Tomato is an annual grown for its fruit, ready to harvest about 75 days after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11 and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for native bees, even though the fruit is the prize. As a nightshade, give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
75
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What Tomato is
Tomato grows as an annual and reaches around six feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in summer. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Tomato
Tomato grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 75 days after planting. Tomato does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,200 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 70 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
75 days
From transplant. Direct seed adds ~30d in MA — indoor start standard practice.
OSU-PNW; Cornell
GDD Required
2200+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
6 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
70+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant tomato in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Tomato prefers pH 5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Tomato is ready about 75 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Cornell). Pick when the fruit is full-colored and parts easily from the stem.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — tomato is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Tomato offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Tomato thrives
On hardiness alone, tomato grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Tomato growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Tomato can grow in these states:
See if Tomato will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether tomato actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Tomato in my zone?
Tomato grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Tomato take to grow?
Tomato is ready to harvest about 75 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Cornell). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Tomato?
Most growers plant tomato after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 70-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Tomato need?
Tomato needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Tomato need?
Tomato prefers soil pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Tomato attract pollinators?
Yes — tomato's flowers are a solid nectar source for native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Tomato safe for pets?
Tomato is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.