Most Productive Tomato Cultivars

Cultivars

• Tomato cultivars grow large to small, red, yellow, orange, pink or white fruit with a range of flavors. Choose early cultivars like Early Cascade, Quick Pick, Early Girl and Sub Arctic Plenty for earliest maturity dates. These plants grow to fruiting age in 45 to 60 days and continue production until first frost. The longer season means more production before frost arrives.
  
  

Season and Temperature

• Tomatoes are sensitive plants and need warm, frost-free starts for best growth. Start seeds or seedlings after the ground thaws in spring. Tomatoes achieve their best seasons and growth with 60- to 65-degrees Fahrenheit starts.
  
  

Site and Space

• Give tomato plants adequate space and sunshine for best growth and fruit production. The plants need sun for six to eight hours every day, quick site drainage and air circulation, with 24 to 26 inches of space in the row. They won't bloom or bear fruit without adequate sunshine. Plant multiple plants for best possible pollination and fruit harvest.
  
  

Soil and Nutrition

• Tomatoes are thirsty and hungry, and need rich, crumbly and moist soil to grow and bear their fruit. Plant them in mixtures of organic compost and natural soil for best growth, and give them starter fertilizer at planting for best rooting. Add compost every month to maintain nutrition in the soil and give the plants the resources they need for continued fruit production.
  
  

Maintenance

• Tomato fruits are 95 percent water and cannot develop on thirsty plants. Give tomatoes 2 inches of water every week and use organic mulch on the soil to keep it warm and moist. Stake the tomatoes up with a trellis system, vegetable cages or stakes to allow for best sun and air exposure. Allow tomatoes to ripen on the vines but harvest the garden every day; frequent harvest encourages reblooming and additional fruit growth for better production.