Learn How To Grow Tomatoes

Learn how to grow tomatoes, especially if you live in Texas or another warm area. You cannot wait until spring here to start your plants.

Learn How To Grow Tomatoes - 11/17-11/23/25

Grow Tomatoes - Introduction To Texas

The Tycoon is a hybrid beefsteak tomato that has disease resistance. This is David's favorite tomato and a best seller.The Tycoon is a hybrid beefsteak tomato that has disease resistance. It tastes pretty good, too. This is David's favorite tomato and a best seller.

If you garden in Texas, you already know we play by different rules. The heat is fierce, the seasons run fast, and tomatoes will not wait. You have to beat the heat to win.

Here’s the simple truth: you can grow beautiful, delicious tomatoes in Texas if you do it early enough in the year. The trick is to plant before and after the heat.

This guide shows you how to grow tomatoes from seed in Texas starting plants in early January for spring planting. The seeds should come from the best seed company in Texas, David's Garden Seeds® and can include beefsteak tomato, slicing tomato, cherry tomato, grape tomato, paste tomato, plum tomato seeds.

Texas has many climates. The Gulf Coast is humid and warm. Central Texas swings hot and dry. South Central Texas (where we live) is even hotter and drier. The Panhandle can freeze hard. None match the rest of the USA for tomatoes. El Paso is a dry desert that can have snowfall but very little rain. I lived there for 16 years. 

Grow Tomatoes - Work Around The Heat

Sun Gold cherry tomatoes are sweet and delicious. They produce a lot of tomatoes, especially during the fall season. These are my favorites.Sun Gold cherry tomatoes are sweet and delicious. They produce a lot of tomatoes, especially during the fall season. These are my favorites.

Tomato plants shut down when daytime temperatures hit 95 degrees or more. In many parts of Texas, that happens by May. So you must grow fast in spring and again in fall.

Your plan is simple: start seeds indoors in early January. Transplant in March. Harvest in April and May. Start seeds again in July. Transplant in late September. Harvest in fall until frost.

Why timing matters: high heat stops pollen from working. Flowers drop. Fruit will not set when days are hot and nights stay warm. Beat that window and you get big harvests.

Again, choose seeds from David’s Garden Seeds®. They offer beefsteak, slicing, cherry, grape, paste, and plum tomato types. Pick a mix so you have fresh eating and sauce tomatoes.

Decide on growth habit. Determinate plants finish faster and stay shorter. Indeterminate plants keep growing and need strong support. For spring in Texas, early and mid-season types help. For instance, you might have better luck with a variety with Early in the name like Early Girl. Tip: Any time you see the world "early" in the name of the variety, it is for early spring growing, not fall growing.)

Think about days to maturity. Early types (about 60 to 75 days) often pay off before the heat. In fall, early types also help you beat the first frost.

Grow Tomatoes - Start Them Indoors

Tomato seedlings that David has started. We usually sell hundreds of these in February and March because people are afraid to start their own.Tomato seedlings that David has started. We usually sell hundreds of these in February and March because people are afraid to start their own.

Grow Tomatoes - Fall Crop

Here are some fall tomatoes that David transplanted into a hoop house with shade cloth. Even in fall, it is way too hot here so you have to protect your plants.Here are some fall tomatoes that David transplanted into a hoop house with shade cloth. Even in fall, it is way too hot here so you have to protect your plants.

Now, plan your fall crop. Start seeds indoors in July under grow lights. This avoids outdoor heat that blocks germination and burns seedlings.

By late September, set your young plants outside. The sun is softer. Nights cool off. Fruit set starts again.

Protect fall plants from the first early cold. Keep frost cloth, row cover, or a small tunnel ready. These can stretch your season by weeks.

If your spring plants survive the summer with shade and care, they may bloom again in fall. But many gardeners pull up their spring plants and replant in September for stronger fall yields. Why? Because it takes a lot of water to keep those plants alive all summer long.

Grow Tomatoes - Container Gardening

David always grows some large tomatoes in pots.David always grows some large tomatoes in pots.

Containers work well in Texas when you grow tomatoes. Use at least 10 gallons for determinate types and 15 to 20 gallons for indeterminates. Bigger pots hold moisture longer.

Container soil dries fast in heat. Water daily in warm, windy weather. Add mulch on top of the pot to hold moisture.

Plan for succession. Mix early and mid-season types from David’s Garden Seeds. That way, you get steady harvests in spring and fall windows.

Keep records. Note sowing dates, transplant dates, first flowers, and first ripe fruit. This helps you fine-tune your timing next year.

