What Tomato Variety Has The Quickest Harvest Time?

For gardeners who are eager to enjoy the fruits of their labor as soon as possible, selecting the right tomato variety can make a huge difference. Whether you're driven by excitement, limited by a short growing season, or working with unreliable weather patterns, you should skip the tasteless tomatoes at the garden center or supermarket if you care about a speedy harvest. While many store-bought tomatoes, like the Roma tomato, take around 78 days to produce fruit, you can speed up the process by growing a different variety instead without sacrificing flavor or quality.

Luckily, when it comes to tomatoes, there are plenty of fast-growing varieties that will yield fruit in almost half the time. This includes cultivars like 'Early Girl,' 'Fourth of July,' 'Sub Arctic Plenty,' and 'Sungold', to name a few. Each of these typically produces fruit within 50 to 60 days, which is significantly faster than most store-bought types. But out of the bunch, there's one that stands out as the top performer in terms of speed: the 'Sub Arctic Plenty'.

If your top priority is a quick harvest, the 'Sub Arctic Plenty' tomato variety should be at the top of your list. While other quick-growing varieties like 'Early Girl' or 'Fourth of July' still boast quick growth, they don't quite match up to this cold-climate tomato. 'Sub Arctic Plenty' takes the lead with one of the quickest harvesting times (as soon as 42 days from transplant), and it makes a great choice for those dealing with short growing seasons or variable climate conditions. Plus, its early maturity allows gardeners to harvest before disease or pests wreak havoc. Additionally, its compact size is ideal for a flourishing vegetable garden in a small space. Despite its history of being bred for cold climates, this tomato has proven itself to be a versatile pick. Suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 12, it also adapts well in warm regions. 

To grow this tomato, start your seeds in flats or pots 1 centimeter apart around 6 to 8 weeks before your area's final spring frost. Make sure to keep the soil warm and moist. Once the outdoor soil temperature has reached around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, transplant your seedlings to an area with full sun and well-draining soil. Next, simply water your tomatoes around 2 inches per week, and feed every two weeks until they bear fruit. While the fruits might be smaller than larger slicing tomatoes, they still pack a meaty bite with a tart taste. For gardeners who want tasty tomatoes as soon as possible, you can speed up the process even more with tricks to help your fruit grow faster.