when to plant tomatoes

You should plant tomatoes outside after the last spring frost has passed and when both air and soil have warmed up enough, typically in late spring to early summer , depending on your climate zone.

Quick guideline for timing

• Seeds indoors: Start tomato seeds about 6–8 weeks before your area’s last frost date.

• Transplant outdoors: Move seedlings outside when:
  • Night temps stay above 50°F (10°C).

* **Soil is reliably warm** (around or above 60°F / 15°C).

* All risk of **late frost is gone** for your region.

Rough timing by region (in the US)

Region / climate| When to plant tomatoes
---|---
Southern US (warm)| Often late winter to early spring; even January–February for some areas. 13
Mid‑Atlantic / similar| Late March to early May , after last frost. 1
Pacific Northwest| Late spring (April–May). 1
Northeast / Midwest| Late May to early June when nights are warm enough. 15

Best time of day to plant

• Plant tomatoes in the late afternoon or early evening , when the sun is less intense, to reduce transplant shock and let plants adjust overnight.

If you’re in a cooler zone

• Choose short‑season or early‑maturing varieties and still wait until the minimum temp conditions are met ; tomatoes planted too early in cold soil will just “sit there” instead of growing.

If you tell me your city or USDA hardiness zone, I can give you a more precise “when to plant tomatoes” window for your exact location.