We’re sometimes asked how long it takes to grow tomatoes. It’s a good question, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to answer it here. With a Click & Grow smart garden, you can produce a mini tomato harvest starting from 98 days after planting.
In this article we’ll look at some key things to remember when growing tomatoes indoors and outdoors.
As a passionate gardener, I always look forward to the time when those first bright yellow tomato flowers start blooming on my plants. It’s an exciting milestone, signaling that those juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes are right around the corner!
But often, the wait between those initial flowers and the actual fruit can feel agonizingly long. When will those flowers finally transform into plump, red tomatoes ready for picking?
In this article, I’ll walk you through the entire journey from tomato flower to fruit I’ll cover the key stages plants go through, timeline expectations, and factors that affect fruiting speed
Whether you’re an experienced tomato grower or planting your first seeds this year, understanding the process from bloom to harvest can help you better care for your plants. Let’s dive in!
The Tomato Plant Life Cycle
Before zooming in on the flower to fruit timeline, it helps to understand the full life cycle tomato plants go through each season. Here are the key phases:
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Germination: Tomato seeds sprout and seedlings emerge.
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Seedling Stage: Young plants establish roots and leaves.
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Vegetative Stage: Rapid leaf and stem growth occurs as plants mature.
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Flowering: Yellow blossoms start to appear on plants.
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Fruit set: Pollinated flowers develop into tiny green tomatoes.
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Ripening: Tomatoes mature and turn red/orange/yellow/purple.
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Seed harvesting: Ripe tomatoes produce seeds for future growing.
The transition from flowering to fruit set is the focus of this article. But keeping the whole cycle in mind provides helpful context.
Timeline From Flower to Fruit
Now onto the main question: how long after those first bright flowers do ripe tomatoes follow?
The general timeframe is 6-8 weeks from tomato flowering to fruit.
However, a few key factors can shorten or extend that window:
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Tomato variety – Smaller determinate tomatoes fruit faster than larger indeterminate types.
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Growing conditions – Warmer weather and consistent care speeds up fruiting.
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Pollination success – Poor pollination causes flowers to drop off without fruit forming.
While the average is 6-8 weeks, it’s not unusual for tomatoes to take 4-5 weeks or up to 10-12 weeks depending on those variables. Patience is required!
Stages from Flower to Fruit
The transformation from bloom to ripe, juicy tomato involves a few key stages. Here’s what to expect:
1. Flowering
The first sign of progress is the appearance of bright yellow flowers on your tomato plants. This indicates the plants are mature and ready for fruit production.
2. Pollination
For fruit to develop, tomato flowers must be successfully pollinated. This fertilization happens via wind, bees, and other insects. Watch for these signs of pollination:
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Yellow pollen on anthers and petals
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Wilted, dying flowers 24 hours after pollination
3. Ovary Swelling
Once pollinated, the ovary at the base of the flower starts swelling. This is a sure sign that fertilization occurred and fruit is on the way.
4. Fruit Growth
One week after successful pollination, tiny green tomatoes become visible where the flowers were. They slowly start enlarging over the next few weeks.
5. Ripening
Finally, 6-8 weeks after flowering, tomatoes ripen fully. Their skin color changes from green to red, yellow, orange, or purple.
Factors Affecting Flower to Fruit Timeframe
Many variables can speed up or slow down the timeline from bloom to harvest. Here are key factors:
Temperature – Warm conditions (70-85°F) accelerate growth. Cool weather delays fruiting.
Sunlight – Full sun (6-8 hours) is essential for robust flowering and fruit production.
Water – Consistent moisture prevents drought stress. Too much water can cause issues.
Nutrition – Fertilizing with a balanced nutrient mix supports optimal fruiting.
Pests/Diseases – Controlling problems prevents damage to flowers and fruits.
Variety – Determinate tomatoes produce faster than indeterminate.
Plant Health – Healthy, vigorous plants fruit more quickly than stressed ones.
Caring for Fruiting Tomato Plants
To encourage a robust, speedy harvest, here are some tips for caring for tomatoes during flowering and fruiting:
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Water 1-2 inches per week, avoid soggy soil.
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Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a tomato blend.
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Prune leaves and stems for better air circulation.
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Monitor for pests like hornworms; control as needed.
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Stake/cage plants to support weight of fruits.
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Mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and nutrients.
