How to Grow Yellow Tomatoes

Yellow tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) can range in color from a pale green-yellow to a much richer orange hue. These annuals can also come in a range of sizes, from tiny cherry-sized fruits to larger beefsteak tomato size. A member of the nightshade family of plants, tomatoes are warm-weather loving and do well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Yellow tomatoes do not require care very different from other colors of tomatoes, although, because they are higher in sugar, they can be softer when ripe.

Yellow tomatoes can by hybrid, heirloom or dwarf tomato plants, meaning they are bred with other tomato varieties for specific growth attributes; are a replica of an older plant that wasn't cross-pollinated; or are bred for their compact, bushy size, making them well-suited for container gardens. While yellow tomatoes used to be distinguished by large, vining growth habits and big tomatoes, modern yellow tomatoes can be the size of cherry tomatoes. Yellow tomatoes do not have significantly less acid than red tomatoes, but they taste sweeter because they have a higher sugar content.

Yellow tomatoes, like all other tomatoes, can be either indeterminate or determinate. Indeterminate tomatoes, or vining tomatoes, will grow and produce fruit until the very end of the growing season. They often take much longer to produce fruit for harvest. Determinate tomatoes, or bush tomatoes, have a set height and a terminal flower bud. They have an earlier harvest date, but they also set all of their fruit at once. Indeterminate yellow tomatoes include the "Golden Boy" (Solanum lycopersicum "Golden Boy"), which is ready for harvest in 80 days and produces a medium-sized deep, golden-colored fruit. "Taxi" tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum "Taxi") are also medium-sized fruits that come from a determinate tomato plant. It is ready to harvest in 64 days.

Like all tomatoes and to bring out the best flavor, yellow tomato varieties a require a minimum of eight hours of sunshine per day in northern areas and perform best with some light afternoon shade in warmer regions. Tomato plants do not do well in sodden, saturated soils. For the best yield and growth, grow tomatoes in warm fertile soils that retain some moisture but drain well and with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. Incorporate 3 to 4 inches of aged compost into the planting site before planting. When the tomatoes reach the size of golf balls, apply 1 tablespoon of ammonium nitrate per plant, scratching it into the soil around the plant and not getting it on the foliage. Reapply three and six weeks later, making sure to water it into the soil well. You can also add crushed egg shells around the base of each plant every two weeks to reduce the risk of blossom end rot. Determinate tomatoes do not need to be staked but may benefit from this as the weight of mature fruit can break branches. Indeterminate tomatoes must be staked, caged or trellised to control their vining habit and to keep the fruit and foliage off of the ground.

Space tomatoes 18 to 36 inches apart in rows that are 24 to 48 inches apart. The larger the tomato plant, the more space it will require. As they are thirsty plants, tomatoes require regular watering, at least 1 to 2 inches per week. The soil should stay evenly moist when touched and should never be allowed to fully dry out. Cover the area around the base of the plant with mulch, which will help maintain even soil temperatures and moisture. Yellow tomatoes will start off green, much like red tomatoes do. As they ripen, they will turn from a greenish yellow to the color of the mature fruit, which can range from a lemon-colored to bright orange. Tomatoes will be fully yellow or orange when they are fully ripe, and they still feel firm when lightly squeezed.