Home » Misc » How late can i plant tomatoes

How late can i plant tomatoes


5 Tips for Late Season Tomato Planting

Homegrown tomatoes are the best and if you missed your first planting date you’re likely wondering how late you can plant tomatoes to still get a harvest. So in the post, we’ll go over all of the must-have details!

Audrey's Little Farm may earn a commission after clicking links on this page at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

I believe fresh tomatoes are probably one of the most popular plants among all home gardeners, which is no surprise. They are delicious!

I can hardly even eat a store-bought tomato after growing fresh tomatoes because there really is no comparison.

So whether you missed your first planting date, your current tomatoes aren’t growing well, or you just want to get another great harvest before the growing season ends, let’s see if you can still plant.

Get your free Vegetable Planting Schedule!

Sign up and get this planting schedule with all planting dates sent straight to your inbox!!

How Late Can You Plant Tomatoes?

This depends on a variety of conditions. But the two most important factors are days to maturity and your first frost date.

So first, you need to look up your first frost date, then look up the days to maturity for the tomato variety you’d like to plant. If the days to maturity are less than the number of days away from your first frost then you can still plant.

For example, if your average first frost date is December 1st and you want to plant Early Girl tomatoes, they are ready to harvest in 60 days after transplanting.

Note that days to maturity are not from the day you plant tomato seeds, they are from the day you transplant young plants.

This would mean you could plant Early Girl tomato transplants all the way up to October 1st.

But an important consideration is that tomatoes continue to produce for an extended period. So if you were to plant on the last date possible before your first frost you won’t have enough time before a frost hits to get much of a harvest.

So I suggest figuring out the last date you can plant, then go back an extra month to ensure you have a longer harvesting time.

For the example above, that would mean your last planting date for Early Girl tomatoes would be September 1st.

Late Season Tomato Planting Tips

The best time to plant tomatoes in most areas is early to mid-spring when all danger of frost has passed.

But if you have a long growing season or you were late getting your plants in the ground there is no reason why you shouldn’t plant a late-season crop.

One benefit of late-season planting is that many garden centers have their vegetable plants discounted later in the gardening season so you can often get a great deal!

But here are some more tips to keep in mind!

Get your free Vegetable Planting Schedule!

Sign up and get this planting schedule with all planting dates sent straight to your inbox!!

1.) Choose Disease Resistant Varieties

This is a good practice no matter what time of year you are planting tomatoes but it’s especially important late in the season. Of all the vegetables, tomato plants are often the most susceptible to disease.

So choosing disease-resistant varieties will give you one less thing to worry about.

Hybrid varieties have more disease resistance than heirlooms and so I’d choose from those or be sure you’re planting a disease-resistant heirloom type. A few great options are:

2.) Choose Early Maturing Varieties

Another important thing to keep in mind for best results with late-season planting is to choose fast or early maturing varieties.

Some varieties can take up to 100 days to mature but there are others that only take 50. So choosing varieties with the quickest days to maturity is important especially if you don’t have much time left before your first frost.

Here are a few quick maturing tomato varieties,

There are many more quick maturing types out there and so check the plant tags at your local garden center or the plant description if you’re ordering online.

One of my favorite places to shop for seeds is True Leaf Market!

3.) Plant and Water Properly

Tomatoes prefer rich soil and so prior to planting work up your garden beds and add in some compost. If you are planting in pots you should refill them with fresh potting soil each year to maintain nutrients.

When you transplant your tomatoes burry 2/3 of the main stem. This lets the plant sprout roots along all parts of the buried stem which makes your plant much stronger.

It’s also a good idea to use a starter fertilizer that helps minimize transplant shock and establish healthy root systems.

Tomatoes then need to be consistently watered. Plan on at least one inch of water per week, more in hot weather.

If you are planting in late summer it’s likely going to be very hot and so I have my garden set up on drip irrigation so that I can water long and slow.

I also have my garden on a timer which frees up a ton of time to do other tasks in the garden.

My last planting tip is to avoid planting your tomatoes where other nightshade crops have recently been. Common nightshade crops include tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.

This is the practice of crop rotation and helps prevent common diseases such as bacterial wilt and early blight, as well as viruses such as the Tobacco Mosaic Virus.

