Everyone wants tomatoes in their garden because they are delicious and easy to grow. You can either buy a live tomato plant or grow one from seed. Both have varying price ranges, and you can purchase according to your requirements and budget.
In this article, I’ll look at the prices of tomato seeds and plants to give you a better idea of the market.
Let’s get into it!
How Much Do Tomato Plants Cost?
Typically, you can buy a tomato plant for $2.0-$2.5 from a local shop or nursery. Big retailers sell them for anywhere between $3 and $7. Seeds, on the other hand, are much more affordable than plants.
What Makes Up the Tomato Plant Price?
The cost of tomato plants varies depending on their size, variety, where you buy them, where you live, and how in demand a tomato variety is.
For instance, if you buy a tomato plant from a major retailer, the price will be relatively higher. However, the price won’t be as high if you buy locally.
Similarly, if a specific plant is well-grown and popular in your area, it can be costly compared to other tomato plants.
Additionally, buying plants in bulk rather than one can help you save money.
Tomato Plant Prices – 7 Examples
In this section, we will look at the top seven tomato plant varieties in terms of popularity. We will also look at their market prices.
- Super Sweet 100: Super sweet 100 is one of the most famous tomato cultivars. Because of their popularity, they are widely available and can be purchased from any online or local gardening center.
Super Sweet 100 seeds cost between $2.5 and $2.99 at local and online retailers. The price may vary depending on the quantity of the seeds you purchase. Live plants, on the other hand, are slightly expensive. You can buy one for approximately $6-$8 from a nearby nursery.
Amazon also has an incredible collection of live plants. If you are looking for an option, consider checking Clovers Garden Super Sweet 100 Tomato Plant. (Buy this product here). It is a set of 2 live super sweet 100 plants and is available for $19.97.
- Sungold: As their name suggests, Sungold tomatoes have a bright orange color and a strong fruity flavor.
Sungold tomato seeds range in price from $2.50 to $5.15, depending on the store. Due to their throwaway price and high-quality outcomes, these seeds have quickly become customer favorites. If you want to buy live plants, they range in price from $6 to $8.
- Better Boy: The better boy is a hybrid tomato variety. Its seeds are available for prices ranging from $3.0-$10.
Again, the cost varies depending on the number of seeds in a packet. The live plant can be purchased for approximately $6.
- Black Krim: Black Krim became the first ever commercially available black tomato in 1990. Its seeds are relatively cheaper than other varieties we have discussed so far.
Various online companies sell their packets of 30+ seeds for $1.89-$2.99. Live plants can be bought for $4.5-$6.95.
- Big Beef Tomato: Big Beef tomatoes are perfect for adding to sandwiches and salads. Big Beef seeds can be bought from online stores, local nurseries, or Amazon for $2.45-$4.95. Plants are available for $4.5-$6.95.
- Celebrity Tomato: This variety produces huge globe-shaped tomatoes. Small packets (containing 30 seeds) cost as little as $2.5. Bigger packs can cost up to $10.
The celebrity tomato plant can be bought for $4 from a nearby nursery. Online companies like Grow Joy sell one plant for $6.95.You can check and decide whatever works for you.
- Early Girl Tomato: Early girl tomatoes are popular among home gardeners because they ripen quickly. You can buy a packet of 10 seeds for $2.69 from Walmart. A live plant can be purchased for $6.95-$8.5.
Related: 15 Oldest Tomato Varieties to Grow
What’s the Best Tomato Variety to Buy?
Those of you who have grown tomatoes at home know how important variety is. Not all varieties can provide the best-tasting and high-yielding results. You also need to pay close attention to the plant’s variety if you plan to preserve the tomatoes.
So, in this section, I’ll look at a couple of well-known tomato types for producing the best outcomes.
- Sungold: Sungold falls into the category of cherry tomatoes. They are indeterminate, sweet, round, and small-sized tomatoes that are highly popular in the gardening community. Sungold matures right on time to bright orange, prepared to gather all through the mid-year.
These tomatoes can be eaten right after you take them off the vine and are ideally suited for snacking. The best thing about these tomatoes is that they need very little upkeep, which is pretty helpful if you are a first-time grower.
