Side by side
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Tomatillo vs. Beefsteak Tomato
The comparison
| Fact | | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Life cycle | Not yet verified | Annual |
| Germination time | 7–10 days | 6–12 days |
| Germination temperature | 27 °C81 °F | 24–32 °C75–90 °F |
| Sowing depth | 1.5 cm½ in | 3 mm⅛ in |
| Spacing between plants | 61 cm2 ft | 46–61 cm1½–2 ft |
| Days to maturity | 60–75 days from transplanting | 65–90 days from transplanting |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Not yet verified | Moderate |
| Containers | Yes | Yes, 19 L or largerYes, 5 gal or larger |
| Frost tolerance | Not yet verified | Tender (no frost) |
| Soil pH | Not yet verified | pH 5.8–6.8 |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesPhysalis philadelphica
Tomatillos are easy, warm-season annual vegetables that grow best in full sun. Set out transplants after frost and plant at least two, then expect harvest about 60 to 75 days after transplanting.
How to grow tomatilloVegetablesSolanum lycopersicum
Beefsteak tomatoes are large-fruited tomatoes grown from seed indoors and moved outside after frost. They need full sun, steady moisture, and a long warm season.
How to grow beefsteak tomatoKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Tomatillo vs. Beefsteak Tomato vs. Acorn SquashAdd acorn squash as a third
Tomatillo vs. Beefsteak Tomato vs. Armenian CucumberAdd armenian cucumber as a third
Tomatillo vs. Beefsteak Tomato vs. ArtichokeAdd artichoke as a thirdTomatillo vs. Acorn SquashTomatillo against another vegetableBeefsteak Tomato vs. Acorn SquashBeefsteak Tomato against another vegetableTomatillo vs. Armenian CucumberTomatillo against another vegetableThe table, row by row
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
