Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners - Variety Details

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'Early Girl' Tomatoes

Sub-Category:	Standard Early-Season

Sub-Category 2:
Description:	F1 hybrid. Early season standard type. Indeterminate plants bear crimson 4 to 6 ounce, firm, slightly flattened fruit. Resistant to skin blemishes. Disease resistant variety. Some level of resistance to verticillium wilt and fusarium races 1 and 2. About 57 to 63 days to maturity.
Days To Maturity:	57-63
Seed Sources:	Gurneys Seed & Nursery Co. - updated in 2019 Totally Tomato - updated in 2014 Henry Field's Seed and Nursery Co. - updated in 2014

Rating Summary

Overall: (3.5 Stars) Taste: (3.1 Stars) Yield: (3.8 Stars) Ease/Reliability: (4.2 Stars)

Reviews

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Number of Reviews: 43

KEY: O=Overall Rating, T=Taste, Y=Yield, E=Ease

Reviewed on 12/12/2018 by darkcoolboo - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Pima, Arizona, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Early Girl produced better than all of the hierlooms in 2018. It was the only tomato that produced for me. However, it produced all of its fruit in May and proceeded to die back in the summer. By the time fall came, it was so fried that it just gave up.

Reviewed on 01/30/2018 by Hokiefan - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Roanoke, Virginia, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Does well in amended soil in the Blue Ridge and Valley region. Amend with compost, organic fertilizer, lime for blossom end rot. Very good yield, size, and sweet, mild, not complex taste. Use them in salads and salsa.

Reviewed on 04/17/2017 by lizmom - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Franklin, Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Best earlt tomato in every way! Don\'t bother with other disappointing others.

Reviewed on 12/25/2010 by gbgbill - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
For ease, consider this: I burned white pine branches that had fallen in last winters heavy snow. In May I planted six Early Girl seedlings that I purchased from a grocery store. I just dug 6 holes in the burned plot and put the plants in. Spread a small amount of 10-10-10 over the grass parched clay plot. I did nothing more for the entire season. Tidal wave of Early Girls ensued. Taste was not great but neither was the investment of time & material.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 08/14/2010 by grc - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Maricopa, Arizona, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
In Phoenix there are two short seasons for growing tomatoes ... (1)spring until the summer heat stops production and (2)late summer till winter. Early Girl is one of few tomatoes that (raised from xplant) produces a crop before the summer stress. Most varieties will die in our dry summer heat if not pampered with shade structures etc. Early Girl does not produce in mid-late summer, but unlike most varieties, can survive to produce a fall crop.

0 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 04/23/2010 by goober - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Tuolumne, California, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I agree completly with Spanky's review.I have grown Early Girls for more years than i care to think about and compared to others i've grown and eaten they are the best .

Reviewed on 02/26/2010 by riceke - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Gwinnett, Georgia, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
This a dependable tomato that consistently puts out an impressively high yield of 4-5oz globe shaped fruit. Taste is always a variable subjective issue but I enjoyed the ones I picked. The Dwarf or Bush Celebrity is a smaller plant 24-30" whose fruit is larger about 8-10oz and tastes a little better. Good disease resistance especially here in GA where disease is a kin to the tomato. Mine ususally lasted into the end of August but began fruiting in mid July.

Reviewed on 01/07/2010 by SueG-ME - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Kennebec, Maine, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Earliness is this variety's only advantage. Yield has not been good for me, and flavor insipid. I don't give it garden space any more. Juliet and Orange Blossom have been good in the early slot recently.

Reviewed on 04/28/2009 by sherdygerdy - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Cleburne, Arkansas, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I always plant two early girl plants. Start the seeds early and try to have a ripe tomato before my neighbor. Very reliable and great vines. They are always first to produce and one of the plants that is around when it frosts. Not my favorite tomato for eating but it's still worth growing.

Reviewed on 04/28/2009 by SPANKY - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
ONE IF THE WORLDS BEST TOMATOES. THEY GROW BEST IN BIG BLACK PLASTIC POTS LOADED WITH COMPOST AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS. I SUCKER THEM TO ONE OR TWO MAIN STEMS AND THEY GROW RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE OF MY ROOF, EVEN THOUGH I ONLY GET 5 HOURS OF STRONG SUNLIGHT IN MY SIDE YARD. I CUT OF ALL THE BLIGHTED LEAVES AND THE PLANT STAYS ALIVE AND PRODUCES UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER-EARLY OCTOBER. BEWARE: SOME OF THE WING NUTS ON HERE SAY THEY DON'T TASTE GOOD. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT OR THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GROW TOMATOES.

