When to Plant Tomatoes, by Zone
Pick your USDA zone to see exactly when to start, transplant, and harvest tomatoes.
Select your growing zone:
How Tomato Timing Works
Tomatoes are a warm-season crop with two simple rules:
- Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. This gives you strong transplants ready to go the moment it's warm enough.
- Transplant outdoors only after your last frost, once nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F and the soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Tomatoes set in cold soil just sit there and sulk.
From transplant to first ripe tomato is usually 60-80 days, depending on the variety.
Don't Know Your Exact Frost Date?
The dates above are zone averages. For the precise last and first frost dates for your town, use your ZIP code on our Find Your Zone page, then count back 6-8 weeks to know when to start your seeds.
After You Plant
Once your tomatoes are in the ground, here's where to go next:
- How to Grow Tomatoes in a Raised Bed - spacing, support, watering, and feeding
- Companion Planting - what to grow alongside your tomatoes
- Tomato problems - yellow leaves, brown leaves, blossom end rot, and more
Quick Tips for a Bigger Tomato Harvest
- Harden off indoor seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting.
- Plant deep - bury two-thirds of the stem; tomatoes grow roots all along it.
- Water consistently to prevent cracking and blossom end rot.
- In hot zones (8-10), grow tomatoes in the cooler shoulder seasons and add a fall crop.
