One of the very first types of tomatoes I grew. It seems to be very popular in many areas. Despite the name, I never found it to be early, though it was often the first plant with ripe fruit. The flavor is not exceptional, but after a long winter it tastes pretty good! The main plus for Early Girl is that it usually keeps producing up until frost here.
You need to keep the soil moist, watering on the ground, not in the air, to prevent rot. These tomatoes need at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water per week and prefer six hours or more of direct sun each day. Tomatoes need even watering to prevent rotting. Water thoroughly but not too often (twice per week should suffice at first), and try to water early in the day so that plants will dry off before evening.
Choose a fertilizer that has a balanced ratio of the three major elements, such as 10-10-10, or where the middle number (phosphorus) is larger than the first number (nitrogen), such as 2-3-1. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and usually do need fertilizer unless your soil is very rich.
Grow in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in a sheltered, sunny site. Protect in winter in cold areas.