Reviewed on 03/17/2009 by Sillius - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Lorain, Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
It will produce far more than you want it to. It is very bland. Once your other tomatoes start producing you will just feel kind of bad about throwing out the early girls. They are that bad.

Reviewed on 01/14/2009 by gsmagassy - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	San Diego, California, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
So far the only variety I can grow now without significant problems due to Fusarium. Much better luck than with Big Boy. Now that Fusarium is bad in my garden, I don't let plants overwinter.

Reviewed on 01/09/2009 by Keeper - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Hartford, Connecticut, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
If your a serious gardener and plant tomatoes by season (early, mid and late) then Early Girl should be included. It's one of the better tasting early tomatoes. In my opinion it's hard to even call most early varieties tomatoes but you can with this one. You just have to remember that this is a early season tomato that wasn't developed to be a main crop tomato.

Reviewed on 11/02/2008 by Pappabell - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Sangamon, Illinois, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is one of my favorite hybrid tomato`s.Small,but great yeild`s and great flavor.Wonderful for those times when you just want alittle bit of tomato for a sandwich,or we like it as a side dish with our meals.Cut in fourths along with some cheese is really good with just about any meal.It will always be in my garden every year.Try the New Girl also,Very good as well.

Reviewed on 09/26/2008 by backyd_grdnr - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Boulder, Colorado, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Early Girl was easy to grow - no diseases, good yield, and early to ripen. The taste was disappointing, however. Similar to a store-bought tomato. Next year, I won't bother with early varieties, as the main season tomatoes don't take that much longer, and have much better flavor.

Reviewed on 09/25/2008 by SkyeBleu - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Douglas, Oregon, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
I use to love this tomatoe but for the last 4 years, it has not done well here in Zone 8. We have had lots of rain in the spring and I am not sure if that's the issue or what. Very slow to mature, low yield, and flavor not what it use to be.

Reviewed on 05/02/2008 by Ballnutzio - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Grew ten feet, right out of the cage, had to tie a string from the roof to the cage so it could grow right up to the roof. A true "vine" tomatoe, fun to grow. I always want more flavor but these tast pretty good. I ate most of them raw with a splash of olive-salt and pepper. I had them in my little side yard garden last year. This year I am going to grow them in my main garden which get twice as much sun...can't wait to see what they'll do!

Reviewed on 12/27/2007 by rwkrieger - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Prince William, Virginia, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
The early girls that came out of my Northern VA garden were no better tasting than store bought (though no worse) but it was easy to grow and productive. Matina and Stupice are better tasting early tomatoes in my opinion.

Reviewed on 12/16/2007 by Oregon - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Lane, Oregon, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
They are bland but relilable as far as production. The skin is a little tough they remind me of grocery store tomatoes.

Reviewed on 10/19/2007 by Jim Oliver - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Wayne, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I have planted the Early Girl variety for many years and I have not found a better early season tomato.

Reviewed on 04/25/2007 by Brenda - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Washington, Louisiana, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
I have found the early girl to be a reliable tomato for this area. I like to get the early fruit, and although the taste is not like the old fashioned ones that have longer maturity dates, it is good for being the first tomato of the season. I don't plant but just a few, and that is because I don't use them for anything but early eating. By the time these are gone, the other tomato plants are producing.

Reviewed on 01/14/2007 by rougealar - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Lucas, Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
This is the most reliable tomato I have grown in the Toledo, Ohio area.

Reviewed on 01/13/2007 by mary b ward - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Macomb, Michigan, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I have grown a lot of varieties but this is the best one for me. I have always (40 odd years) had an abundant crop - no problems at all. I do change location in garden every year and enrich the soil. Also, I think it has the best fresh taste for salads and makes delicious sauce. I keep trying a few other varieties but so far none are as good as the Early Girl.

Reviewed on 01/13/2007 by Best Chance - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Oakland, Michigan, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Pretty good flavor for an early variey. Reliable and prolific enough. You could do a lot worse.

