Solanum lycopersicum

Common Names

Tomato, Tomatoes, Love Apple, Love Apples, Cherry Tomatoes

Summary

Tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum, are warm-season fruit native to Central and South America and grown worldwide. The plant is herbaceous and typically reaches 60–180 cm tall, with hairy, pinnately compound leaves and yellow flowers; the fruits are berries that vary in size and color from red, yellow, orange, green, to purple and range in shape from spherical to elongated. All green parts are poisonous due to tomatine and solanine, while ripe fruits are edible.

As for cultivation, tomatoes require full sun and well-drained, fertile soil with a pH around 6.0–6.8; seeds can be started indoors 5–6 weeks before transplanting or purchased as transplants, with spacing about 18–24 inches and supports such as stakes, cages, or trellises. Water deeply and mulch to conserve moisture, fertilize based on soil tests, and prune or manage growth to improve air circulation. Harvest when fruit is fully colored and store at room temperature; tomatoes can be grown in containers or raised beds, and thousands of cultivars exist including cherry, paste, and slicer types, with hybrids often bred for disease resistance.

Lifecycle

Annual, Perennial, Biennial

Height

3-8 feet

Spread

24-36 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun, about 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Soil Type

Deep, loamy, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, with a pH around 6.0–6.8.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, mildly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

All season, especially in indeterminate varieties, with Summer and Fall, Spring (late).

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall (Winter under glass in cooler climates).

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Seedlings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, no evidence it attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, or birds