To learn more about crop rotation, head over to my post here about companion planting.

4.) Provide Extra Care

The first thing you should do is provide support for your plants before they get too big. You can use tomato cages, a trellis, posts with wire, really whatever works best for you.

Then once your tomatoes start to set fruit go ahead and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer. Or something such as Dr. Earth Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb Fertilizer.

You can continue to fertilize every few weeks until the end of the harvest period.

Get your free Vegetable Planting Schedule!

Sign up and get this planting schedule with all planting dates sent straight to your inbox!!

5.) Harvest & Store Properly

Now onto the fun part, harvesting time!

When you start seeing ripe tomatoes harvest and store them properly. Don’t put your tomatoes in the fridge. Instead, store them at room temperature because anything under 55 degrees F. begins breaking down the tissue of the tomato and takes away from the quality and flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a few common questions related to growing tomatoes!

How far apart to space out tomato plants?

This depends on the variety. There are determinate and indeterminate varieties that grow to different sizes so that is the first thing to check.

But I believe more space is better, especially when tomatoes are grown in the hot summer heat. It allows for much more air circulation which means healthier plants.

I space my tomatoes 5 feet apart and they do great! Head to this post here to learn more, How Far Apart to Space Tomato Plants.

Watch my video below to hear some of the changes I made that led to my best tomato crop ever!

These changes SAVED my tomato crop!


Watch this video on YouTube

How late in summer can you plant tomatoes?

This depends on your first frost date and the days to maturity for the type of tomato. As long as the days to maturity are less than the number of days away from your first frost date you can still plant.

For most areas, you should still be able to plant late from late June to late August with no problem.

Can you overwinter tomatoes?

In zone 10 and warmer, tomatoes grow as a fall and winter crop. In zone 9b and below you likely won’t be able to overwinter your crop but you can try growing them in a greenhouse.

Want to learn more about growing tomatoes?

Pin it for later:

Get your free Vegetable Planting Schedule!

Sign up and get this planting schedule with all planting dates sent straight to your inbox!!

When to Plant Tomatoes | Gardener’s Path

It can be confusing to try to figure out the right time to start tomatoes.

If you wait too long to plant them you may not have enough time in the season to harvest a full crop. But on the other hand, if you start them too early you might risk stunting or even killing the plants.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

There are a few key factors that go into determining the optimal start time for growing tomatoes.

Read on to learn how to calculate the best time for planting tomatoes in your climate. This article will help you figure out how early to start seeds indoors as well as when and how to transplant seedlings to the garden.

What You’ll Learn

Growing tomatoes is an investment.

Whether you are spending good money on nursery stock or putting in the time and energy it takes to grow them from seed, you certainly don’t want to risk ruining your crop by planting too early or too late.

If you really want a stellar harvest of juicy, sweet fruits, it is important to get the timing right.

To figure out the best time to start tomato seeds and plants, it is helpful to first figure out when you plan to plant them outside in the garden and work backwards.

Calculate Your Optimal Planting Date

First and foremost, you absolutely need to wait until after the last expected frost date according to your USDA Hardiness Zone.

I know from unfortunate experience that this can be hard to do. But even if you have an unseasonably warm stretch of weather in the spring, do not be tempted to plant early!

Tomatoes are true warm-weather crops. If you plant them too soon, you risk killing them. Even if early transplants survive a few unexpected frosty nights, their growth may be stunted and struggling plants will be more susceptible to pests and disease.

So if you pay attention to nothing else, be sure to check the expected last frost date for your growing zone and wait until after that date to plant.

If you are unsure of your growing zone, you can use this tool from the USDA to determine your hardiness zone and climate based on your zip code.

When you’re looking at first and last frost dates, keep in mind that these dates are just ranges based on the average for your growing zone.

Since we all live in unique microclimates, it is always a good idea to keep a yearly garden journal with your own data on frost dates.

While this is an important starting point, if you really want to pinpoint the perfect starting time, there are several additional important factors to consider.

Temperature

For tomatoes to grow well, nighttime temperatures should be consistently above 50°F. Additionally, it is best to wait to plant until soil temperatures are around 60°F.

