Early Girl Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Early Girl'
vegetableEarly Girl is a popular early hybrid valued for ripening its first medium-sized, globe-shaped slicing tomatoes in just 50 to 60 days from transplant, weeks ahead of most varieties. The indeterminate vines keep producing reliable, full-flavored fruit all season, making it a dependable choice for short-season gardens or anyone impatient for the first ripe tomato.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~55 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
24-36 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1/4 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At transplant, then every 3-4 weeks at fruit set
Fertilizer
Balanced 5-10-10, low nitrogen
🌱 Growing Guide
Start seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and transplant after the soil warms past 60F and nights stay above 55F, setting plants deep. Give full sun, fertile well-drained soil, and a cage or stake for the indeterminate vines, removing suckers if you want larger fruit. Keep moisture even and mulch to prevent blossom-end rot and cracking.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 4
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Jun 23
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Basil — Repels thrips and whiteflies and may improve flavor
- Borage — Attracts pollinators and the parasitic wasps that prey on hornworms
- French Marigold — Suppresses root-knot nematodes in the soil
- Carrots — Different root depth uses bed space efficiently
❌ Keep away from
BrassicasFennel
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Interplant dill, borage, or basil to draw parasitic wasps; handpick at dusk; rotate nightshades yearly
Keep soil moisture even and calcium adequate; mulch to buffer the soil
Mulch to stop soil splash, prune lower leaves for airflow, avoid overhead watering
🌾 Harvest & storage
Begin picking as early as 50 to 60 days after transplanting, taking fruit when it is fully colored and firm. Pick every few days through the season, and ripen any end-of-season green fruit indoors before frost.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Tomatoes are low in calories and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin A, and they are the leading source of lycopene, the red antioxidant linked to heart and prostate health that the body absorbs better from cooked tomatoes.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Eat the ripe fruit only. Tomato leaves and stems (and large amounts of very unripe green fruit) contain solanine-type compounds and are not for eating.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.