Ways to Make Tomato Plants Get Big Fast

Maturity Dates

• Tomatoes grow in hundreds of cultivars, with different sizes and fruit types. Different cultivars also feature different maturity dates, or lifespans. Grow quicker cultivars such as Early Cascade, Quick Pick and Early Girl for a faster tomato harvest. Grow giant plants such as Beefsteaks, Big Boy and Burpee's Big Girl for larger tomato plants and fruit.

Site and Support

• Plant tomatoes in the proper conditions for ideal growth and fruiting. Put the seedlings in sites with full sun and air circulation. Use a trellis, arbor or stakes to support the plants as they grow up. Stakes also encourage bigger, healthier fruit and protect the plants from soil-borne pests and diseases.

Soil and Water

• Tomatoes are hungry and thirsty, and they require adequate moisture and nutrition for growth. Give tomatoes rich, loose soil with organic compost amendments at planting, and add compost to the soil once a month to keep it moist and nutritious. Give the plants 2 inches of water each week to maintain full, lush growth.

Nutrition

• Start tomatoes with starter 8-32-16 or 6-24-24 granular fertilizer to encourage quick rooting and growth. Apply a richer tomato-specific 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 granular fertilizer during the season. The University of Missouri Extension notes that nitrogen fertilizers early in the season encourage lush vegetative growth and may help the plants grow fuller. The extension warns, though, that nitrogen fertilizer too early in the season damages fruit set.