If you don’t have a soil thermometer, a makeshift method is to stick your finger a couple of inches into the soil. If you are unable to keep it there comfortably for a minute, the soil is likely still too cold.

You can spread a layer of thick mulch or black plastic out in the garden to help the soil warm faster in the spring.

Sunshine

In addition to warm temperatures, these plants need adequate sunshine to be happy.

Before planting them, make sure the sun is high enough in the sky for enough of the day for the site to receive at least six hours of full sun exposure.

The only exception to this is for gardeners in very hot climates, where some shade – particularly in the afternoon – can be helpful to protect plants on scorching days.

Days to Maturity

So this is where things can get a tad more complicated. While it is true it may be safe enough to plant immediately after the last frost, waiting a few extra weeks until the temperatures have warmed and the days are longer may result in healthier, happier plants.

Some varieties take a long time to mature, though, and it is equally important to make sure there are enough warm days for plants to produce fruit before they are harmed by fall frosts.

Looking at the number of “days to maturity” on the back of your seed packets will help you to determine the ideal planting window for your growing zone.

First, figure out when the first frost of fall is expected for your region. Count backwards from this date, using the number of days to maturity listed on the seed packet or plant tag.

You can safely plant tomatoes in the garden between the last frost of spring and this date.

For instance, I live in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b with an average first frost date of September 25th and last frost around May 21st. Let’s say I have a packet of seeds that says “90 days to maturity.”

Counting backwards from September 25th by 90 days, I would need to plant seedlings out in the garden after May 21st but before June 27th.

The safest bet would be to find a date in that window with some wiggle room on either side, such as the first weekend in June.

There is a wide range of growing times for tomatoes and many varieties to choose from. Some cultivars mature in 50 days while others can take up to 100 days to harvest.

You can use this information to select cultivars based on a number of days to maturity that will work well with your growing zone.

Photo credit: F-Focus by Mati Kose / Shutterstock.com

If you live in a cold climate or get a late start on your garden, choose a variety with a shorter number of days to maturity.

Now that you know when to plant tomatoes in the garden, you can use this information to determine when to start seeds indoors.

When to Start Seeds Indoors

There is some debate on how early to start tomato seeds indoors. It is typically recommended to start them six to eight weeks before transplanting outside.

Many gardeners, however, choose to start even earlier, up to 12 weeks before the expected transplant date, to give their seedlings extra time to grow before planting them out.

While this may give you a head start on the season, starting too early can also mean you risk stressing and stunting young plants. Often, the smallest seedlings I plant out in the garden are the ones that grow the largest and strongest.

How early to start may vary depending on the climate of your indoor growing space as well as the selected cultivar.

If you have a warm, humid space with lots of light, seedlings are likely to germinate faster and six weeks may be enough. Ideal temperatures for starting tomatoes are between 65 and 85°F. In this temperature range, seeds should germinate in a week or so.

If you don’t have a warm, bright space to start your seeds, or if you have a really short growing season, starting even earlier can be advantageous.

Start seeds in two- to four-inch pots in a lightweight seed starting mix, covering the seeds with a quarter-inch of soil. Mist and keep the soil moist until sprouts appear.

Set your containers in a warm location or on a heat mat, covered with a humidity dome if you have one to speed germination.

Once the seeds have germinated, remove the lid and place your pots in a sunny window or under grow lights for 10 to 14 hours a day. Using artificial grow lights is especially helpful if you choose to start seeds on the early side when days are still short.

Keep the soil moist but not soggy. The best method for watering tomato seedlings is bottom watering.

Set the pots in a tray and add half an inch of water to the bottom every few days when the soil feels dry. Let the roots soak up the water for 10 minutes or so, then dump out any excess water from the tray.

Once they have developed a few sets of true leaves, transplant to four- to six-inch containers.

Whenever you transplant tomatoes, you want to sink them low enough in the pot that you bury the lower third of the stem in soil. This will encourage them to grow more roots, resulting in stronger, more robust plants.

If you started seeds early, you may need to repot a second time in even larger pots before they are ready to be planted out. It is important not to let them become rootbound.

Harden off the seedlings once soil temperatures have reached about 50°F outdoors.

