Early Girl Tomato

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Accelerate Your Harvest: Mastering the Art of Growing Early Girl Tomatoes

Among the many tomato varieties available, Early Girl tomatoes stand out as a popular choice for gardeners seeking an early harvest.

Tomatoes are undoubtedly one of the most beloved crops in the home garden and for good reason. Their juicy, vibrant fruits add a burst of flavor to a variety of dishes, making them a staple ingredient for countless recipes.

early girl tomatoes on the vine

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In this blog post, we will explore the wonderful world of Early Girl tomatoes, from planting to harvest, providing you with valuable insights and tips to ensure a bountiful yield.

Understanding Early Girl Tomatoes

Early Girl tomatoes are an indeterminate, beefsteak variety known for their ability to produce an abundant crop relatively early in the growing season.

These tomatoes are renowned for their exceptional flavor, meaty texture, and bright red color. Though they are a beefsteak type tomato they only get about the size of a tennis ball.

They typically mature in approximately 50 to 60 days after transplanting, making them a great option for gardeners who are eager to taste homegrown tomatoes sooner rather than later.

Many other tomatoes mature at 75 to 85 days, so you can see why Early Girl is popular.

Or if you have a short growing season like I do. I grow Early Girl every year but Stupice is fast taking her place!

Stupice tomatoes are another option for early tomatoes. What I like about Stupice is it is open-pollinated.

Meaning you can save your own seeds year after year and grow from them. And its more compact size is suitable for growing in containers.

seed packet with information on Stupice tomatoes and photos of field trials

Choosing the Right Growing Conditions:

To grow healthy and productive Early Girl tomatoes, it’s essential to provide them with optimal growing conditions.

Select a sunny spot in your garden that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Tomatoes thrive in well-draining soil rich in organic matter.

Before planting, amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to enhance its fertility and moisture retention capabilities.

How to Regenerate Your Soil

Use less fertilizer and grow healthy plants that need less water and pampering.

Planting Early Girl Tomatoes:


Early Girl tomatoes can be started from seeds indoors or purchased as seedlings from a nursery or garden center. This is one variety that is almost always available.

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Transplant the seedlings into the garden once all danger of frost has passed, and the soil temperature has reached at least 60°F (15°C).

Space the plants approximately 18 to 24 inches apart to allow for proper air circulation and growth.

See my new trick for starting earlier in this short video!

Providing Adequate Care:

To promote healthy growth and a bountiful harvest, Early Girl tomatoes require consistent care.

Here are some essential tips:

Watering:

Tomatoes need regular watering to thrive, especially during dry spells.

Aim for deep, thorough watering once or twice a week to ensure the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Mulching around the plants helps retain moisture and prevent weed growth.

Fertilization:

Fertilize your Early Girl tomatoes with a balanced organic tomato fertilizer or compost tea once a month to provide them with the necessary nutrients.

Avoid over-fertilization, as it can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of fruit production.

For more on tomato fertilizers read the article devoted to that subject.

Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes

The Ultimate Guide to Tomato Fertilizer for Delicious Harvests and why you may not need to add any!

Pruning and Support:

Most varieties of Early Girl tomatoes I have seen available at garden centers are the regular vining type that can reach 8 feet tall so good support is essential.

However, there is also a bush form that gets a mere 3 feet tall and may suit your situation better.

Now what about pruning, well here is where I and many other mainstream garden sites part ways. Read all about Pruning or Not Pruning your Tomatoes and see why.

Pruning Tomatoes, Why or Why Not!

Here we will explore what tomato suckers are, the myth surrounding pruning them, and the truth about whether or not it actually increases yield.

Pest and Disease Control:

Monitor your plants regularly for common tomato pests such as aphids, tomato hornworms, and whiteflies.

Utilize organic pest control methods such as handpicking, insecticidal soaps, or neem oil if necessary.

To prevent diseases like blight or wilt, avoid overhead watering and ensure proper spacing for good airflow.

Learn about interplanting to prevent garden pests from damaging your crops here: Plant Partners

Harvesting Early Girl Tomatoes:

Early Girl tomatoes are ready for harvest when their skin turns a deep, vibrant red and they yield slightly to gentle pressure.

Depending on your climate, the first fruits may be ready as early as midsummer. To avoid damaging the plant, gently twist or cut the ripe tomatoes from the vine, leaving a small portion of the stem attached.

Harvesting regularly encourages the plant to continue producing more tomatoes throughout the season.

Raw Organic Red Beefsteak Tomatoes Ready for Cooking sitting on a wood board with slicing knife next to it

Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor:

One of the greatest rewards of growing Early Girl tomatoes is savoring their delicious flavor and incorporating them into your culinary creations.

From fresh salads and salsas to homemade sauces and roasted dishes, the possibilities are endless.

The rich, tangy taste of homegrown Early Girl tomatoes will undoubtedly elevate the flavor of any dish.

Refreshing Tomato Cucumber Salad

This simple salad combines the sweetness of ripe tomatoes with the crispness of fresh cucumbers, creating a light and refreshing side dish that’s perfect for any meal or occasion.!

How to Save Tomato Seeds:

If you want to continue growing Early Girl tomatoes in the following seasons, you have to buy fresh seeds or plants each year.

Hybrids such as Early Girl tomatoes are the result of cross-breeding two plants to achieve a particular result. That means you can’t save the seed and harvest the same type of tomato.

In that case, I would go with the Stupice tomato which is open-pollinated and you can save seed each year.

One way to save tomato seeds is to select fully ripe tomatoes and scoop out the gel and seeds. Place it into a jar, and add a little water.

Allow the mixture to ferment for a few days until a mold layer forms on top. Rinse the seeds, dry them thoroughly, and store them in a cool, dry place in an airtight container.

tomato seeds in a mans hand

Growing Early Girl tomatoes can be a delightful and rewarding experience for any home gardener.

With their early maturity, exceptional flavor, and reliable productivity, these tomatoes are a popular choice among tomato enthusiasts.

By providing them with the right growing conditions, proper care, and a little patience, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful harvest of juicy, vibrant tomatoes that will make your taste buds sing.

So, roll up your sleeves, dig into the soil, and get ready to enjoy the abundant fruits of your Early Girl tomato plants.

Happy gardening!

Hi, I’m Pamela

I am a 40-year master gardening enthusiast who loves to share the simple tips, tricks, and inspiration I have learned from personal experience.
My goal is to cultivate the love of gardening and help make your gardening life more enjoyable!
a Garden Friend!

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