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 | Jan 1 | 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.
Your exact dates
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Frequently asked questions
When should I plant tomatoes?
Plant tomatoes about 2 weeks after your last spring frost, once the soil warms. 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 transplant or sowing. In zone 6, plants set out around May 14 are typically ready near Jul 28.