What Type of Tomatoes Grow the Fastest?

Early Girl

• Harvest early girl tomatoes 52 days after planting. Early girl, a slicing tomato, produces medium size fruit, 4 ounces to 6 ounces. An indeterminate variety, early girl grows as tall as 8 feet. Stake the plants to prevent breakage. Grow early girl tomatoes in any USDA plant hardiness zone after the last frost when the soil temperature is at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Black plastic mulch raises soil temperatures for earlier planting times.

Glacier

• Glacier produces 2- to 3-ounce red tomatoes 58 days after planting. A determinate variety, glacier grows to 2 1/2 feet tall and does not require staking. Grow glacier tomatoes in any USDA plant hardiness zone after the last frost when the soil temperature is at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover glacier tomato plants with floating row covers, a lightweight landscape fabric, if a late cold spell threatens in spring.

Stupice

• Stupice produces its first fruit in as little as 60 days. An indeterminate variety, stupice grows as tall as 6 feet and produces oval, 2-inch salad tomatoes all season long. Stake the plants to prevent breakage. Stupice grows especially well in cool summers, climates when day temperatures are between 65 degrees and 80 degrees, such as USDA plant hardiness zones 5 and cooler. Stupice will not set flower if nighttime temperatures drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Stupice is an open-pollinated tomato seed variety; seeds saved from the fruit will grow true to type.

Oregon Spring

• Oregon spring produces fruit in as few as 55 days. This variety is especially cold tolerant and will even withstand light frosts without protection. Oregon spring sets fruit in temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A determinate variety, Oregon spring grows to 36 inches tall and does not usually require staking. It grows best in cool climates where summer temperatures range between 65 degrees and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, such as USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 5. Oregon spring produces 4- to 6-ounce, pink-to-red fruit.