Tomato Plant

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are warm-season edible plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. They are usually grown as annual vegetables, although they can persist as herbaceous perennials in frost-free climates. [North Carolina State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/solanum-lycopersicum/common-name/tomato/) describes their growing needs, flowers, fruit, and garden uses. ## Form and crop Tomato plants vary greatly by cultivar, from compact determinate bushes to climbing, indeterminate vines. Their small yellow flowers develop into berries used fresh or cooked; botanically the tomato is a fruit, though it is grown and used as a vegetable. ## Growing conditions Choose a sunny site with moist, well-drained loamy soil. Extension guidance recommends keeping soil consistently watered and avoiding excess nitrogen, which can favor leafy growth over fruit production. Transplant after frost danger has passed and rotate away from other nightshade crops. ## Maintenance Use a cage or staking to support stems and fruit. Tomatoes can also grow in containers of at least five gallons. Water evenly, monitor for common pests and diseases, and harvest according to the cultivar’s maturity and fruit type.