How to Grow Early Girl Tomatoes: A Guide to Planting, Care, and Harvest

Early Girl tomatoes are popular among home gardeners due to their early maturity and delicious flavor. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a beginner, learning how to grow and care for Early Girl tomatoes can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. This article will guide you through the step-by-step process, from selecting the right seeds to harvesting a bountiful crop.

How to Grow Early Girl Tomatoes

Early Girl Tomato Variety Overview

Color and texture: Round, tennis ball-sized deep red tomatoes
Is Early Girl tomato determinate or indeterminate?: Though this is an indeterminate variety, the Early Girl tomato is known to do quite well in containers.
Early Girl tomato size: 110 to 230 grams
Early Girl tomato yield per plant: An average of 300 tomatoes from each Early Girl tomato plant
Are Early Girl tomatoes heirloom?: Early Girl Tomatoes are not heirloom tomatoes. They are modern hybrid tomatoes.
Early Girl tomato days to maturity: 50-62 Days
When to plant Early Girl tomatoes?: Early to mid-May and when the danger of frost has passed and soil has had a chance to warm.

Best Soil Conditions for Growing Early Girl Tomatoes

Providing the right soil conditions is crucial to ensure the healthy growth of early girl tomatoes. These tomatoes thrive in well-drained soil with a pH level between 6.2 and 6.8. Amend the soil with organic matter, such as vermicompost or aged manure, to improve its fertility and drainage. Additionally, adding a layer of organic mulch around the plants can retain moisture and prevent weed growth.

Starting Early Girl Tomato Seeds Indoors

Growing Early Girl tomatoes in pots from seed is easy and will provide an even earlier fruit harvest. Here’s how,

Indoors, sow the tomato seeds 8 weeks before the last frost. Cover lightly with soil.
Keep the soil moist and warm.
Once seedlings appear, provide plenty of light in a bright windowsill or under grow lights.
When it is safe to move them outdoors, begin hardening off the plants about a week before planting them in the garden.
Once the seedlings are hardened off, plant the tomatoes in rich, fertile soil in full sun.

Transplanting Early Girl Tomato Seedlings in Pots

To transplant tomato seedlings after germination, once the seedlings have developed their first true leaves and all threat of frost has passed, then Transplanting tomato seedlings to bigger pots is needed. When transplanting, space the seedlings at least 2 feet apart for proper air circulation and growth. Gently remove the tomato seedlings from their containers, taking care not to damage the roots, and plant them at the same depth as they were in the seed trays.

Providing Adequate Sunlight for Early Girl Tomatoes

The Early Girl tomato thrives on lots of sunshine. Place this plant where it can receive full sun for healthy flowering and fruit production. Avoid areas shaded by trees, buildings, or other structures, as these can limit the amount of sunlight the plants receive. Prioritize a spot that is open and receives sunlight throughout the day.

Watering Requirements for Early Girl Tomatoes

These tomatoes have medium to low watering requirements. They are great for dry-land farming or gardening with less water to produce highly flavorful fruit. Water near the soil to avoid getting the leaves and stems wet. This will help prevent fungus and rot. Check the soil to gauge when the plant needs to be watered. Water when the soil is slightly moist or dry. Container-grown tomatoes will need more frequent watering than those in the ground.

Fertilizing Early Girl Tomato Plants

The main reason for smaller tomato fruits is the stressed plants. It may happen under different circumstances, including lack of water, high temperature, heavy shading, root damage, excessive fertilization, mislabelling of plants, and poor pollination. To promote optimal growth and fruit production, it is important to fertilize early girl tomato plants.

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Before planting, add a slow-release fertilizer into the soil according to the package instructions. Once the plants produce fruits, apply a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Avoid over-fertilizing, as it can result in excessive foliage growth instead of fruit production. Regularly keep an eye on your plants for any symptoms of nutrient deficiencies and adjust the fertilization accordingly.

Pruning and Supporting Early Girl Tomato Plants

Caged tomatoes require less pruning than staked tomatoes. Caged plants may not produce ripe tomatoes as early as staked plants, but the tomatoes they produce are less likely to suffer from sunburn or cracking. As shoots develop, lift and direct them upwards through the cage. Removing the lowest branches and leaves is important, as these are most likely to become infected by soil-borne diseases.

Supporting: Vines grow to 6 feet (1.8 m.) tall. You will need sturdy supports, either tomato stakes or cages, to hold them because each can produce heavy yields.

Managing Pests and Diseases in Early Girl Tomatoes

Aphids: These small, soft-bodied insects feed on the plant’s sap, causing stunted growth and distorted leaves. Release ladybugs in the garden as they feed on aphids and other small insects.
Tomato Hornworms: These large green caterpillars can quickly defoliate a tomato plant. Encourage parasitic wasps, such as Trichogramma, which lay their eggs inside caterpillar eggs, effectively controlling tomato hornworm populations.

Diseases

Early Blight: This fungal disease is characterized by dark, concentric rings on the foliage and stems. Applying a fungicide containing copper can help control the disease. Additionally, removing and disposing of infected plant debris can help prevent the spread of early blight.

Late Blight: It is a devastating disease that can quickly destroy tomato plants. Dark, water-soaked lesions on leaves characterize it, stems, and fruit. To manage late blight, Fungicides containing copper or chlorothalonil can be applied preventively, especially during periods of high humidity.

Harvesting and Storing Early Girl Tomatoes

For the best flavor, allow tomatoes to ripen fully on the vine. Early Girl tomatoes darken to an even deep red color when ripe. Ripe tomatoes are often easy to pull from the vine by hand. Grip the tomato in one hand and use the other hand to hold the stem just above the point where the tomato attaches, then gently pull. If the tomato is ripe by does not come off by hand, use garden snips or pruning shears to cut the tomatoes from the stem.

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Tomatoes should be stored in a cool and dry place like a refrigerator to extend their shelf life, but they lose flavor and develop a mealy texture. It is best to store tomatoes at room temperature. When you harvest more tomatoes than you can eat, canning and freezing provide ideal storage options.

Conclusion

By following above discussed guidelines, you can successfully grow and care for Early Girl tomatoes from seed to harvest. Providing the right soil conditions, selecting the appropriate variety, starting seeds indoors, transplanting seedlings, ensuring adequate sunlight, proper watering, and timely fertilization will all contribute to a bountiful harvest of delicious early girl tomatoes.

How to Grow Early Girl Tomatoes: A Guide to Planting, Care, and Harvest