Tomato plants are among some of the most popular plants for budding gardeners to grow every year, and of course – due to their popularity and simplicity, it would be extremely handy if they kept returning without any replanting required.
The trouble is, of course, that winter often accelerates the expiration of your garden vegetables and fruits, meaning that when the season comes along, you might find yourself needing to take action – but is this the case with tomato plants?
So, do tomato plants come back or regrow every year? The short answer is that tomatoes are perennials, and their native climates are usually very warm and hot.
As a result, they will die in cold climates – normally in the wintertime. However, they can regrow from fallen seeds when spring comes around.
Aside from this, they can also be propagated from fall cuttings and, therefore, regrown with a little extra help.
Our guide below will explain much more about this and give you all the information you need to know. If you’re ready to learn more, then keep reading!
Table of Contents
Why Do Tomato Plants Die?
Tomato plants, like many other plants, can die off for many reasons. It can be due to lack of care, infestation or the climate. Tomatoes originate from Central and South America, where the climate is pretty much tropical.
Within these climates, tomatoes are perennials – which means that they live for several years before they die out. The problem is, of course, that the climate required to keep these tomato plants alive is not the same in every country.
So when the temperature drops significantly in your garden during the winter, for example, tomato plants will die as they cannot cope with the environment.
This is essential because these plants’ cells begin to rupture due to the ice crystals that form in cold climates.
Remember, when water freezes, it expands – and as plants are primarily made up of water, it become susceptible to extreme damage.
Having said this, there are other plants that naturally survive winter weather by forcing themselves to go dormant. Deciduous trees are a good example of this process.
Therefore, the first consideration you must make when it comes to the life of your tomato plant is where you live. Many areas of the United States can reach temperatures significantly below freezing during the winter period.
Without heating, the tomato plant will die. Of course, though, some areas of the United States will not have the same problem.
The Life Cycle Of A Tomato Plant
It’s a good idea to look at the usual life cycle of a tomato plant to get a more rounded vision of what we’re up against.
A tomato plant has quite a basic and straightforward life cycle, starting from seedlings and eventually developing branches, leaves, flowers and fruits.
The Vegetative Stage
Every tomato plant will begin with the vegetative stage, otherwise known as vegetative growth. This is when the plant is busy creating new branches, foliage and its main stem.
Within this period, the tomato plant will use a lot of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to help develop a healthy plant. As a result, during this period, it is advised to use high-nitrogen fertilizer.
*For our detailed tomato fertilizer recommendations, please see Best Organic Fertilizers for Tomatoes
The Fruiting Stage
Around the six to eight-week mark of the plant’s life, you will start to notice flower trusses, and this is when the fruiting stage begins. You’ll want to pay attention to the tomato plant during this stage to avoid rot or other issues.
Death And Regrowth
Once the temperatures drop, you will see the tomato plant struggle and wither until it eventually dies out. However, you will see that it has plenty of seeds that can be used in the future.
Despite the weather and temperature killing the plant, the seeds can overwinter, and when the weather warms up once again, the seeds will germinate and the growth process will begin all over again.
Volunteer Tomato Plants
If you have grown your tomato plants from seeds at any point in the past, you will likely already know that every plant has the potential to grow very impressive harvests. As a result, you will have a lot of fruit, which can often fall naturally.
As a result, the death and regrowth process is very likely to occur due to how many viable seeds are overwintering and then germinating in the future.
If you are in this scenario, there will be no need to pull your tomato plants, assuming that they are all looking very healthy during the regrowth period.
Saving Cuttings
Adventitious roots can appear on your tomato plant when the climate is especially humid, which you will notice around the nodes (see more about tomato roots here). They appear as little white nubs.
If you see this, you can take full advantage of some cuttings from the tomato plant – otherwise known as propagation – and keep them over the winter. As it shares 100% of the original tomato plant’s DNA, you’re essentially cloning your plant!
It’s important to note that if you propagate your tomato plant, be sure that you only cut off a main branch and not a leaf stem. Next, you will want to submerge it from the cut end in water.
All you need to do then is place it near a window and keep an eye on it over the coming days and weeks. You should notice the roots begin to grow in the water.
Will Tomato Plants Fruit Again?
Do tomatoes come back every year? Yes, assuming they are in the right climate and have been looked after properly. You should look up a tomato plant care guide to ensure a healthy new life cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Do Tomato Plants Come Back
Q: Do tomato plants come back every year?
A: Yes, tomato plants are annuals, meaning they complete their life cycle in one year; therefore, they do not return yearly. They need to be replanted each growing season to continue producing tomatoes.
Q: Do cherry tomato plants come back every year?
A: Cherry tomato plants are typically grown as annuals, meaning they do not come back every year. However, in some regions with mild winters, they may reseed themselves or survive as perennials. To ensure consistent harvests, it’s recommended to replant cherry tomato plants annually.
Final thoughts on Do Tomato Plants Come Back
Tomato plants are typically grown as annuals, meaning they complete their life cycle in one growing season and do not come back the following year. However, under certain conditions, tomato plants can exhibit perennial behavior, such as regrowing from the same root system for multiple seasons.
This is more likely to occur in warmer climates with mild winters or when the plants are grown in protected environments, such as greenhouses. Additionally, gardeners can save the seeds from their tomato plants and grow new plants the following year.
While tomato plants may not come back in the traditional sense, there are ways to continue growing them year after year with proper care and attention. (For more produce that comes back every year, see here). We hope our guide has cleared things up for you a little more. Happy Gardening.
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