Grow Tomatoes - Troubleshooting

Look at this beautiful sliced tomato. Yes, this is one of ours. That is my plate and my ceramic knives.Look at this beautiful sliced tomato. Yes, this is one of ours. That is my plate and my ceramic knives.

Troubleshooting: yellow lower leaves often mean stress or lack of nitrogen. Feed lightly and check water. Make sure roots are not waterlogged.

Troubleshooting: flowers but no fruit usually means heat. At 95 degrees and above, fruit set stops. Use shade cloth and wait for a cooler stretch.

Troubleshooting: fruit cracks after heavy rain. Mulch well and water consistently. Harvest earlier if storms are coming.

Troubleshooting: blossom end rot on first fruits. Keep watering steady, avoid root damage, and add calcium only if your soil test shows a need.

One more time so you remember: grow tomatoes from seed in Texas starting plants in early January for spring planting. The seeds should come from David's Garden Seeds and can include beefsteak tomato, slicing tomato, cherry tomato, grape tomato, paste tomato, plum tomato seeds.

I live in the Texas heat and learned this rhythm the hard way. Start early, harvest fast, pause for summer, then start again. Follow this plan, use quality seeds from David’s Garden Seeds, and you will grow Texas tomatoes that make you proud.

Monday, November 17, 2025

My big mouth is open on my newborn hospital photo. I had jet black hair when I was born. It went totally light blonde when I was 2 and then went to a golden brown.My big mouth is open on my newborn hospital photo. I had jet black hair when I was born. It went totally light blonde when I was 2 and then went to a golden brown.

A big Happy Birthday to me! I wanted to go to Hermann Sons Steakhouse because David said they have changed everything up. Well, we found out they are closed on Mondays so I will have to wait until tomorrow. 

Kitty is playing with her new toy--a ball with a fuzzy tail.Kitty is playing with her new toy--a ball with a fuzzy tail.

So I was sitting here at my desk enjoying myself this morning when David reminded me that Samantha Kitty has a vet appointment at 8:30am. I got dressed and made myself presentable, went over and fed her and then put her in the cat carrier.

I loaded her up in the truck and we took off. Her post-op exam was good and two stitches were removed. Then she had to have two booster shots. I got out of there paying just $98 this time and I got a free sample of Hill Science Diet kitty food as well as some fun Nerf cat toys that were given to us for free. 

Then we stopped in at McDonald's for breakfast and I got my new favorite breakfast sandwich--steak and egg on a bagel. If you haven't tried it, I am telling you it is so good! The onions are so tasty with the steak and cheese. I am stuffed out of my mind.

Now we are home and Samantha meowed all the way there and all the way home. She is out of the carrier and happy.

David is taking the truck over to Brown Dodge service department in Devine because for some reason, the brakes are grinding something awful.

It is time for me to get to work.

Someone brought us a delicious brisket. We enjoyed some of it for lunch and will enjoy more this evening.

We had one customer at the end of the day, around 4pm, while David was picking up his truck. The brakes cost more than $600.

The goat pen got some new walls. Both of the bungee cords that keep the doors open broke today. I went back there as the sun was going down. Lucy and Ethel were trapped in the back as the door closed. They were bleating for their mother who paced back and forth. I opened the door and got them out of there. I brought fresh hay, food, and got them fresh water. I will take new bungee cords out in the morning.

In the chicken coop, I got four eggs. The sun has gone down now so I will not be going out in the dark to fall or trip over snakes and die.

I was hoping to get to do some things in the house today but there was no time. It is now 6pm so I will be going in for the day. Matthew and David are still working but I am just done.

The sun is going down over the chicken coop.The sun is going down over the chicken coop.

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Grow tomatoes like the Cherokee Purple, a tasty beefsteak. It also comes in green. The Cherokee green stays green when ripe.Grow tomatoes like the Cherokee Purple, a tasty beefsteak. It also comes in green. The Cherokee green stays green when ripe.

Good morning. I had some very vivid and weird dreams in the night. At least I did not have neuropathy. 

I ordered myself a steam cleaner and it came yesterday. I have not had a chance to use it yet but I have a lot of things to steam clean. 

I pulled and filled orders all morning. We shut down for a late lunch. David and Matt took me out to Hondo to eat at Hermann Sons. The food was delicious. They have changed up the menu and made it a bit nicer inside. We had a good time. Normally when we go there, we meet friends or family but now most of them either have passed on or no longer speak to us... Anyway, it was fun.

