Crops › Main Season Tomato
How to grow Main Season Tomato
in the US
Sow February to March, plant out April, harvest May to June. About 72 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Main season tomatoes, they're the heart of summer, aren't they? Nothing beats a freshly picked tomato, bursting with flavor, straight from your own patch. They're pretty straightforward to grow, a real joy on the plot, honestly.
Sowing
You'll want to start these beauties indoors, oh yes, about 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost. Get some good seed starting mix in small pots or trays, sow the seeds about a quarter-inch deep, and keep 'em warm, 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is spot on. They're quick to pop up, usually within a week or so. Folks in warmer areas, USDA Zones 8 and 9, can get cracking in January or February. If you're in Zones 6 or 7, February or March is your window. And for those in Zone 5, March or April will be just right.
Growing on
Once your seedlings have their first proper leaves, 'prick 'em out' into bigger pots, giving them a bit more room to grow strong. Before you plant them outside, you must harden them off for a week or ten days, just to get them used to the fresh air and cooler nights. Wait until all danger of frost has passed for good, then transplant them into a nice sunny spot with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Get your stakes in straight away, see, so you don't damage the roots later on.
Looking after it
Tomatoes are hungry plants, so give 'em a good feed every two to three weeks once they start fruiting, you know, a proper liquid feed. Keep an eye on the watering too, consistent moisture is key, so drip irrigation or a good mulch really helps stop the soil drying out. A bit of light pruning, just to improve airflow and stop them getting too bushy, keeps things healthy.
What goes wrong
You'll likely bump into a few pests like hornworms, aphids, or whiteflies; just pick them off or wash them away with a bit of soapy water. Cutworms can be a pain for young plants, so a collar around the stem helps. Keep an eye out for foliar diseases, good airflow and consistent watering with mulch helps prevent them and stops those fruits from cracking too.
Harvest
From sowing to your first harvest is usually about 72 days, so you'll be picking from late spring right through summer. Pick them when they're fully colored and feel a bit soft, but not mushy. Don't put 'em in the fridge, mind; they lose their flavor. Keep 'em at room temperature, around 55-70 degrees Fahrenheit, and they'll be good for a week. Got a glut? Make some cracking sauce!
To be honest, I always plant a few basil plants right next to my tomatoes. They say it makes the tomatoes taste even better, and it certainly smells lovely when I'm tending the plot.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Celebrity This is a real workhorse, a widely adapted hybrid that's tough as old boots and resists many common diseases. If you want dependable yields without too much fuss, 'Celebrity' is a cracking choice for any garden. | No club votes yet |
| Bush Celebrity A proper compact version of the classic, great if you're short on space or growing in containers. You'll still get a good, dependable yield of tasty fruit, perfect for smaller backyards. | No club votes yet |
| Jet Star If you're after a lovely slicer that doesn't split on you, 'Jet Star' is your plant; it's known for being crack-resistant. It's also a low-acid type, which some folks really appreciate for fresh eating. | No club votes yet |
| Mountain Fresh Plus These are big, uniform fruits, bred especially for performance out in the field, so they're pretty robust. If you're growing a lot for market or just want consistently sized, good-looking tomatoes, this one's a winner. | No club votes yet |
| Better Boy A real classic hybrid, 'Better Boy' offers that balanced tomato flavor everyone loves, with plenty of vigor in the plant. It's a reliable choice for consistent, tasty harvests all season long. | No club votes yet |
| Big Beef As the name suggests, 'Big Beef' gives you heavy yields of large, meaty fruits, and it comes with a strong disease package too. It's a great all-rounder if you're looking for a substantial harvest and healthy plants. | No club votes yet |
| Park’s Whopper This one's famous for its really large, flavorful fruits and it keeps on producing for an extended harvest period. If you want big, juicy tomatoes and don't mind a bit of a wait, 'Park's Whopper' will certainly deliver. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Main Season Tomato seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | January to April | April to July |
| Zone 4 | January to April | April to July |
| Zone 5 | March to April | June to July |
| Zone 6 | February to March | May to June |
| Zone 7 | February to March | May to June |
| Zone 8 | January to February | April to May |
| Zone 9 | January to February | April to May |
| Zone 10 | January to April | April to July |
Cook the harvest
The benchmark for every other sandwich. When main season tomatoes are at their peak, a BLT isn't just a sandwich — it's the reason summer exists. Thick slices of ripe tomato, crispy bacon, iceberg lettuce, and just enough mayonnaise on well-toasted bread. No substitutions. No improvements.
20 min · easyA velvety, cream-enriched tomato soup made from roasted main season tomatoes — deeper, richer, and more complex than anything from a can. Roasting concentrates the tomatoes and caramelizes their sugars, creating a bisque with remarkable natural sweetness and body. The quintessential American comfort soup, made properly.
65 min · easyHollowed-out main season tomatoes stuffed with a savory herb rice filling and baked until the tomatoes are tender and slightly collapsed. A satisfying vegetarian main course that makes the most of large, perfect late-summer tomatoes. Serve warm with a green salad.
60 min · mediumRipe main season tomatoes slow-roasted in olive oil with garlic and herbs until they're transformed into glossy, silky, intensely flavored jewels that are worth having in the refrigerator at all times. Spread on toast, toss with pasta, add to salads, or eat them directly from the jar — tomato confit is the preparation that makes summer last all autumn.
100 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: Basil, Marigolds, Carrots, Onions
Questions people ask
When do you sow Main Season Tomato in the US?
Sow Main Season Tomato from February to March in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out April, after the last frost.
How long does Main Season Tomato take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 72 days, with the harvest May to June.
Which Main Season Tomato varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Celebrity, Bush Celebrity, Jet Star, Mountain Fresh Plus and more.
Track your Main Season Tomato from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.