There’s something special about that first homegrown tomato of the season. If you’ve ever stood in the garden, checking the same plant every morning, waiting for that first hint of red—you know exactly what I mean.
Patience is part of gardening, sure. But choosing the right variety can speed things up a bit. Some tomatoes are just built to get going earlier, which means you’re enjoying fresh harvests while others are still waiting around for theirs to ripen.
If you’d like a bit of a head start this year, these fast-growing varieties are definitely worth a look.
1. The Reliable Early Girl
Early Girl has earned its reputation for a reason. It produces medium-sized tomatoes fairly quickly—often in around 50 to 60 days.
It’s also pretty forgiving when spring weather doesn’t cooperate, which makes it a solid choice if your climate can be unpredictable.
Tip: Give it proper support early. It keeps growing and producing, so a sturdy cage or stake helps a lot.
2. Stupice: The Cold-Weather Champion
Stupice is a great option if your growing season starts off cool. It doesn’t mind lower temperatures and still produces small, flavorful fruits fairly early.
It’s one of those dependable varieties that just quietly does its job.
3. Sun Gold: Nature’s Candy
Sun Gold tomatoes are incredibly sweet—almost like little bites of fruit straight off the vine.
They ripen early and keep producing for a long time, which usually means you’ll be picking them more often than you expect.
4. Glacier: The Frost-Defier
Glacier is another variety that handles cooler conditions well. It sets fruit earlier than most and doesn’t need perfect weather to get started.
The flavor is surprisingly rich for such an early producer.
Tip: Dark mulch or stones around the plant can help retain warmth in cooler climates.
5. Fourth of July: Living Up to the Name
This variety is known for producing right around mid-summer, often close to early July.
The fruits are small to medium-sized with that classic tomato flavor most people expect.
6. Bloody Butcher: Bold and Swift
Despite the name, this is actually a great heirloom variety. It produces dark red fruits with a rich, slightly deeper flavor.
It’s also fairly quick to mature, which makes it a nice early-season option.
7. Juliet: The Rugged Mini-Plum
Juliet tomatoes are tough and reliable. They resist cracking better than many cherry types, which is helpful if your weather shifts suddenly.
They’re also very productive—you’ll likely have more than enough to share.
8. Sweet 100: A Cascading Classic
Sweet 100 is known for producing long clusters of small, sweet tomatoes.
It grows quickly and keeps going, which is why it’s a favorite for many gardeners year after year.
9. Siberian: Toughness from the Tundra
This variety is built for cooler climates. It can handle lower temperatures and still produce early fruit.
It’s also compact, which makes it useful for smaller gardens or containers.
Tip: Since it’s determinate, avoid heavy pruning so you get the most fruit possible.
10. Oregon Spring: The Short-Season Solution
Oregon Spring was developed for cooler regions, so it performs well when the weather isn’t ideal.
It produces slightly larger fruits compared to many early varieties.
11. Bush Early Girl: Small Space, Big Speed
This is basically Early Girl in a more compact form.
If you’re working with containers or a balcony, this version gives you the same quick harvest without needing much space.
12. Cherry Bomb: Explosive Flavor
Cherry Bomb is a newer hybrid that focuses on both speed and disease resistance.
It produces firm, sweet cherry tomatoes and tends to stay healthy throughout the season.
13. Rapid Red Cherry: Living the Fast Life
This one is all about speed. It focuses on producing fruit as early as possible.
If you’re eager for that first harvest, this variety won’t keep you waiting long.
Final Thoughts
Gardening always takes a bit of patience—but choosing faster-growing varieties makes the wait a lot easier.
Start with one or two of these and see what works best in your space. Once you get that first early harvest, it’s hard not to keep experimenting.
And honestly, there’s nothing quite like picking your own tomatoes before the season is even in full swing.