On the way home, my left foot had an attack of neuropathy. I pulled some magnesium lotion out of my purse and put it on but it still lasted a while. We got home and I changed shoes and started counting seeds. 

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Well, I got all of life's answers in one sentence today. That explains so much. 

I got up to find out that we are going to Carrizo Springs today but we will not be going to Longview tomorrow because it is supposed to rain heavily. I did not want to go on that very long trip. I hope it pours and pours. We really need the rain. However, most of the time, the weatherman exaggerates and we get very little. It is supposed to start today and rain through Monday...We will see.

I made an egg sandwich on whole wheat with cheese. It was good. Time to start the day.

I believe we were told they have over 200 acres used for onion starts and commercial cantaloupes. The place was huge. They have so many varieties of onion starts.I believe we were told they have over 200 acres used for onion starts and commercial cantaloupes. The place was huge. They have so many varieties of onion starts.

We went to visit Dixondale and pick up our onion start order. A manager named Zach gave us a tour and then drove us out to the farm and showed us around a bit. It was interesting.

David is standing out on one of the many onion start fields at Dixondale.David is standing out on one of the many onion start fields at Dixondale.

We got back around 2pm and I did orders and started counting seeds. I wish I had stayed home. 

The humidity today is ugly. Supposedly we will see some rain tonight.

I am now waiting on a roast in the InstantPot. I am starving. There was no place to eat anything between here and Carrizo Springs. We survived on chips and a hot dog from a convenience store. I wanted some sweet relish to go with the mustard but I could not get the pack to open so I put it back.

We got four eggs this evening.

Thursday, November 20, 2025

We've put together a Rainbow Beefsteak tomato pack so you can grow a lovely variety of colors.We've put together a Rainbow Beefsteak tomato pack so you can grow a lovely variety of colors. Grow tomatoes for fun with this seed pack.

Good morning. We got zero rain last night but we were assured that those 4am rain showers would be something. There were no rain showers at all. Now they tell us we will get some tonight. Ha!

It is hot and humid again today. The sky is overcast.

Fifty years ago this morning, our family was driven to JFK Airport by limousine. We got on an American Airlines flight to El Paso, Texas and our lives were forever changed. My father worked for IBM (I've Been Moved) and for the first and last time, we were. It was complete culture shock in every way. There is nothing in Texas that is like it is in New York.

As a teen, it was very difficult for me. I was seen as a novelty with an accent who said everything funny. No one wanted to be friends with me. They all wanted me to say things and then laugh. Also, how dare I have the name Juanita and not be a Mexican. It was a very rough time for the entire family.

The air feels breezy and cool now. I am grateful. It is 9am. Sam the kitty came to the house to get me. She was hungry.

We had no customers at all again. Another thing we did not have is rain. Not a single drop. 

We made delicious chile rellenos this evening for dinner. They turned out so tasty.We made delicious chile rellenos this evening for dinner. They turned out so tasty.

We made chile rellenos for the first time tonight. We used to get them in El Paso a lot but here in the San Antonio area, no one knows what they are. I think it is strange. Anyway, David was going to make them and then he told me from the store to blister the peppers. I have not blistered peppers before but I did it.

He bought gigantic ancho poblano peppers. We let them steam in a covered bowl for 15 minutes after broiling. Then we peeled them and sliced them open. I pulled out all of the seeds and washed them thoroughly. After that we stuffed them, dredged them in flour and then in egg. The eggs are tricky. You have to separate them and beat the whites like you are making a meringue. Mix baking soda with the yolks and then fold them all together and dip the dredged pepper in the beaten egg, then fry.

I put enchilada sauce on them like the recipe showed but in El Paso, they were covered in queso which I did not have. They were so good. We served them with rice and with beans David cooked in the crockpot. I doctored them up for flavor.

I also made peach ice cream using frozen peaches from our trees. It was delicious.

I pulled out the old ice cream maker and made peach ice cream. So yummy! I don't think I've made ice cream in a year.I pulled out the old ice cream maker and made peach ice cream. So yummy! I don't think I've made ice cream in a year.

Friday, November 21, 2025

Our green beans have flowers so we will have green beans in no time. These are bush bean plants. There are also some squash volunteer plants you can see.Our green beans have flowers so we will have green beans in no time. These are bush bean plants. There are also some squash volunteer plants you can see.

Good morning. Well, we did not get one drop of rain overnight. That is two days that we did not get any but there was supposed to be a lot. Meanwhile, there is flooding where we were supposed to travel to yesterday. I am so glad he decided not to go. 

