US Grow Zones

When to plant tomato by zone

Last updated · Sources: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals frost dates; timing rules described in our methodology

Solanum lycopersicum is a warm-season crop that is tender to frost. Rule of thumb: start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 1 week after to 3 weeks after the last frost.

SeasonWarmtender to frost
Days to maturity60–85from transplant
Min. soil temp60°F15.6°C, at planting
Spacing18–36 inin the row

Tomato planting dates by zone

Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Jan 15 – Mar 31; Aug 1 – Sep 15.

Tomato planting windows by hardiness zoneTomato planting windows by USDA zone. zone 1a: indoor Apr 3–Apr 17, transplant Jun 5–Jun 19; zone 1b: indoor Apr 3–Apr 17, transplant Jun 5–Jun 19; zone 2a: indoor Mar 26–Apr 9, transplant May 28–Jun 11; zone 2b: indoor Mar 25–Apr 8, transplant May 27–Jun 10; zone 3a: indoor Apr 9–Apr 23, transplant Jun 11–Jun 25; zone 3b: indoor Mar 29–Apr 12, transplant May 31–Jun 14; zone 4a: indoor Mar 17–Mar 31, transplant May 19–Jun 2; zone 4b: indoor Mar 10–Mar 24, transplant May 12–May 26; zone 5a: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant May 11–May 25; zone 5b: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant May 11–May 25; zone 6a: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant May 11–May 25; zone 6b: indoor Mar 1–Mar 15, transplant May 3–May 17; zone 7a: indoor Feb 25–Mar 11, transplant Apr 29–May 13; zone 7b: indoor Feb 13–Feb 27, transplant Apr 17–May 1; zone 8a: indoor Feb 4–Feb 18, transplant Apr 8–Apr 22; zone 8b: indoor Jan 25–Feb 8, transplant Mar 29–Apr 12; zone 9a: indoor Jan 14–Jan 28, transplant Mar 18–Apr 1; zone 9b: indoor Dec 18–Jan 1, transplant Feb 19–Mar 5; zone 10a: indoor Dec 1–Dec 15, transplant Feb 2–Feb 16; zone 10b: indoor Dec 2–Dec 16, transplant Feb 3–Feb 17; zone 11a: ff Jan 15–Mar 31, ff Aug 1–Sep 15; zone 11b: ff Jan 15–Mar 31, ff Aug 1–Sep 15; zone 12a: ff Jan 15–Mar 31, ff Aug 1–Sep 15; zone 12b: ff Jan 15–Mar 31, ff Aug 1–Sep 15; zone 13a: ff Jan 15–Mar 31, ff Aug 1–Sep 15; zone 13b: ff Jan 15–Mar 31, ff Aug 1–Sep 15JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1a*1b*2a2b*3a*3b*4a4b5a5b6a6b7a7b8a8b9a9b10a10b11a11b*12a*12b13a*13b*Start indoorsPlant outDirect sowFall cropFrost-free climate window · * estimated zone
Planting windows by zone, drawn from the table below. Zones marked * have no major city on this site and use NOAA station estimates.
ZoneMedian last frostStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop
1a*May 29Apr 3 – Apr 17Jun 5 – Jun 19——
1b*May 29Apr 3 – Apr 17Jun 5 – Jun 19——
2aMay 21Mar 26 – Apr 9May 28 – Jun 11——
2b*May 20Mar 25 – Apr 8May 27 – Jun 10——
3a*Jun 4Apr 9 – Apr 23Jun 11 – Jun 25——
3b*May 24Mar 29 – Apr 12May 31 – Jun 14——
4aMay 12Mar 17 – Mar 31May 19 – Jun 2——
4bMay 5Mar 10 – Mar 24May 12 – May 26——
5aMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23May 11 – May 25——
5bMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23May 11 – May 25——
6aMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23May 11 – May 25——
6bApr 26Mar 1 – Mar 15May 3 – May 17——
7aApr 22Feb 25 – Mar 11Apr 29 – May 13——
7bApr 10Feb 13 – Feb 27Apr 17 – May 1——
8aApr 1Feb 4 – Feb 18Apr 8 – Apr 22——
8bMar 22Jan 25 – Feb 8Mar 29 – Apr 12——
9aMar 11Jan 14 – Jan 28Mar 18 – Apr 1——
9bFeb 12Dec 18 – Jan 1Feb 19 – Mar 5——
10aJan 26Dec 1 – Dec 15Feb 2 – Feb 16——
10bJan 27Dec 2 – Dec 16Feb 3 – Feb 17——
11aRareJan 15 – Mar 31; Aug 1 – Sep 15
11b*RareJan 15 – Mar 31; Aug 1 – Sep 15
12a*RareJan 15 – Mar 31; Aug 1 – Sep 15
12bRareJan 15 – Mar 31; Aug 1 – Sep 15
13a*RareJan 15 – Mar 31; Aug 1 – Sep 15
13b*RareJan 15 – Mar 31; Aug 1 – Sep 15

Growing tips

Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.

Exact dates for your city

Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.

Other crops: Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets

Tomato planting questions

When should I start tomato seeds indoors?

About 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost. Using the median frost dates of cities on this site: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Mar 9 – Mar 23; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 1 – Mar 15; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Feb 4 – Feb 18.

When can I plant tomato outside?

Set out transplants from 1 week after to 3 weeks after the last frost, once the soil reaches about 60°F (15.6°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): May 11 – May 25; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): May 3 – May 17; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Apr 8 – Apr 22.

Is my growing season long enough for tomato?

Tomato needs 60–85 days from transplant, and must finish before fall frost. Counting from planting 1 week after the last frost plus two weeks of harvest, slower varieties need about 106 days between the 30% frost dates. That is longer than the season in 3 of the 460 cities on this site with frost dates — for example Bend, OR, Flagstaff, AZ, Fairbanks, AK — where early varieties are the safer choice.

What soil temperature does tomato need?

At least 60°F (15.6°C) at planting depth. Cold soil slows root growth more than a short delay in planting does, so in a cold spring it pays to wait a week past the usual date. As a tender crop, tomato cannot take frost.

How far apart should I plant tomato?

Recommended in-row spacing: 18–36 in. Set transplants deep — tomatoes root along the buried stem.

When do you plant tomato where frost is rare?

In frost-free climates, plant tomato Jan 15 – Mar 31 and Aug 1 – Sep 15, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.