Growing
How to Grow Tomatoes
Growing · 4 min read · Updated November 14, 2026
You grow tomatoes by starting plants indoors or buying sturdy seedlings, setting them out after the last frost in a sunny spot, and keeping them watered, fed, and tied to a support as they grow. Warm weather, full sun, and steady water are what tomatoes want most.
Tomatoes do well in the ground, in pots, and in a raised bed. If your yard is small, tall vining types can be trained up a trellis, which is covered in our guide to vertical gardening.
Pick the right type and start warm
There are two main types. Determinate tomatoes grow to a set size, fruit all at once, and suit pots and small beds. Indeterminate tomatoes keep growing and fruiting all season, and need a tall cage or trellis. For a first garden, one plant of each gives you fresh tomatoes for weeks.
Start seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost, or buy healthy seedlings with thick stems and deep green leaves. Tomatoes hate cold, so wait until nights stay above about 50 degrees before planting them outside.
Plant deep and in good soil
Dig a hole deep enough to bury the stem up to the first true leaves. Tomatoes grow roots along the buried stem, which makes a stronger plant. Space plants about 2 feet apart so air can move between them, which helps keep leaf disease away.
Work compost into the planting hole before you set the plant in. Rich, loose soil holds the steady moisture tomatoes need. The mix in our raised bed garden soil mix guide is a good recipe if you are filling a new bed.
Water steady and support the vines
Water at the base of the plant, not over the leaves, and water deep a few times a week rather than a little every day. Uneven watering is the main cause of cracked fruit and black spots on the bottom of tomatoes. A layer of mulch around the plant keeps the soil moisture even.
Tie vining plants to their cage or trellis with soft ties as they grow. For indeterminate types, pinch out the small side shoots that grow where a leaf meets the main stem if you want bigger fruit and a tidier plant. It is optional, but it helps air flow.
Pick at the right time
Pick tomatoes when they are fully colored but still firm. Fruit ripens fine on the vine, and picking a little early, once the color starts to change, keeps birds and bugs from beating you to it. Those will finish ripening on a counter indoors.
When the harvest comes in faster than you can eat it fresh, preserving is the next step. Our guide on how to can tomatoes safely walks through the safe way to put them up in jars.
Frequently asked questions
How much sun do tomatoes need?
At least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day. Less sun means tall, weak plants and slow, bland fruit.
Why are the bottoms of my tomatoes turning black?
That is blossom end rot. It is usually caused by uneven watering, which stops the plant from moving calcium to the fruit. Water steady and mulch the soil. The fruit is still safe to eat if you cut the black part away.
Should I fertilize my tomatoes?
Yes, but gently. Compost at planting plus a balanced feed every few weeks once fruit sets is plenty. Too much nitrogen gives lots of leaves and few tomatoes.
Can I grow tomatoes in pots?
Yes. Use a pot of at least 5 gallons per plant with drainage holes, and pick a determinate or patio type. Pots dry out fast in hot weather, so check the soil daily.
Why are my tomato leaves turning yellow?
Lower leaves often yellow with age or from water splashing soil onto them. Mulch helps. If whole plants yellow and stop growing, the soil may be too wet or short on feed. Check drainage first.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors?
About 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Seedlings need strong light, so a sunny window or a simple grow light keeps them from getting tall and weak.