Garden Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
- Native to:
- Palau, Peru, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands
Softeis
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Genus:
- Solanum
- Species:
- Solanum lycopersicum
- USDA Symbol:
- SOLY2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agrotis orthogonia, Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), Army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata), Burdock Borer (Papaipema cataphracta), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), clover cutworm (Agrotis gladiaria), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), Cotton leafworm (Alabama argillacea), darksided cutworm (Euxoa messoria), dingy cutworm (Feltia jaculifera), Eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis), Eggplant fruit borer (Neoleucinodes elegantalis), eggplant leafroller moth (Lineodes integra), Eggplant Webworm Moth (Rhectocraspeda periusalis), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), Euxoa tessellata, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Five-spotted hawk moth (Manduca quinquemaculatus), Gothic dart (Feltia subgothica), Greater Red Dart (Abagrotis alternata), Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), Old Man Dart (Agrotis vetusta), Omnivorous Leafroller (Platynota stultana), Potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella), rascal dart moth (Agrotis malefida), rosy rustic (Hydraecia micacea), Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Soybean Looper (Pseudoplusia includens), Sphinx separatus, Spotted Straw Moth (Heliothis phloxiphaga), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), Striped rice borer (Chilo suppressalis), Sweetpotato Armyworm (Spodoptera dolichos), Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), tomato pinworm (Keiferia lycopersicella), underworld dart (Agrotis subterranea), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) Moths:tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in nutrient-rich environments with adequate organic matter.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 5–10 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily at 70-85°F with no pretreatment required. Light is not required for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.