Reviewed on 12/03/2006 by remuda1 - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Hood, Texas, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
I set out one plant this spring. It produced very well through our severe drought and high temperatures. I liked it so much that in July, I rooted two cuttings from it for an early start on a fall planting. The two cuttings out-produced any other tomatoes I have planted. I pulled the plants last week just prior to our first hard freeze. I have approximately 50 greenies hanging in the garage to ripen. Prior to pulling the plants, I harvested LOTS of ripe tomatoes and made sauces. It may not be a gourmet's choice, but this tomato is a workhorse in a fairly tough Texas climate.

Reviewed on 09/01/2006 by cowtrail - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
of the varities I planted this year produced the longest into the high summer heat.

Reviewed on 04/24/2006 by danceswithferrets - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Greenville, South Carolina, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
It's okay for a commercial variety, but nothing special. I had no problems growing it, but I don't recall it being extremely productive. The flavor was very inconsisent, even on the same plant. Some fruit would have a pretty good flavor, and some would be almost flavorless.

Reviewed on 04/03/2006 by Booberry85 - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Onondaga, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Although this is a good tasting tomato, it does not have the disease resistance / tolerance it says it has. It does not ripen significantly earier than other tomatoes either.

Reviewed on 03/22/2006 by rj - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Monroe, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Standard tomatoe flavor but excels in poor weather and reliably produces through the whole season from an early start. I always plant one in case the summer gets off to a bad start.

Reviewed on 01/19/2006 by neetz - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Wayne, Michigan, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I grow this variety as an early season canner. It fills in the gap until the later varieties mature. The flavor is acceptable as the canned tomatoes are usually added to sauces and the like. As fresh use, I would have to say that it wakens your tastes from the 'cardboard' of winter tomatoes to the flavors of what is yet to come. I tie all my tomato plants up using the basket weave method and don't seem to have any problem with disease and pests. The regular and not the bush variety is the best.

Reviewed on 11/28/2005 by Echidne41 - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	St. Lawrence, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Not the best tasting, but early, uniform and disease resistant. Not bad for a hybrid early season tomato.

Reviewed on 08/19/2005 by old4garden - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Wyoming, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I always grow this variety in hopes it will be better but it's no earlier then the Better Boys I grew. Not very tasty. I do find it productive.

Reviewed on 08/12/2005 by Les - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Taste not to our liking and very low production although the plants grew larger than expected.

Reviewed on 07/03/2005 by Skip - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Mercer, New Jersey, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
It is early, and fairly tasty, but not very productive. I always grow it so I'll have some tomatoes to eat while I'm waiting for the other varieties to start producing.

Reviewed on 04/30/2005 by cardshooter - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	West Virginia, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Very early with poor flavor

Reviewed on 02/02/2005 by Buffalola -
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Erie, New York, United States Frost Free Season: Soil Texture: Garden Size: Sun Exposure:
Not bad for an indeterminate early tomato. It has enough flavor to satisfy the tastesbuds for first homegrown tomatoes.

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by tomatopest - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Pennsylvania, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Was neither early or productive. Taste was bland.

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by Patrick Conner - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Georgia, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
The only tomato I have been able to grow in south Georgia. Produces long after the others have died. Very vigorous, you need a tall cage to keep up with the plant.

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by maternut - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Tennessee, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
In my opinion this tomatoe is over rated. Not so early and not the best tasting. Fairly good yield.

Reviewed on 01/02/2005 by Bob B - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Chemung, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
My hilltop garden was hit by early blight this year, but early girl held up well and produced all summer. Early girl wasn't as early as I would have liked, but the summer was cold and very wet. The fruits were medium sized and had a nice flavor.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 12/29/2004 by sllarsen - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	California, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Not so early, but very easy in my area of CA. Tried other varieties of tomatoes, but this plant grows huge and bears more than we can eat for 4+ months. Start with small plants from nursery rather than seeds.

Reviewed on 12/07/2004 by Big_Red - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Kentucky, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Not so early and not very tasty. Good bearer with small to medium sized fruit.

Reviewed on 10/25/2004 by russell - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Ontario, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Early and productive,baseball size fruit. Early blight has been a problem.

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