All gardeners understand the virtue of patience – but if your homegrown tomatoes only start to warm up near the end of the season, then it's time for a rethink. Early tomatoes are typically ripe and ready to harvest just 50-65 days after transplanting. They’re especially valuable in cooler climates with short growing seasons, but they are also prized by growers in warmer regions who want to beat the high heat of summer or extend their growing season by planting varieties that mature at different times.
But, when learning how to grow tomatoes, flavor is everything – otherwise, what's the point? Unfortunately, early tomatoes don’t have the best reputation, with speed often coming at the expense of that rich, complex flavor found in midsummer fruit. If you want to make tomato plants faster while avoiding a bland, watery crop, then it’s all about which types of tomatoes you choose. Some early varieties excel in both flavor and performance, giving that perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
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Best Early Tomato Varieties
Cherry tomatoes, in particular, have much to offer early-season growers, as their small fruits mature more quickly than larger varieties. However, there is plenty of choice for slicing and sandwich tomatoes, and even options for beefsteaks and paste tomatoes, enabling you to get the best of both worlds. You can also choose between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes, depending on whether you want a repeat crop or a glut for cooking.
If you are a fan of heirloom tomatoes, then look for varieties that originate from cooler climates, as these tend to be the first to crop, and can cope with colder weather than many hybrids.
Grow a speedy harvest that won’t disappoint your palate with our pick of early tomatoes that are super fast, delicious, high-yielding, and resistant to common tomato diseases.
1. Supersweet 100
Cherry tomatoes are among the quickest to mature, often producing ripe fruit in just 55-65 days after transplanting. They are also some of the sweetest-tasting tomatoes you can grow – and few taste as good as Supersweet 100 cherry tomatoes, available in the Gardening Know How Shop.
This must-grow hybrid variety produces cascading clusters of delightful bright red tomatoes with the most intense sweet flavor. It is also prized for high yields and boasts a higher vitamin C content than any other tomato, making it an even healthier choice.
In addition, growing Supersweet 100 tomatoes is a breeze – it's a perfect container tomato and is resistant to diseases including verticillium wilt and fusarium wilt.
2. Sungold
Another superior cherry tomato that is early to crop is Sungold, famous for its vibrant golden-orange color. Its complex flavor perfectly balances sweetness and acidity and develops as the season progresses. Sungold is quick to mature in just 55-65 days from transplant.
The plants are vigorous growers and highly productive, yielding long vines of tomatoes from midsummer until the end of the season. They perform well in containers and make an excellent tomato hanging basket.
Additionally, Sungold is resistant to tomato cracking and resilient to several diseases, including verticillium wilt, fusarium, tobacco mosaic virus, and tomato yellow leaf curl.
3. Early Girl
Think of a globed-shaped tomato with a classic flavor and texture that’s versatile for eating and slicing – but won’t overpower – and that’s what you get with Early Girl, available in the Shop. The fruits taste just like the tomatoes you’re familiar with from the grocery store – but much better as they’re fresh from the garden.
This early cropping variety is ready to eat just 57 days from transplant and keeps going all season long. The plants are heavy producers, so will need plenty of support from a trellis or cage, and are resistant to common diseases, like verticillium and fusarium wilts. If you're a beginner, then growing Early Girl tomatoes is a great place to start.
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4. Glacier
Producing ripe fruit in as little as 50 days from transplant, Glacier is an ultra-early determinate heirloom variety that thrives in cool climates, fruiting in temperatures where most other varieties struggle.
The tomatoes are small to medium-sized and have a surprisingly developed flavor that belies their speedy growth rate. Reminiscent of peak summer tomatoes, Glacier have a rich, complex flavor that beautifully balances sweetness and acidity. While not technically a paste tomato, its meaty texture makes it perfect for sauces as well as slicing.
In addition to a speedy harvest, Glacier produces a generous crop and is resistant to diseases including verticillium wilt, fusarium, tobacco mosaic virus, and rust.
5. Fourth of July
True to its name, Fourth of July is one of the earliest slicing tomatoes, ripening in as little as 50 days, meaning you can enjoy feasting on fresh homegrown tomatoes by Independence Day.
The hybrid indeterminate variety yields a generous crop of small to medium-sized bright red tomatoes that are slightly larger than cherry tomatoes and perfect for slicing. It keeps going throughout the growing season, too, continuously setting fruit.
You don’t have to compromise on flavor as Fourth of July offers a classic, well-balanced taste that’s sweet with a touch of acidity. Additionally, it’s a reliable performing tomato that’s adaptable to various climates and resistant to verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, root-knot nematodes, and tobacco mosaic virus.
6. Gregori’s Altai
For a reliable early beefsteak tomato, you can’t beat Gregori’s Altai. This superb indeterminate heirloom variety flourishes in cooler climates and produces ripe fruit in just 55-60 days after transplanting.
While most early tomatoes are on the smaller side, Gregori’s Alti are large, attractive pink-red beefsteaks that boast a complex deep yet sweet flavor that’s perfectly balanced. Plants are vigorous and highly productive, fruiting throughout the season.
What’s more, the variety is adaptable to both cooler and warmer climates, and has strong resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and nematodes.
More Growing Inspiration
- Choose the most delicious tomato varieties in the Gardening Know How Shop to take your vegetable garden to the next level.
- Find out when to plant a vegetable garden with the best time to start for a bountiful harvest.
- Fancy something different? Try these tasty purple tomato varieties that you can grow at home to brighten your plate.
- Learn how to grow basil in water and try no-mess hydroponics for fresh harvests year-round.
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