Early Girl Tomato in Zone 7B — Desert Southwest

Early Girl Tomato is a winner in our Desert Southwest gardens because it delivers delicious, medium-sized fruit surprisingly early in the season. This means you can enjoy fresh, homegrown tomatoes in salads, sandwiches, and sauces long before the worst of the extreme heat sets in. Plus, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of harvesting your own tomatoes after a long winter.

Desert gardening definitely has its challenges – extreme heat, intense sun, and alkaline soil can be tough on plants. But with careful timing, smart watering, and a little shade, Early Girl Tomatoes can thrive during our 245-day growing season, giving you a fantastic early harvest.

Starting Early Girl Tomato seeds indoors is the way to go in our zone. You'll want to get those seeds going from early February through early March, about six weeks before you plan to move them outside. This gives them a head start before our very-early spring takes off.

Use seed trays or small pots filled with a good seed-starting mix. Keep them consistently moist (bottom watering works great to avoid damping off) and warm – a heat mat helps. Once the seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light. A grow light is ideal, but a sunny south-facing window can work if you turn the trays regularly.

Transplant your Early Girl Tomato seedlings outdoors from late March through early May, after the risk of frost has passed. Before planting them in the ground, harden them off. This means gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week.

Space your plants 24-36 inches apart in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Keep an eye on the weather forecast – unexpected temperature swings can still happen, so be ready to cover your seedlings if needed.

Early Girl Tomatoes need consistent moisture, especially in our hot, dry climate. They aren't drought tolerant at all, so you'll need to stay on top of watering. The key is to water deeply and regularly, but avoid letting the soil stay soggy.

During the spring, before the extreme heat hits, aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week. Once the summer heat kicks in, increase that to 2-3 inches per week, or even more if the plants are showing signs of stress. Use the finger test: stick your finger into the soil about 2 inches deep. If it feels dry, it's time to water. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage disease in our arid environment.

Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and dry soil. Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. A good layer of mulch around the base of the plants will help retain moisture and keep the soil cooler, which is a huge help in our climate.

Early Girl Tomatoes are indeterminate, meaning they'll keep growing and producing fruit all season long. This means they need strong support to keep them off the ground. A standard 5-foot tomato cage or sturdy stakes work well.

Install your support system at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently weave the stems through the cage or tie them to the stakes with soft twine. This will prevent the plant from sprawling and keep the fruit clean and off the ground.

Pruning Early Girl Tomatoes can help improve air circulation and encourage earlier ripening. Focus on removing the suckers that grow in the crotch between the main stem and the branches. These suckers will eventually produce their own stems, leaves, and fruit, but they can also divert energy away from the main plant.

Prune suckers early in the morning on a dry day. Also, remove the lower leaves that touch the soil, as these are more susceptible to disease. As the end of the season approaches (first frost around mid- November), you can top the plant to encourage the remaining green tomatoes to ripen before the frost hits.

You can expect your first harvest of Early Girl Tomatoes from mid May through mid July. These tomatoes are known for being early producers, so keep an eye on them. A ripe Early Girl will be medium-sized and a deep red color.

Gently twist the tomato from the vine, being careful not to damage the plant. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. As the first frost approaches (mid- November), harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen. They'll ripen on a windowsill or in a paper bag with an apple.

Early Girl Tomatoes, like all tomatoes, can have problems. Here are a few common ones we see in the Desert Southwest:

• Blossom End Rot
• What it looks like: A sunken, dark brown or black leathery patch on the bottom of the tomato.
• What causes it: Calcium deficiency caused by inconsistent watering. Our monsoon season can bring periods of heavy rain followed by dry spells, leading to this problem.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently! Mulch heavily to maintain even soil moisture. Remove affected fruit.
• Early Blight
• What it looks like: Brown spots with concentric rings on lower leaves first, spreading upward. Leaves yellow and drop.
• What causes it: A fungal disease that thrives in warm conditions. Soil splash during monsoon season spreads it to the lower leaves.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Water at the base, not overhead. Copper fungicide can slow the spread.
• Hornworms
• What it looks like: Large sections of leaves stripped overnight. Big green caterpillars with white stripes.
• What causes it: Hawk moth larvae. They can defoliate a plant quickly in our long growing season.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick them (they're big and easy to spot). Bt spray is effective.
• Cracking
• What it looks like: Splits in the tomato skin, either concentric or radial.
• What causes it: Heavy watering or rain after a dry spell. Common during monsoon season when we get sudden downpours.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently. Mulch to maintain even moisture. Harvest promptly when ripe.

Desert Southwest Specific Challenges: The extreme heat and intense sun can cause sunscald on the fruit, so consider using shade cloth during the hottest part of the day. Our alkaline soil can also affect nutrient uptake, so amend your soil with compost before planting. The combination of low humidity and monsoon moisture can create conditions favorable for fungal diseases, so good air circulation and proper watering are key.

Companion planting can be a great way to improve the health and productivity of your Early Girl Tomatoes. Basil is a classic companion because it repels pests like tomato hornworms and whiteflies, and it's perfectly suited to our hot, sunny climate. Carrots can help loosen the soil and improve drainage, which is important in our often-compacted soils. Parsley attracts beneficial insects that prey on pests. French marigolds are known for repelling nematodes and other soil-borne pests.

Avoid planting tomatoes near brassicas like cabbage and broccoli, as they can stunt tomato growth. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants, including tomatoes. Corn can block sunlight and compete for nutrients and water, which is a problem in our water-scarce environment.