The weather shows that we might get a rainstorm on Monday but probably not. Nothing for today, tomorrow, or Sunday. The weather people are always getting us all excited and then little to nothing happens here. I am sick of it all. We live in a place that just doesn't get rain. Every once in a while, it rains for a small amount of time. There, I said it. Now we can all stop talking about it and water our plants.

The pest control guy will be coming today so I need to write a check for that. I will also have to set up our Black Friday sale along with some corresponding newsletters. 

Onion Start Sets

onionsets

We have just 10 more 1015Y onion starter sets of about 48 per set. These will ship out on Monday, November 24 so if you want a set, order today. We will not have anymore onion starts this fall. 

Black Friday Sale

I just finished setting up our Black Friday Sale! The sale will go live on Thursday, November 27 at 6pm CST and will end promptly on Monday night, December 1 at midnight CST.

The sale will save you 25% on all of our regular sized seed packs. Our bulk seeds are not included in the sale. No seed sets or trays are included, just regular sized seed packets. Newsletters will be going out announcing the sale but you know about it first. Here is the link if you want to go and preview the seeds now.

At lunch today, I took last night's leftover beans, rice, and enchilada sauce and combined them with the roast from Wednesday night and made a delicious soup. I added in some salsa and some Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce for flavor. I also made some jalapeno cornbread to go with it. It was so good.

It is now 5:30pm. We had one customer late this afternoon. I have just seven onion sets left to sell. Hopefully they will get ordered this weekend so I can mail them out on Monday. 

Unfortunately, we did not get any rain today and there is none in the forecast again until Monday but even that chance has gone down. North Texas has flooding. Go figure. 

Time to feed the dogs. 

I made some rigatoni tonight to put in the soup. It was so good and so comforting to me. David asked why I was making rigatoni. He won't eat it. I told him I was depressed and needed some comfort food. He laughed. I don't care. It made me feel better.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

The Amish Paste tomato is a prized heirloom grown for making sauce and salsa.The Amish Paste tomato is a prized heirloom grown for making sauce and salsa.

Good morning. The air feels cool and lovely. I got up at 5:55am after being awakened with neuropathy. I was going to let the dogs out but David had already let them out quite a while before that. I opened the door and whistled twice. They finally came in.

I made French toast for breakfast. Then I worked on next week's garden topic and went to work. We had no customers, just a couple who came to look around because they were out driving. She never made it in to see the seeds. She just looked at the fish. 

I found my grandmother's Christmas tablecloth and got a few things out to start setting up Christmas. I have not gotten far and now it is almost 5pm so I need to go put the animals away. It will be sunset in just 40 minutes. Maybe I will decorate tomorrow. 

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Grow tomatoes like the Hillbilly Beefsteak can weigh up to two pounds with a marvelous taste.We've put together a Rainbow Beefsteak tomato pack so you can grow tomatoes in a lovely variety of colors.

Good morning. It rained for a bit early this morning but the rain did not move our rain gauge. When I went out at 7:10am to feed the animals, the rain had stopped. The kitty escorted me over to her area so I would feed her. She is keeping her collar on now so I can hear her coming. She is so cute.

Sam is finally keeping her collar on now so I can hear her coming.Sam is finally keeping her collar on now so I can hear her coming.

The fish were fine and the snake was hiding. The air feels so fresh and cool but it is 64°.

I went out back. All of the chickens were happy to get out of their coop. The goats did not want to leave theirs. As soon as I got to the back porch, the rain started again but it is light.

Clouds from this morning when I was feeding the chickens looked cool.Clouds from this morning when I was feeding the chickens looked cool.

David made biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast while I was feeding the animals. It is pretty good. 

Time to get ready for church.

Went to church. Lots of folks were missing but it is a holiday week. After that, we stopped by at Tractor Supply and picked up lunch at Sonic.

Now to light up the tree that I managed to put up yesterday.

I chose the thin tree this year and for the first time, I put it where the entry table goes by the front door. I have a lot more to do. I don't want to touch the mantel until Thanksgiving.I chose the thin tree this year and for the first time, I put it where the entry table goes by the front door. I have a lot more to do. I don't want to touch the mantel until Thanksgiving.

I had a terrible time getting the chickens in this evening. Ten of them just would not go in. I chased them all over their yard, getting a few in at a time. Finally, there were three left. I went over to take care of the goats and when I came back, the three were finally ready to go in for the night. 

I came back in and put lights on the tree along with the angel and one ornament. I hung the stockings and the front door wreath and put the blue tree skirt around the tree. More tomorrow...

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