Set the pots in a sheltered location outside for an hour or so, increasing the length of time each day over the course of a week or two until your plants have adjusted to the outdoor conditions.

Planting in the Garden

When at last it is time to plant tomatoes in the garden, find a spot with well-draining soil that receives full sun, or in hot climates, just a little bit of afternoon shade.

Prepare the garden bed by working a few inches of compost into the soil. Dig deep holes 18 to 36 inches apart, burying the bottom two-thirds of each plant so only the topmost leaves are above the soil.

Refill the holes, lightly tamping the soil around each one as you do so.

Water thoroughly and add a few inches of hay or straw mulch around the base of each plant, leaving a few inches bare around the stem.

Depending on variety, you may also need to add cages or stakes as they grow to keep them upright.

Doing this when you plant is an excellent option, to avoid damaging the roots after they have become more established. You can learn more about growing and caring for tomatoes in our complete guide.

Planting Tips for Abundant Harvests

Since tomatoes really need a few months of summer heat and sunshine for good yields, if you live in a warm climate with a long growing season, it doesn’t hurt to wait a few extra weeks after the last frost before planting them out.

If you have the time and materials, you can start seeds indoors under grow lights as early as 12 weeks before moving them to their permanent location outside, transplanting to larger pots as they grow.

If growing in colder zones, look for varieties with a shorter number of days to maturity.

A layer of black plastic or thick mulch can help the soil to warm up faster. While it is still important to wait until after the last frost, warmer soil will certainly help newly planted tomato seedlings to adapt and grow faster.

Timed to Perfection

So when should you start your tomatoes? It may seem like a simple question initially, but as you can see, the ideal time to plant tomatoes depends on a number of factors.

Though it takes a bit of research and observation to figure out what is best for your garden, once you do, you may find yourself with more healthy and fruitful tomato plants than you know what to do with!

What are your tips for starting tomatoes from seed or transplants? Share your experience in the comments below.

Want to become a tomato gardening expert? Check out these articles next for more useful information:

When tomato seedlings are planted and how to grow them correctly

Published:

Planting tomato seedlings in individual pots: Pixabay

Sowing time and organization of care affect the viability of tomato seedlings. Optimal methods and the time of harvesting seedlings were indicated by gardening experts Galina Kizima and Pavel Trannua.

When to plant tomatoes for seedlings and which varieties to choose

If the seeds are sown on time, they give friendly shoots and a high level of survival when transplanted into the ground. When to plant tomatoes for seedlings? Tomatoes are prepared for sowing in late February-early March. It is not worth sowing them too early, so that the plants do not outgrow before planting in the ground, because tomato seeds germinate already 7-10 days after sowing.

Gardeners carry out the planned planting of tomatoes for seedlings, taking into account the climatic conditions in their region:

Seedling develops and develops true leaves on a windowsill or in a greenhouse before transplanting into open ground within 50-65 days. During this time, she manages to get stronger and does not outgrow.

Tomato seedling with two leaves: Pixabay

To get strong seedlings and a good harvest of tomatoes, select the best zoned tomato varieties for seedlings. Conduct the selection according to the following criteria:

Do not use seeds collected from hybrids. They do not germinate well and give a weak increase.

Tomato seedlings and mature cherry tomatoes: Freepik

How to care for tomato seedlings

Tomatoes are heat-loving plants, so it is necessary to create favorable conditions for seedlings. After sowing seeds in the ground in the first two weeks, follow these care rules:

Watch your crops to make sure you don't miss the emergence of sprouts above the ground. How to care for tomato seedlings? After germination:

Tomato sprouts after germination: Pixabay

What to do so that tomato seedlings do not stretch? Most often this happens when there is a lack of daylight. To avoid this, use special fitolamps and extend daylight hours to 10-12 hours.

Why do tomato seedlings turn yellow? Yellowness on the leaves of tomato seedlings is the first signal of a lack of micro- and macroelements in the soil, excess moisture, insufficient lighting, sunburn or sudden changes in temperature. The appearance of pests and diseases on seedlings can lead to yellowing of the leaves.

