Houston’s Fall Tomato Guide

Everything you need to know about starting tomatoes this fall in Houston!

When to plant:

We like to plant tomato transplants the last week of August through the second week of September. Missing this window can mean a killing freeze might hit before your tomatoes have had time to grow!

Where to plant:

Tomatoes need full sun - at least 6-8 hours per day. We’d say this is the most common mistake Houston gardeners make when it comes to growing tomatoes. If tomatoes are not in full sun, you’ll get a pretty decent plant - but little to no tomatoes. Remember, as we move into the fall months, the sun lies down to the South as it rises and falls each day. So, if you have something tall to the south of your tomato plants (a tree or another house), by mid-fall, your garden will be getting little to no sun each day.

Difference between determinant and indeterminate tomatoes:

The main difference between determinate (bush) and indeterminate (pole) tomatoes is the size of the plants and the duration of the fruiting period. Determinate plants usually grow to a specific size and produce a set amount of fruit.  The tomatoes usually ripens all around the same time. Indeterminates will grow until a killing frost, producing fruit as new growth develops.  To know if your tomato plant is a determinate or indeterminate - check your plant tag.  It will usually tell you! If it doesn’t, simply google the variety you are purchasing, and it will tell you if it’s a determinate or indeterminate.

Trellising: 

Tomatoes are not natural climbers, but if they are not properly tied up the fruit tends to rot on the ground.  Without trellising, there is not as much airflow around the stems which leads to a greater chance of contracting diseases. Most tomatoes, even determinate tomatoes (tomatoes that stop growing), need a trellis larger than the typical “tomato cage” you find at most stores. Our obelisks, panels, and arches are all good options that can handle the weight of the fruiting plants the entire season!  Each obelisk is designed to not only be gorgeous in your garden, but to be tall enough and strong enough to handle your tomato plants. Click HERE to see our trellis options!  

Favorite varieties: 

We recommend growing cherry-type tomatoes over the larger slicers during the fall because they produce more and ripen quicker. Our favorite cherry/grape types are: Sungold, Juliet, and Super Sweet 100. If you want slicer tomatoes, our favorites are: Cherokee purple, Roma, Early Girl, and Celebrity.  In the fall, especially, cherry tomatoes are a guarantee since they will produce before a freeze.  We still plant slicer tomatoes in the fall, but we prepare ourselves for heartbreak if we get an early freeze and don’t get as many tomatoes as we wanted!

How long until harvest:

There can be a large range for when your tomatoes will be ready to harvest depending on the variety you plant. Seed packs, or a quick google search, will usually have “days to maturity” listed. Keep in mind that the number starts after you put the transplant in the ground, not when you put the seed in soil. The quickest harvests usually come from our favorite cherry or determinate types, starting around 65 days after transplant. Larger heirlooms like Cherokee purple could take 90 days. 

Care tips:

Tomatoes are very disease prone, especially here in our humid Houston climate. Keeping plants pruned to one or two stems will help increase the airflow around your plants and greatly reduce the chance of disease occurring. We like to remove the bottom 10-18” of stems and foliage from each plant. It’s important to water at the base of your plants instead of spraying the foliage with water. This watering technique will reduce the spread of fungal diseases. Lastly, consistent watering (using drip line) and regular fertilization should keep your plants happy and healthy (see specifics in our downloadable pdf below). Be sure to add fresh compost when you start your tomatoes.

Growing tomatoes on your patio!

That’s right! You can grow tomatoes on your patio - no garden or green thumb required. We’re making it easy for Houston to grow tomatoes, no matter where you live! Order one of our tomato planters HERE! We’ll even walk you through exactly how to care for your tomato planters on Instagram the entire fall season!

What to do if it freezes:

Short answer - hug your tomato plants and tell them good-bye.  Tomatoes do not like a hard freeze!  Always harvest any green tomatoes from the plant before a freeze or before covering. Bring all the tomatoes inside to ripen.  Tomatoes left on the plant during a freeze will be inedible.  As a general rule, we do not cover tomato plants when it freezes (because trust us, it never works).

Want to get your tomato plants off to a great start this fall? Download Monarch’s “Houston’s Fall Tomato Guide.”