Vegetable · Solanaceae
When to plant tomatoes
Bush (determinate) and cordon (indeterminate) tomatoes need different training. Read the variety label before removing side shoots: routine cordon pruning is not a rule for every tomato.
Start seed indoors
6 weeks before
Counted from your last spring frost.
Plant out
2 weeks after
Counted from your last spring frost.
Days to maturity (estimate)
60-85
From planting out to first harvest; cultivar and conditions matter.
Choose a place for estimated dates and local climate checks.
Timing, in frost-relative terms
These offsets are the starting assumptions used by our calendar for tomatoes. They do not establish suitability in every climate. Your seed packet, cultivar and local growing advice take priority; in frost-free places the calendar uses monthly temperature patterns instead.
- Start seed indoors 6 weeks before the last frost.
- Plant out 2 weeks after the last frost.
- Expect 60–85 days to maturity, counted from planting out.
Getting the timing right
Give tender young plants a gradual transition outdoors. Wait for warm soil and suitable night temperatures, and keep frost protection available when the forecast is uncertain.
Frost tolerance
Check the named variety and local forecast before exposing young growth. The catalog cold-damage figure is a reference, not a guarantee: plant age, acclimatisation, wind and the duration of a freeze affect damage.
Classified as tender, with a catalog cold-damage reference of 0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C). Exposure duration, growth stage and acclimatisation change cold tolerance.
Before you plant tomatoes
Use the calendar to plan ahead, then check the conditions in your own garden.
- Measure the soil at sowing depth. Aim for at least 15.5°C (59.9°F); the calendar estimates soil warmth from air temperatures and cannot measure your bed.
- Check the local overnight forecast before planting out. Delay planting or keep protection ready if frost is forecast, even after the historical last-frost date.
- Harden off plants raised indoors: gradually expose them to outdoor light, wind and temperature before their final move into the bed.
- Use the maturity range on your seed packet when choosing a variety. Cold, short days and transplant stress can make harvest later than the calendar estimate.
Choose the growth habit before choosing the support
Give tender young plants a gradual transition outdoors. Wait for warm soil and suitable night temperatures, and keep frost protection available when the forecast is uncertain.
Set supports in place early for varieties that need them. Water consistently as fruit develops; small pots can dry rapidly even when the wider garden still looks damp.
Outdoor wet weather can increase disease pressure, including blight. Choose a suitable variety, leave room for airflow and inspect plants rather than assuming a warm month is automatically a good one.
Growing in a container
Compact bush varieties suit smaller growing spaces. Use a substantial pot with drainage and support any variety that needs training.
Further reading: RHS tomato growing guide . General crop guidance; local dates on this site are calculated separately. Source checked 18 September 2026 by Safe to Plant; this is not an expert review.
How the dates are calculated and their limits · Keep a growing record · Report a local discrepancy