If You Want Tomatoes In 2026, You'll Have To Plant Them Yourself

Once you've tasted a sun-warmed tomato fresh from your own garden, it spoils you for all other tomatoes. If you haven't yet delved into the world of growing your own tomatoes, 2026 is a great year to start. A trio of unfortunate factors have led to a price hike of nearly 23% for tomatoes compared to last year, according the Consumer Price Index (via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Along with tariffs on imported tomatoes from Mexico (the world's biggest source of exported tomatoes) and skyrocketing fuel prices connected to the war in Iran, costs for these kitchen staples are rising side by side with fuel. Decreased supply is playing a co-starring role in the price hike, too. Unseasonably cool, wet weather during Mexico and Florida's peak tomato seasons has had its fair share of consequences too. Even greenhouse-raised tomatoes felt a hit due to limited sunshine this winter and unusually cold temperatures.

With all these factors at play, now's the time to try out some tips for growing the best tomatoes in your garden. You won't miss the mealy, flavorless flesh of grocery store tomatoes once you've tasted a home-grown harvest. Depending on your climate and gardening confidence, consider either growing tomatoes from seed or buying them as a seedling. And with Mother's Day just around the corner (the traditional calendar marker for planting tomatoes outdoors in four-season regions), don't put off buying — or starting — your own plants for long.

There's a lot to be said for skipping the tasteless tomatoes from the garden center and starting tomatoes from seed, but with final frost dates approaching or already passed in many areas, it's pretty late in the season to start tomato seeds if you haven't already. Typically, the seedlings need about 4 to 6 weeks to grow before they're ready to move outdoors. However, planting seeds 3 weeks ahead of time may be enough of a head start, especially in northern regions with frosts occurring into early June. If you've had a busy spring and haven't planted tomatoes indoors yet, consider starting some of these tomato varieties that have the quickest harvest time.

If you're a true tomato lover, you may want to focus on growing varieties that will be harder to purchase this year. Tomato growers report that the hardest-hit varieties in this year's shortage are beefsteaks and Romas, but tomatoes on the vine will also be hard to come by. If you're a fan of these fruits, nab a few plants from your local garden center or order live plants online, if you can find them. The snacking tomato supply hasn't been hit nearly as hard; even though they're sublime eaten right off your own plant, you could skip growing snacking tomatoes at home this year in favor of a more scarce variety.