When to plant tomatoes
Short answer
Plant tomatoes about 2 weeks after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 29, starting seeds indoors about Mar 4. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Dec 4 | Jan 29 | Apr 14 |
| Zone 2 | Jan 4 | Mar 1 | May 15 |
| Zone 3 | Jan 27 | Mar 24 | Jun 7 |
| Zone 4 | Feb 16 | Apr 13 | Jun 27 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 4 | Apr 29 | Jul 13 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 19 | May 14 | Jul 28 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 3 | May 29 | Aug 12 |
| Zone 8 | Apr 20 | Jun 15 | Aug 29 |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Tomatoes is a tender crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
What sets the timing for tomatoes
When to plant tomatoes comes down to one date: your last spring frost. Tomatoes is a tender crop, so it goes in about 2 weeks after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 29.
Give it a head start: sow seeds indoors about 6 weeks before your last spring frost (around Mar 4 in zone 5), then move seedlings out once conditions are right. From there it's roughly 75 days to harvest.
Because that anchor date moves with climate, plant-out for tomatoes ranges from about Mar 24 in warm zone 3 to May 29 in cold zone 7. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for the exact dates in your zone.
What sets the timing
| Factor | Effect on timing |
|---|---|
| Frost anchor | Timing counts from your last spring frost |
| Hardiness | Tomatoes is tender — it waits until the soil warms after frost |
| Indoor start | Start seeds 6 weeks before your last spring frost |
| Days to harvest | About 75 days from planting to harvest |
| Climate zone | Higher (colder) zones push plant-out later; warmer zones let you start sooner |
| Soil & weather | Needs warm soil — cold, wet ground stunts or rots it |
How tomatoes compares
Plant-out date in a mid climate (zone 5), against an early hardy crop and a late tender one.
| Crop | Plant outside (zone 5) |
|---|---|
| Peas (hardy · plants early) | Mar 11 |
| Tomatoes | Apr 29 |
Tips for growing tomatoes
- Don't rush tomatoes outside — cold soil stalls it. Wait until after your last spring frost and, ideally, until nights stay mild.
- Give tomatoes a 6 weeks indoor head start under a bright light before transplanting.
- Count roughly 75 days from planting to harvest, and stagger sowings a few weeks apart for a longer picking window.
- Enter your ZIP in the calculator for tomatoes dates tuned to your exact climate zone.
Your exact dates
Open the planting calendarOther crops
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant tomatoes?
Plant tomatoes about 2 weeks after your last spring frost. That's around Apr 13 in zone 4 and May 14 in zone 6.
When do I start tomatoes seeds indoors?
Start tomatoes seeds indoors about 6 weeks before your last frost, then transplant after the frost passes. That's roughly Mar 19 in zone 6.
How long until tomatoes is ready to harvest?
About 75 days from planting until first harvest. In zone 6, tomatoes planted around May 14 is typically ready near Jul 28.