Expected Timelines by Tomato Variety
To set realistic expectations, it helps to consider typical timelines for specific tomato varieties from flower to fruit:
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Cherry tomatoes – 4-6 weeks
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Slicers – 6-8 weeks
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Romas – 6-8 weeks
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Heirlooms – 8-10 weeks
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Beefsteak – 10-12 weeks
These ranges account for variables in growing conditions. If unsure about a variety, check the seed packet or plant tag.
Troubleshooting Lack of Fruit Set
Sometimes tomato flowers don’t transition into those coveted fruits. A few common culprits:
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Poor pollination – Not enough bee activity in your garden.
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Temperature stress – Hot or cold conditions prevent fruit set.
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Lack of sunlight – Plants need full sun to flower and fruit robustly.
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Pest/disease damage – Hornworms, blight, and other problems take a toll.
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Nutrient deficiencies – Lack of nutrients like calcium leads to issues.
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Over-pruning – Removing too many leaves/stems stresses plants.
Correcting these underlying issues can get your plants back on track for bountiful fruiting.
Enjoying the Journey from Flower to Fruit
Waiting for ripe tomatoes after the first flowers show up requires patience. But the journey from bloom to harvest is part of the fun of gardening.
Now that you know the average timelines and stages involved, you can better care for your tomato plants. Before you know it, your patience will be rewarded with baskets full of juicy, homegrown tomatoes!
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We’re sometimes asked how long it takes to grow tomatoes. It’s a good question, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to answer it here. With a Click & Grow smart garden, you can produce a mini tomato harvest starting from 98 days after planting.
In this article we’ll look at some key things to remember when growing tomatoes indoors and outdoors.
Growing tomatoes in a smart indoor garden
If this is your first time growing Click & Grow mini tomatoes, here’s a quick timeline of what to expect at each growth stage. A Click & Grow mini tomato plant pod contains pre-gardened tomato seeds. The optimum indoor room temperature for growing mini tomatoes is 68°F – 95°F.
7 – 21 days: When sprouts appear, thin your tomato seedlings to one per pod. This will help your plant get the space, light and nutrients it needs.
22 – 39 days: Stake tomato plants when they’re young. It will help them grow upright and bear the weight of their fruit later on.
40 – 60 days: You’ll start to notice yellow flowers on your plant. Be sure to pollinate them by shaking the plant to mimic a bee. Alternatively, use your index finger or a small brush to transfer pollen from one blossom to another.
61 – 72 days: Don’t be alarmed if you notice yellow petals falling off. Not every flower produces fruit but you’ll be rewarded with some delicious tomatoes later on.
73 – 89 days: Around this time your plant will produce tomatoes that look green. They won’t turn red until they reach maturity.
90 – 110 days: Your plant will start to produce beautiful ripe tomatoes. Once they’re red, they’re ready to eat, although the taste becomes even sweeter if you let them continue to grow for another 1-2 weeks.
Enjoy every bite knowing your Click and Grow Mini tomatoes have 2.5 times more antioxidative activity and 2 times more lycopene than any other type of tomato!
For more plant tips, be sure to download the Click & Grow mobile app. Simply register your smart garden and plant on the app and we’ll send you tips to guide you through each stage of your plant’s life cycle.
Growing tomatoes outdoors is a little more complicated and there are a few things to keep in mind. After transplanting young plants to their final growing spot, it usually takes anywhere from 60 days to more than 100 days before you can harvest your tomatoes.
Before growing varieties of tomatoes outside, the first thing to do is make sure you live in a tomato-friendly climate. Tomatoes grow best when the temperature is between 65°F and 85°F during the day. They stop growing if the temperature reaches above 95°F. If you live somewhere with a short growing season, it may be worth starting your plants indoors and transplanting them when the weather warms up.
Click & Grow smart gardens (particularly the Smart Garden 9), are suitable for pre-growing tomato seedlings indoors. You can then plant them outdoors when they’re ready to move out. We offer experimental pods which enable you to do just that. For instance, you can pre-grow tomatoes in your indoor garden during spring and later plant them in a greenhouse once it’s warm enough.
Two of the most popular tomatoes to grow are globe tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. Globe tomatoes are the most common type of tomato – deep red and full sized. Cherry tomatoes are their miniature, bite-sized counterparts.
When researching which tomatoes to plant, it’s also worth noting the difference between determinate tomatoes and indeterminate tomatoes. Determinate tomato plants stop growing at a certain height, whereas indeterminate varieties continue to grow and produce tomatoes throughout the growing season.
