Tomato Plant Average Lifespan: How Long Do Tomato Plants Live?

Have you decided to start tomato gardening, and you are wondering how long you will continue harvesting the fruits before the plant dies?

Naturally, tomato plants can only live 6 to 8 months from the time the seeds are planted, mature, and harvested. However, the lifespan of a tomato plant may vary depending on your region, variety, care and maintenance, and pest and disease control.

Let’s dive into the details:

How Long Do Tomato Plants Live?

Generally, tomato plants can only survive for a period of six to eight months. They thrive well during the spring and summer seasons when the temperatures are warm and longer sunlight hours. However, the plant is likely to die when winter or cold temperatures set in.

Tomato plants that are grown in a greenhouse or indoors are likely to live more than 6 months. This is because the temperatures, humidity, and light can easily be controlled. With proper maintenance, the tomato plants in a greenhouse can bear fruit for more than one season.

When growing tomato plants outdoors, it is hard to achieve the best conditions that favor long life, especially during the cold seasons. The best conditions can only be achieved when practicing greenhouse or indoor gardening. 

Apart from cold winter temperatures, pests and diseases can also reduce the life-span of your tomato plants. It is recommended to inspect your plants on a daily basis for signs and symptoms of pests and diseases.

 Fungal infection is common in tomatoes, especially when the plant is older. A necessary measure should be taken when you notice any abnormality in the plant.

Tomato plants can also wilt and die when there is not enough moisture in the soil. Correct watering of your plants can greatly improve their lifespan. However, excessive water in the soil can also affect your plants negatively. Poor drainage can lead to diseases. 

The variety of tomatoes that you plant also plays a major role in determining how long the plant lives. The standard varieties that we plant in our gardens tend to mature fast, produce flowers, bear fruits and finally die. However, there are some varieties that may produce fruits for more than one season.

Tomato plants are heavy feeders. Practicing proper fertilization can help to improve the life of the plant. The first fertilizer application is supposed to be done 2 weeks after transplanting. It is also important to apply fertilizer during blossoming and when bearing fruit.   

Lifespan of a Tomato Plant Breakdown

The germination process of tomato seeds normally takes 5 to 10 days. When the seedlings are transplanted, they take around 40 days to mature. Fruiting normally starts after 65 days, and you can start harvesting fruits from the 3^rd to 5^th month.

The production starts to decrease in the 5^th and 6^th month and eventually, the crop will stop producing fruits and die. However, the following measures can help to improve the life-span of the tomato plant:

• Plant your tomatoes in fertile and well-drained soil. Fumigate your garden soil prior to planting to get rid of soil-borne pests and diseases.
• Apply fertilizer to your plants when necessary. The first fertilizer application is supposed to be done 2 weeks after transplanting your seedlings. Tomato plants also require more fertilizer during the flowering and fruiting period. Healthy plants are likely to resist some diseases.
• Water your plants during the dry season. Inadequate water in the soil can cause your tomatoes to wilt and die. Dip your finger in the soil to find out if it requires water.
• Practice rotational cropping. Planting your tomatoes in the same place all season can encourage the establishment of soil-borne pathogens that may affect the production and life-span of your crops.
• Prune and remove unhealthy foliage. Use pruning shears to get rid of excessive branches on the stem. Removing unhealthy foliage also helps to control fungal infections in tomatoes. 
• Tomato plants are also prone to tobacco mosaic virus; avoid using or smoking tobacco while attending to your plants.
• Clean your garden tools thoroughly after use to avoid carrying and spreading diseases and pests.
• When watering your plants, avoid pouring water on the foliage, especially in humid conditions. Fungal attacks that cause early and late blight and other leaf spots prefer damp and cool conditions.

The other way of extending the lifespan of your tomato plants is by picking the fruits before they ripen fully. The plant uses a lot of energy, especially during the fruit ripening period. That energy can be saved to help the plant live longer. 

To ensure your tomato plant lives optimally, you need to watch out for the conditions that may shorten its lifespan. For greenhouse and indoor gardening, the temperature is supposed to be warm constantly. The plants should also receive maximum light and free air circulation. 

How Many Times Will a Tomato Plant Bear Fruit?

When having tomato plants in your garden, you may ask yourself if they are capable of producing fruit more than once in a season.

Generally, tomatoes are perennial crops, but they are grown as annual crops due to weather conditions. If you can plant tomatoes indoors or in a greenhouse and provide them with favorable conditions, they can bear fruit for more than two seasons. However, production decreases substantially after the second year. 

Tomato plants can be gardened perennially, depending on the climate of your region and the care that you give the plant. Although the second harvest may not be as impressive as the first one.

 However, the number of times a tomato plant can bear fruit may be determined by the variety as described below:

Determinate tomato plants

These are tomato plants that can only grow to a specific size. In most cases, they normally reach a maximum height of about 4 feet tall. This type of tomato will only give you fruit once a season. They die after their last buds have produced fruit. 

Indeterminate tomato plants

Some varieties of indeterminate tomatoes have a longer harvest time. They produce large fruits, and the plant can grow up to a maximum of 15 feet. They can produce fruits for more than 2 seasons when the conditions are favorable. 

Tomato plants do well in tropical climates where the temperatures are warm and longer sunlight hours. In such a climate, the crop can produce fruits for more than 2 years, although the production decreases. The plant will wilt and die when there is inadequate sunlight and cold temperatures.

When Do Tomato Plants Stop Producing?

The indeterminate tomato plant will continue giving you fruits as long as the weather conditions and other production factors remain favorable. It will only stop producing when cold weather, pests, and diseases set in. 

The determinate tomato plants will give you fruits only for one season before wilting and dying off. Factors like early fall of frost, pests, diseases, poor watering, and inadequate fertilizers can also cause a lack of fruits altogether.

Tomatoes can also stop producing fruit when there are no pollinators. This is common in greenhouse and indoor gardening, where the plants are not exposed to pollinators like birds and bees. 

However, you can help in pollination by gently shaking the stem of the plant during the flowering stages. Alternatively, you can use an electric toothbrush, among other methods.

High or low humidity can also prevent pollination in your garden. High humidity incapacitates the male part of the flower from releasing the pollen into the female part, while low humidity means that the pollen does not stick to the female part. 

Final Thoughts

A tomato plant is a perennial crop. This means that it can live for several years. However, an average lifespan is reduced up to 6 months due to weather conditions, pests, and diseases. With good maintenance and proper weather conditions, you can harvest for more than 2 seasons.