When To Plant Tomatoes? The Best Time For Your Zone Or State

The USDA Hardiness Zone Map is an incredibly useful tool for most gardeners. Depending on your zone, you can determine whether or not a particular plant will thrive in your area.

How cool is that? I mean…I don’t know about you but I find the concept to be quite cool.

Anyways, when it comes to planting tomatoes, figuring out what climate conditions they thrive in can be a little tricky. I’m here to help you with that by sharing with you the best time to plant tomatoes depending on your state or zone.

When Is The Best Time To Plant Tomatoes?

Generally, tomatoes thrive in warmer months. They prefer some degree of warmth for optimal growth, so cool-weather planting definitely won’t be ideal. After the last frost date in your area, let the soil warm up before you go about sowing tomato seeds outdoors.

If you wish to give your tomato plants a little head start, you can start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date and transplant seedlings to your garden once conditions warm up.

Best Time To Plant Tomatoes By State/Zone

Virginia (Zone 6-8)

In Virginia, the ideal time to plant tomatoes is right after the last frost date which typically falls between mid-April to early May. Because this is a slightly cooler zone, you’ll need to wait a while for outdoor conditions to warm up sufficiently before seedling transplantation.

Oregon (Zones 7–9)

In Oregon, it makes the most sense to plant tomatoes around mid to late May for the best growth. Again, this is after the risk of frost has passed, meaning you’re waiting long enough for soil conditions to warm up and reach a minimum of 15-20°C.

Texas (Zones 6–9)

If you’re in Texas, try to get your tomato seeds into the ground around mid to late February right after the last frost. Wait for the temperature to turn mild and tolerable enough for tomato seedlings. You don’t want to transplant them outdoors when it’s still chilly.

Georgia (Zones 7–9)

For Georgia, which falls under zones 7-9, the optimal tomato planting time would be between early March and mid-April. The risk of frost should have passed with outdoor conditions starting to warm up day by day. A soil temperature of 15-18°C is ideal here.

Missouri (Zones 5–7)

If you’re a resident of Missouri and wish to grow tomatoes, you’ll typically have to strike between mid to late May for the best results. Though the ideal planting time can differ between southern and northern Missouri, the risk of frost still needs to have passed or otherwise the cold won’t allow for optimal growth.

Michigan (Zones 4–6)

Because Michigan offers a very chilly climate, you must let the soil warm up till early to mid-June. For the best, undisturbed tomato growth and maturation, wait until the nighttime temperature reaches somewhere around 18-22°C.

Tips For Success When Planting Tomatoes

Cold temperatures will significantly hinder tomato plant growth. You always want to wait until the soil and surrounding temperatures warm up;
Begin seeds indoors or in a greenhouse;
Starting seeds early will give you a headstart;
Provide them with plenty of light (up to 6-8 hours a day) for optimal foliage development and fruiting;
Add support such as a stake or trellis to keep tomato plants off the ground;
Fertilize them up to 2-3 times during the growing season but avoid overfertilizing.

Final Words

Although you may be led to believe that growing tomatoes is the most complex task ever, I’m here to assure you that it’s actually quite simple.

While each zone has slightly different temperature offerings and ideal planting times, you can safely plant your tomatoes once the risk of frost has passed. With the right care and resources, growing tomatoes requires minimal effort.