starts in the spring, when the plant is grown from seed. The plant will then continue to grow and produce fruit until frost kills it in the autumn. Indeterminate tomato plants may yield fruit for two years or more before needing to be replanted. Indeterminate tomato plants are typically varieties that are grown in warm climates, as they require a long growing season in order to produce an abundance of fruit. Although indeterminate tomato plants take more care than determinate types, they often provide a higher crop.
Pruning tomato suckersHow do you keep tomato plants alive?
Plant your tomato plants in a location with at least 6 to 8 hours of sunshine, water them frequently, and fertilize them every two weeks or so to keep them alive and healthy. Extreme heat or cold can damage tomato plants, so it’s important to take steps to protect them from the elements. If you reside in a very chilly area, try growing tomatoes inside or in a greenhouse.
Watering
Water tomato plants thoroughly and on a regular basis. Tomato plants need about an inch of water per week, and it is best to water them in the morning so that the leaves have time to dry before nightfall. Water your tomatoes regularly, but be careful not to overdo it – too much water can actually drown the roots and kill the plant. Let about an inch of soil to dry between waterings.
Light
Tomato plants need plenty of direct sunlight, and will produce more fruit if they are grown in a sunny spot. Tomatoes need at least six to eight hours of sunshine every day, so growing them in a south-facing position, whether inside or outside, is best.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing your plants regularly is important to produce a steady crop of fruit. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and will benefit from being fed high-quality fertilizer every few weeks. Almanac.com also suggests “avoiding fast-release fertilizers and high-nitrogen fertilizers… Too much nitrogen results in luxuriant foliage but few blooms and little or little fruit.”
Pruning and staking
Pruning your plants on a regular basis will stimulate new development. Remove any dead or diseased leaves or branches as soon as possible, and don’t be afraid to restrict healthy development if the plant becomes too large. Tiny suckers (new, small stems and leaves that sprout between branches and the main stem) may be nipped off on a regular basis before they get too large. This permits more energy to be channeled to the sections of the plant that produce fruit and less to new stem development.
Finally, give your tomato some support – whether it’s a cage, trellis, or a stake – to keep it from toppling over as it grows. To avoid damaging the fragile branches, gently attach them to your selected support using soft twine, old rags, or nylons.
Weather conditions (Zones)
Tomatoes should be cultivated in climates with warm days and chilly nights for the greatest results. This combination of weather conditions helps the tomatoes to develop their characteristic sweetness. Tomatoes do not grow well in locations with very heat or cold temperatures. However, they can also be sensitive to excessively hot weather, so it is important to choose a location that does not get too hot during the summer months.
Although tomatoes may be grown in a range of climates, they flourish in warm, sunny circumstances. As a result, the optimum weather zones for producing tomatoes are often located in the United States’ southern and western regions. However, tomatoes can also be successfully grown in other parts of the world if the weather conditions are right. Tomatoes, for example, thrive in climates with long, hot summers and short, mild winters. If you reside in a colder climate, you can still produce tomatoes by employing greenhouse growing techniques.
Greenhouse tomatoes being wateredGrowing Tomatoes in a Greenhouse
Raising tomatoes in a greenhouse is an excellent method to prolong the growing season and enjoy fresh tomatoes all year. Greenhouses shield plants from harsh weather, pests, and illnesses, enabling them to grow. They also offer a controlled atmosphere in which temperature and humidity levels may be adjusted to give optimal circumstances for tomato plants. Tomato plants need at least six hours of sunlight each day, so it is important to choose a location for the greenhouse that receives plenty of sun. Greenhouses can extend the growing season by trapping heat inside, allowing tomatoes to ripen earlier than they would if they were grown outdoors. A greenhouse should have enough ventilation to avoid moisture and mold development. Tomatoes prefer a continuous amount of moisture when it comes to irrigation. Overwatering in a greenhouse, on the other hand, may cause issues such as blossom end rot. As the plants begin to bear fruit, greenhouse tomatoes will need additional support to keep the fruits from contacting the ground and spoiling. Staking and trellising are both excellent ways to provide support in a greenhouse.
Of course, there are certain disadvantages to greenhouse gardening. Controlling the quantity of light that plants get, for example, may be tricky. Moreover, greenhouses may get very hot during the summer months, stressing tomato plants and causing fruit to blister. Providing enough ventilation is one of the keys to success when growing tomatoes in a greenhouse. Tomato plants generate a lot of heat as they develop, which may rapidly accumulate in a tight environment. By opening vents or doors during the hottest part of the day, you can help to keep the temperature inside the greenhouse from getting too high. Moreover, it is critical to choose tomato types that are well-suited to greenhouse conditions. Certain kinds are more heat-tolerant than others, and they are more likely to bear fruit in hot weather.
Growing tomato plants indoorsGrowing tomatoes indoors
Raising tomatoes inside is a terrific way to have fresh tomatoes all year. Tomatoes are a pretty simple crop to plant, and with a little care, they may yield a large amount of fruit within. While growing tomatoes indoors, there are a few things to keep in mind. To begin, choose a tomato variety that is suitable for indoor cultivation. Smaller kinds, such as cherry or grape tomatoes, are typically more suited to indoor cultivation. Second, provide your plants with plenty of light – tomatoes need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day, ideally in a southern-facing window. Consider utilizing grow lights to augment natural light if you reside in a location with low sunlight. Lastly, water and fertilize your plants on a regular basis to ensure they receive the nutrients they need.
Final Thoughts
Overall, tomato plants are an easy-to-grow, low maintenance crop that naturally has a shorter growing season, although with a little care and attention can be cultivated to produce luscious fruit for many years. Although most tomato plants only survive for one growing season, there are many methods to prolong the life of your tomato plants and assure a consistent supply of tasty tomatoes for years to come.
Brock is the Larger Garden’s chief gardener and writer. Every year you can expect to see something new in his raised beds, from purple broccoli to cotton candy peppers.
