Does the Harvest Time of Tomatoes Account for Seedling Growth Time?

Harvest Date

• Many tomato plants that are purchased as seedlings or seeds will give an expected harvest date. Often these dates can range from 55 to 80 days. The expected harvest date is the date of harvest for the tomato from the transplant date. This means that the tomato plant can be expected to begin producing fruit that is ready for harvest a specific number of days after the date of transplant.

Early Tomatoes

• There are several stages of tomato varieties, including very early to main crop varieties. Very early stage tomatoes will be ready for harvest 60 days or less after the date of transplant. The most well known of this variety includes the Early Girl tomato, which is ready for harvest 54 days after the date of transplant. Medium-early tomato varieties are ready for harvest around 65 days after transplant. These include the Champion tomato.

Main Crop

• Main crop varieties are ready for harvest between 70 and 85 days after transplant. Tomatoes other than red tomatoes will often take 80 to 85 days before they are ready for harvest. For example, the White Wonder tomato produces a tomato with a creamy white flesh. This tomato takes 85 days to mature after transplant. Main crop tomatoes often produce larger tomatoes, including Beefsteak tomatoes. Many heirloom tomatoes will be main crop tomatoes, and will not be ready for harvest until 70 days after transplant.

Indeterminate and Determinate

• In addition to the date of harvest, tomato plants can be indeterminate or determinate. Indeterminate tomato plants will produce fruit throughout the entire growing season, as long as the fruit is harvested regularly and the plant is pruned. Indeterminate tomatoes can be early or main crop tomatoes, and regular harvest will ensure a steady supply throughout the summer. Determinate tomatoes will set all of their fruit within a two- to three-week period, after the initial harvest date. Determinate tomatoes can be early or main crop varieties, but once they have set their fruit, they will not produce any more tomatoes that season.