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I was reading an online gardening forum and a member posted the question – “When is the best time to plant tomatoes?” The answer they received was May 1st. Sorry, but the answer just isn’t that easy. “Are you planting tomatoes from seeds or are you using purchased seedlings?” “What part of the country do you live in?” “Are you planting short season or longer growing varieties?” All these questions must be considered when determining the optimum planting time for tomatoes.
The first thing to keep in mind is that tomatoes are fragile, warm weather crops. They need night time temperatures to stay above 50 degrees and cannot tolerate frost. Even if they manage to survive a late freeze, their growth pattern will be slowed significantly. They will also need, on average, 8 to 10 hours of sun per day. In most parts of the country, that means that you must set your tomato plants sometime in the late spring to early summer.
If you are planting tomatoes from seeds, rather than buying established seedling plants, you will need to determine the latest expected frost dates for your area. Check the Farmer’s Almanac or your county extension agent for dates in your area. Once that date is determined, seeds should be started indoors approximately 6-8 weeks prior. Keep your seeds in a warm, well-lighted place. When the plants reach 6”-8” tall, AND you’ve passed the last expected frost date, go ahead and set them outdoors.
Most tomato varieties produce fruit within a 65 – 80 day span. Therefore, if you have a slow growing variety and set your plants around May 15th, you will have a harvest by the middle of August. If you live in the southern regions of the US, and do not get frost until late November, you can plant tomato crops as late as August and still reap a harvest before the end of the growing season.
There is no “one size fits all” answer to the best planting time for tomatoes. Simply remember the tomato plants needs: night time temperature of at least fifty degrees and 8-10 hours of sun per day. Once you’ve determined the constraints for your area, go ahead and plant as many waves of tomato crops as you’d like. Even if you cannot eat all the tomatoes that your garden produces, they are easy to can, freeze, and preserve. You’ll enjoy homegrown tomatoes all winter long.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about vegetable gardening and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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