To avoid this, water the seedlings with settled water at room temperature 2-3 times a week. At the same time, take into account the drying of the top layer of soil in the boxes. If the room is too dry, just spray the seedlings with a spray bottle.

Galina Kizima, the author of the book Encyclopedia of Beginner Gardener and Gardener in Pictures, advises watering seedlings not with water, but with a weak solution of mineral fertilizers. For growth and development, they require increased doses of phosphorus and potassium. This should be done as needed, as soon as the soil surface is slightly dry. On hot days - daily in the evening, on cold days - after 2-3 days. Seedlings should not be allowed to dry out, this has a bad effect on crop yields.

Tomato seedlings in cassettes after picking: Freepik

How and when to plant seedlings in open ground

When to plant tomato seedlings in the ground? Transplant tomato seedlings into the ground when weather conditions allow and the soil warms up to +10 ° C. Planting dates in different regions shift in time depending on climatic conditions:

Tomato seedlings, ready for planting in the ground, should look like this:

Tomato seedlings in the garden: Freepik

For tomato seedlings to take root successfully in the garden, prepare the site and harden off the seedlings long before transplanting them. Choose an elevated, well-lit area that is free from drafts. As soon as the snow melts, cover the bed under the tomatoes with a black film. This will help warm the soil and speed up the planting time for a couple of weeks.

Prepare plants for transplanting into the ground step by step:

  1. Use a knife to cut the soil between the plants along and across the rows to a depth of 8–10 cm 15–20 days before planting tomato seedlings in a permanent place. Such a procedure, as they say in the book "Experience in Growing Tomatoes", will accelerate the formation of roots and help create a nutritious clod of earth. Do the cut 2-3 times.
  2. Harden off seedlings 2 weeks before planting in the ground. Start taking seedlings in trays to an open area, starting at 30 minutes a day. Bring the hardening time to a full day if there are no frosts at night. Try not to let direct sunlight burn the tender leaves.
  3. Stop watering seedlings 7-10 days before planting in the ground.

Water the holes before planting if the weather is dry. Pour into each handful of the dry mixture (wood ash, chicken manure, superphosphate in a ratio of 2: 1: 0.5). Transplant seedlings into the ground in the evening or on a cloudy day. At night, cover the seedlings with agrofibre to protect them from frost.

Properly selected seed, sowing time and caring for seedlings enable gardeners to grow healthy, strong tomato seedlings. It should be planted in the garden, taking into account the climatic conditions of the region and the agrotechnical rules for each site.

Original article: https://www.nur.kz/household/garden/1842141-kogda-sazat-pomidory-na-rassadu-i-kak-eto-pravilno-sdelat/ Antonov sad Registration

january february march april tomato seedlings tomatoes outdoor tomatoes greenhouse tomatoes lunar calendar

Khromov Nikolay Vladimirovich

Tomatoes (tomatoes) All regions

Tomato seedlings are grown to produce tasty and early tomatoes. Often they do not dare to buy seedlings or do it as a last resort, when, for example, their own seedlings failed. Consider today the timing of sowing tomato seeds for seedlings in 2023 in accordance with the lunar calendar, as well as the timing and rules for planting tomato seedlings both in open ground and in a greenhouse.

Contents
1. Dates for sowing tomatoes for seedlings by months 2023 2. Lunar calendar for planting tomatoes in 2023 3. When to transplant seedlings into open ground and greenhouse 4. Recommendations for transplanting tomato seedlings into the ground Compliance with

sowing time will help grow healthy seedlings (photo by pixabay/thephilippena)

When to plant tomatoes for seedlings

Tomato seed can be sown starting as early as January, and the sowing period lasts until April. Let's take a look at the optimal timing by month and consider why it is necessary to sow tomato seeds in a given month.

Calendar of tomato seedlings in 2023 by months

Most gardeners are guided by the lunar calendar. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the lunar calendar for planting tomato seedlings in 2023 in order to get healthy plants and a good harvest in the future.

month Sowing Rules

This month can be sowned by seeds of seedlings only when there is a reliable heated plant at your disposal, at the same time, at the point the soil and air are already warmed up. Usually seedlings are ready for planting 60-80 days after sowing seeds in the ground. Knowing this, you can estimate the time when your seedlings will require planting in a permanent place.