They need only one inch of water per week and 6+ hours of sunlight for optimal growth. Make sure that you harvest them before the rainy season because they are prone to cracking after rainfall.
- Black Krim: Black Krim is an heirloom-type tomato that yields medium-sized tomatoes. Since they are native to Russia, black Krim tomatoes do well in colder climates.
A lot of people are surprised by the color of this tomato variety. It is simply because you always picture a tomato as being red or orange. However, this plant produces tomatoes in dark purple/maroon shade.
This color makes the fruit very interesting to look at. This variety is also known for its rich taste. The good news is that black Krim is a very high-yielding plant.
So, buying this plant is certainly a good decision. You will start receiving large, ripe tomatoes about 80–85 days after planting.
- Better Boy: The third category on this list is Better Boy, a high-yielding tomato plant. It is a Guinness world record holder for once producing a fruit weighing more than 154 kg.
The better boy is a famous tomato variety in America, known for its juicy, firm, smooth-skinned, red fruits.
These tomatoes are the best tasting and are ideal for salads, sauces, and juices. This plant has a long growing season, producing tomatoes until frost. Typically, these tomatoes mature in about 70-75 days after planting.
It works well in small spaces, containers, and gardens. So, if you are looking for a traditional tomato variety, the Better boy is the way to go.
Related: Super Sweet 100 vs. Sungold Tomato (Comparison)
Where is the Best Place to Buy Tomato Plants?
You can purchase tomato plants from a nearby nursery or an online gardening store. Regardless of where you shop from, both have their own benefits.
One of the primary advantages of buying a tomato plant from your local nursery is seeing the plant or seedlings in real-time. In addition, you can speak face-to-face with the management to learn more about their maintenance and nurturing.
On the other hand, it is rare to find a nursery with all the plants you need. Furthermore, choosing a visitation day can take time as well.
And it is where online shopping is advantageous. You can find numerous plant varieties on online gardening websites that are unavailable in your local stores.
This process can also save you a tonne of time because all you need to do is place your order and wait for delivery to your home.
However, online shopping can be comparatively expensive. In the end, it all comes down to your preference and circumstances. It is up to you to decide what is best for you after considering all the relevant factors.
Related: 31 Funny Tomato Names (No. 9 Will Amuse You)
What are the Cheapest and Most Expensive Tomato Plants?
Black Krim tomatoes are the cheapest tomato plants. You can buy a packet of seeds for as little as $1.8 and a live plant for a maximum of $5.
Sungold tomato plants are more on the expensive side. These gorgeous tomatoes are a bit more costly than their contemporaries due to their mouthwatering taste.
You will see a packet of seeds starting from $5 at big retailers. And you may see Sungold plants starting from $5-$7.
FAQs
Since tomatoes are warm-weather vegetables, they are grown in the summer season. Tomato plants mature during the course of the summer and can be harvested up to 100 days after planting.
It is best to purchase the plants between March and May so you can give them substantial time to flourish. Later, you can harvest them from mid-June to early September.
Both options have their benefits. Purchasing live plants is a convenient option because all you need to do is place them in a container inside your home and provide them with the necessary care.
On the other hand, growing a plant from a seed is a long but fulfilling journey. Your everyday efforts allow you to watch a whole plant blossom before your very eyes from little seeds. Plus, this process is a lot more cost-efficient.
The method you should opt for depends on your experience and skills. For beginner gardeners, buying a tomato plant is the way to go since it is the easiest method. Once you have gained enough experience, you can start growing plants from seeds.
- How Long Do Tomato Plants Live?
Tomato plants typically live for around 6-7 months before succumbing to the first frost. However, their lifespans can be extended to 2–5 years using certain techniques.
These methods include taking care of their sunlight and watering requirements, harvesting early, and fertilizing frequently.
References:
morningchores.com, fafard.com, gardening.org, burpeehomegardens.com, bonnieplants.com, burpeehomegardens.com, cloversgarden.com, tomatodirt.com, thumbgarden.com, gardeningknowhow.com, allthatgrows.in, backyardgardengeek.com, plantophiles.com, greenhousetoday.com amazon.com, tomatodirt.com
