Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an annual vegetable in the Solanaceae family. It grows 1.2–2 m (3.9–6.6 ft) tall and 50–90 cm (20–35 in) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 2 °C (36 °F). Space plants about 60 cm (24 in) apart.
Plan Tomato in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Tomato at a glance
| Type | Annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| Family | Solanaceae |
| Mature height | 1.2–2 m (3.9–6.6 ft) |
| Mature spread | 50–90 cm (20–35 in) |
| Spacing | 60 cm (24 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Cold hardiness | About 2 °C (36 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | about 6–9 weeks after planting, for 7–13 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 90 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: ripe fruit |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇷 Iran, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Is Tomato toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: leaves, stems, green fruit
Green parts and unripe fruit contain tomatine and can cause stomach upset.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Tomato
Good neighbours
- good With French marigold: Evidence is mixed: French marigold may suppress some root-knot nematodes when grown as a cover crop, not as an interplant. Evidence D
- good With Mexican marigold (cempasúchil): Tagetes roots release thiophenes that suppress root-knot nematodes, but the effect is documented mainly for dense marigold stands grown before the crop, not for a few plants beside tomatoes. Evidence C
- good With Basil: Basil is said to improve tomato flavour and repel pests; Traditional companion-planting advice; controlled trials are few, so treat it as a soft preference. Evidence D
Keep apart or take care
- avoid With Black walnut: Black walnut releases juglone from roots, leaves and hulls, which is documented to injure or kill this sensitive species. Evidence B
- caution With Potato: Both are hosts of late blight (Phytophthora infestans), which can spread between them. Evidence B
- caution With Florence fennel: Fennel releases growth-inhibiting compounds from roots and foliage; lab and garden reports show poorer growth of tomato, pepper and other nearby crops, so keep it in its own corner. Evidence C
- caution With Apricot: Verticillium wilt fungus persists for years in soil where tomatoes grew and kills apricot trees, so avoid planting apricot on such ground. Evidence B
- caution With Smoke tree: Smoke tree is very susceptible to Verticillium wilt, which persists in soil after tomato, potato or aubergine crops; avoid planting it where those crops have wilted. Evidence C
- caution With Fennel: Fennel is reported to suppress tomatoes, peppers and many other vegetables nearby; grow it in its own corner. Evidence C
- caution With Nightshades: Nightshades share late blight, early blight, Verticillium wilt and Colorado potato beetle; mix with other families and rotate the bed. Evidence B
- avoid With Potato: Potatoes are the main source of late blight (Phytophthora infestans) that spreads to tomatoes and other nightshades within a few metres. Evidence B
- caution With Sunflower: Sunflower residues and roots release phenolic compounds that can slow nearby seedlings; transplants are less affected. Evidence C
Shared pests and diseases
- Late blight: Late blight spreads by wind-borne spores between potatoes, tomatoes and their relatives. Evidence B
See Tomato in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (10 plants)
Questions about Tomato
- How far apart should I plant Tomato?
- About 60 cm (24 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 50–90 cm (20–35 in).
- Does Tomato need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Tomato need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Tomato?
- It tolerates about 2 °C (36 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Tomato flower?
- About 6–9 weeks after planting, for 7–13 weeks.
- Is Tomato poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Green parts and unripe fruit contain tomatine and can cause stomach upset.
- What grows well with Tomato?
- Evidence is mixed: French marigold may suppress some root-knot nematodes when grown as a cover crop, not as an interplant. Tagetes roots release thiophenes that suppress root-knot nematodes, but the effect is documented mainly for dense marigold stands grown before the crop, not for a few plants beside tomatoes. Basil is said to improve tomato flavour and repel pests; Traditional companion-planting advice; controlled trials are few, so treat it as a soft preference.
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Cherry tomato Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
- Potato Solanum tuberosum
- Bell pepper Capsicum annuum
- Eggplant (aubergine) Solanum melongena
- Chili pepper Capsicum annuum (hot types)
- Petunia Petunia x hybrida
- Tomatillo Physalis philadelphica
- Ground cherry (husk cherry) Physalis pruinosa