When to Plant Tomatoes

Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.

Tomatoes planting dates in major cities

CityStart indoorsTransplant outside
Mesa, AZDec 7 – Dec 21Feb 8 – Feb 22
Phoenix, AZNov 13 – Nov 27Jan 15 – Jan 29
Tucson, AZDec 11 – Dec 25Feb 12 – Feb 26
Anaheim, CANov 10 – Nov 24Jan 12 – Jan 26
Bakersfield, CADec 6 – Dec 20Feb 7 – Feb 21
Fresno, CANov 19 – Dec 3Jan 21 – Feb 4
Irvine, CANov 10 – Nov 24Jan 12 – Jan 26
Long Beach, CANov 14 – Nov 28Jan 16 – Jan 30
Los Angeles, CANov 7 – Nov 21Jan 9 – Jan 23
Oakland, CANov 12 – Nov 26Jan 14 – Jan 28
Riverside, CANov 14 – Nov 28Jan 16 – Jan 30
Sacramento, CANov 17 – Dec 1Jan 19 – Feb 2
San Diego, CANov 11 – Nov 25Jan 13 – Jan 27
San Francisco, CANov 4 – Nov 18Jan 6 – Jan 20
San Jose, CANov 7 – Nov 21Jan 9 – Jan 23
Stockton, CADec 11 – Dec 25Feb 12 – Feb 26
Aurora, COMar 12 – Mar 26May 14 – May 28
Colorado Springs, COMar 8 – Mar 22May 10 – May 24
Denver, COMar 9 – Mar 23May 11 – May 25
Washington, DCFeb 1 – Feb 15Apr 5 – Apr 19
Jacksonville, FLDec 7 – Dec 21Feb 8 – Feb 22
Orlando, FLNov 30 – Dec 14Feb 1 – Feb 15
Tampa, FLNov 25 – Dec 9Jan 27 – Feb 10
Atlanta, GAJan 27 – Feb 10Mar 31 – Apr 14
Chicago, ILFeb 13 – Feb 27Apr 17 – May 1
Indianapolis city, INFeb 23 – Mar 9Apr 27 – May 11
Wichita, KSFeb 14 – Feb 28Apr 18 – May 2
Lexington-Fayette, KYFeb 16 – Mar 2Apr 20 – May 4
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KYFeb 9 – Feb 23Apr 13 – Apr 27
New Orleans, LANov 27 – Dec 11Jan 29 – Feb 12
Boston, MAFeb 7 – Feb 21Apr 11 – Apr 25
Baltimore, MDJan 27 – Feb 10Mar 31 – Apr 14
Detroit, MIMar 2 – Mar 16May 4 – May 18
Minneapolis, MNFeb 26 – Mar 12Apr 30 – May 14
Kansas City, MOFeb 7 – Feb 21Apr 11 – Apr 25
Charlotte, NCFeb 2 – Feb 16Apr 6 – Apr 20
Raleigh, NCJan 31 – Feb 14Apr 4 – Apr 18
Omaha, NEFeb 19 – Mar 5Apr 23 – May 7
Albuquerque, NMFeb 26 – Mar 12Apr 30 – May 14
Henderson, NVNov 25 – Dec 9Jan 27 – Feb 10
Las Vegas, NVNov 29 – Dec 13Jan 31 – Feb 14
New York, NYFeb 4 – Feb 18Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cleveland, OHFeb 11 – Feb 25Apr 15 – Apr 29
Columbus, OHFeb 23 – Mar 9Apr 27 – May 11
Oklahoma City, OKFeb 7 – Feb 21Apr 11 – Apr 25
Tulsa, OKFeb 3 – Feb 17Apr 7 – Apr 21
Portland, ORDec 31 – Jan 14Mar 4 – Mar 18
Philadelphia, PAFeb 2 – Feb 16Apr 6 – Apr 20
Memphis, TNJan 19 – Feb 2Mar 23 – Apr 6
Nashville-Davidson, TNFeb 4 – Feb 18Apr 8 – Apr 22
Arlington, TXJan 12 – Jan 26Mar 16 – Mar 30
Austin, TXDec 26 – Jan 9Feb 27 – Mar 13
Dallas, TXJan 5 – Jan 19Mar 9 – Mar 23
El Paso, TXJan 5 – Jan 19Mar 9 – Mar 23
Fort Worth, TXJan 8 – Jan 22Mar 12 – Mar 26
Houston, TXDec 8 – Dec 22Feb 9 – Feb 23
San Antonio, TXDec 31 – Jan 14Mar 4 – Mar 18
Virginia Beach, VAFeb 1 – Feb 15Apr 5 – Apr 19
Seattle, WAJan 11 – Jan 25Mar 15 – Mar 29
Milwaukee, WIMar 1 – Mar 15May 3 – May 17

Calculated from each city's average (50%) frost dates. In a cold spring, lean toward the later end of each window.

Other crops

PeppersEggplantBasilCucumbersZucchini and summer squashPumpkins and winter squashWatermelons and melonsGreen beansSweet cornLettuceSpinachPeasKaleBroccoliCabbageCarrotsRadishesBeetsOnions (sets or transplants)PotatoesGarlic