Tomato plants are usually started indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date for your area. Transplant them outdoors when the soil reaches about 60°F.
Tomatoes require soil that’s well drained and rich in nutrients. The best tomatoes are still grown in traditional ways by people who understand what theyre doing, so if youre trying this for the first time, don’t be shy to ask around and see if there are some experienced vegetable gardeners who will mentor you.
Here are some quick tips for getting started:
- Choose a spot where tomatoes will get at least 8 hours of sun every day.
- Prepare the soil by digging it up, removing rocks, weeds and roots and adding compost to it. Add organic fertilizer too if you want to increase the yield of your tomato plants.
- Spread the seeds out on top of the soil, about 1 inch apart from each corner to corner.
- Water your seeds every day until they sprout.
- Watch as your tomato seedlings grow up from the ground.
Did you know that tomatoes are made up of about 95% water? They’re undeniably low in carbs. The bulk of their carbohydrates are made up of simple sugars and insoluble fibers.
Tomatoes are also a great source of dietary fiber. An average sized tomato provides you with 1.5 grams of fiber. In addition to that, tomatoes are natural sources of vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and folate.
Studies suggest that tomatoes may improve heart health. An example of this is how tomato products can fight inflammation and signs of oxidative stress. There’s also research that suggests tomatoes promote skin health. For instance, tomato-based foods that are rich in lycopene may protect against sunburn.
Growing tomatoes is a rewarding way to add fresh produce to your diet. Have fun growing them! For further reading, check out our blog post:
4 EASY Ways to Increase Tomato Blooms and Fruit Set!
FAQ
How soon after flowers do you get tomatoes?
Depending on the variety, tomato plants can bear fruit two to three weeks after the flowers are fully open. Several early varieties are bred to bear ripe fruit as early as 50 days from setting out. The average time for most types ranges between 60 and 100 days from when they are sown.
Why are my tomatoes flowering but not fruiting?
Tomato plants require warm temperatures to flourish: 65 to 70 F (18-21 C) during the day, and at least 55 (13 C) at night in order to set fruit. However, if the temperature rises too much (above 85 F (29 C), they will fail to bloom and will not produce fruit.
Should you water tomato plants every day?
Watering tomato plants every day will prevent them from developing a strong root system and sitting in wet soil is an invitation for root rot and other …
Do the flowers on tomato plants turn into tomatoes?
You should see yellow flowers on your tomato plants at 5–7 weeks, and soon after that, you should see some of those flowers turning into little green tomatoes. If you don’t get flowers, you will never get fruit!
How long does it take a tomato plant to flower?
Tomato plants typically begin to flower about 6 to 8 weeks after transplanting, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Flowers must be pollinated to produce fruit. While tomatoes are self-pollinating, encouraging pollinator activity or gently shaking the flowering branches can improve the fruit set.
How long between flowering and fruiting a tomato?
The window of time between flowering and fruiting a tomato is approximately 20 to 60 days. Smaller tomato varieties produce fruit faster than larger ones, so fruit takes approximately five weeks to be ready to harvest once it appears on your plant.
How long does it take a tomato to produce fruit?
The time taken from flowering to fruit development can vary based on several factors. Generally, after a tomato flower blooms, you can expect fruit to appear in about 6 to 8 weeks. However, the exact timing can be influenced by: – **Tomato Variety**: Different varieties of tomatoes take various times to produce fruit after flowering.
How long does a tomato flower last?
This lasts around 20-25 days. Flowering: Yellow tomato flowers start to emerge after 3-4 weeks of growth. Flowering continues for 20+ days. Pollination: Flowers must be pollinated to develop into fruits. This occurs throughout the flowering stage. Fruit Formation: Pollinated flowers form small green fruits which grow over 20-30 days.
When does a tomato plant grow after flowering?
Once you see your tomato plant flower, you know fruiting is not far off. When does a tomato grow after flowering? 25-60 days can be the amount of time your plant takes to fully form the fruit after flowering, depending on conditions.
How long does it take a tomato to grow?
Tomatoes go through four key growth stages on their journey from seed to fruit: Vegetative Growth: The first few weeks after transplanting or sowing seed, the plant focuses on establishing roots and foliage. This lasts around 20-25 days. Flowering: Yellow tomato flowers start to emerge after 3-4 weeks of growth. Flowering continues for 20+ days.