Often in greenhouses, which are intended for the early cultivation of tomatoes, warm beds are made. They consist of organic matter, which, decomposing, heats up the substrate, and it becomes completely suitable for growing tomatoes in the early stages.

When growing young plants at home in January, it is important to consider the installation of supplementary lighting, as this winter month is characterized by short days and often overcast weather. Every gardener should know about this.

February

February is a more favorable month for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings. Say, if you sow the seeds on February 1, then the seedlings will need to be planted in the ground at the beginning of April. It is clear that only the southern regions are suitable for this, as well as those areas where there are either heated greenhouses or reliable greenhouses with soil heated by that time. In greenhouses and greenhouses, you can also use warm beds, which by the time the tomato seedlings are planted will already warm the soil well.

When growing tomato seedlings in February, it is important to provide for additional lighting. Although the days in February are longer than in January, there is still not enough light, and there are even more cloudy days in February.

March March is the month of mass sowing of tomato seeds. When sown in March, seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground in May, which is often a favorable period for most regions of our country, with the exception of perhaps the cold northern regions. Here, seeds for seedlings are best sown no earlier than mid-March or even the end of the month - this is the most favorable time.
April This month you can sow the seeds of early maturing varieties in the northern regions, and in others it is already late, here you can sow the seeds directly into the soil of a greenhouse or greenhouse and get seedlings, and then plants that will not require picks or transplants and will begin to bear fruit about two weeks earlier relative to age (when compared with the age from the time of sowing to transplanting seedlings to a permanent place).

931

7, 20, 21, 22

February

1-3, 28

9000, 21, 5 9000 March

1–3, 16, 24, 25, 29, 30

20, 21, 22, 7

April

1 9000 4, 5, 22, 25, 25, 25, 25, 25, 25, 25 26

19, 20, 21, 6

When to plant tomato seedlings in the greenhouse and open ground

The timing of planting tomato seedlings in the ground or greenhouse depends on the region of cultivation and on biological characteristics - early variety, middle or late.

It is usually possible to understand that seedlings are ready for transplanting to a permanent place by external signs. So, a fully developed seedling has a stalk 0.6–0.8 cm thick, the height of the seedlings ranges from 18 to 28 cm, there are about 7–9 leaves on each plant, sometimes more, but the age of the seedlings, depending on the variety, is from 60 to 80 days.

You need to focus on the climatic features of your region By the time the seedlings are planted, the risk of return frosts should be absent or extremely small, the soil should be warmed up to 9–11 degrees, the air should be warmed above the mark of 13 degrees - the higher, the better the plant will develop . Let's start with planting seedlings in open ground.

Each region has its own term for planting young tomato plants in the ground

Important

.
As for open ground, there is more risk, therefore, the dates are later, and it is necessary to take into account the ripening time of tomato varieties.

When planting in a greenhouse, consider the material from which it is made

How to plant tomato seedlings in the ground

Before planting, seedlings must be hardened off, usually hardening is carried out for a week or a little more, gradually placing them in more severe conditions. Landing is best done, in order to avoid sunburn, either in the morning hours - from 10 to 12 noon, or in the late afternoon - from 15 to 17 hours of the day.

Tip.

Plant tomato seedlings strictly vertically, do not bend or break parts of the root system. Landing is carried out in wells prepared in advance and well moistened.

  1. Place the seedlings in the center of the hole, cover it with soil and compact the soil well by pressing it on all sides with your fingers.
  2. In the case when the seedlings are very elongated, it is allowed to plant them obliquely, placing them along the row and covering the stems with soil. Additional roots are formed on them and further the plants will fully develop.
  3. After planting, seedlings should not be watered for at least three days, even if they have died, there is nothing wrong with that. During this period, the formation of the suction root system, which is necessary for the full development of plants, takes place.
  4. As for the planting scheme, usually between plants leave from 45 to 55 cm, and between rows - from 60 to 70 cm.


and a greenhouse, and also mentioned the subtleties that you must know.

More on this topic

Do you follow the planting calendar? Share your opinion with other gardeners in the comments.

You did it!

These articles, and more, can come to you by mail.

Learn more