When to Plant Tomatoes for the Best Results

If you love tomatoes, growing them at home can be a rewarding experience. “Growing tomatoes is so much fun,” says Meagan Lloyd, creator of Meg Grows Plants. “It’s almost a right of passage as a gardener. Once you taste your very first homegrown tomato fresh from the garden, you will never want another grocery store tomato, ever. I don’t make the rules!”

As one of the most common vegetables to grow at home, a tomato can provide a generous learning curve while also supplying ingredients for every recipe you have in mind. But if you want to make sure that your prep work is rewarded, you need to know a few things before getting down in the dirt. From when to plant tomatoes for the best results, to the right soil to use, to how to space out your seeds, we asked gardening experts for all the tips you need to learn how to grow tomatoes successfully.

The Best Time to Plant Tomatoes

While the best time to plant tomatoes is usually long before you have a craving for a BLT sandwich, a more specific time frame comes down to the end of winter through the middle of spring. “The best time to sow tomato seeds is in early to mid-March, but it’s really important to keep them protected from frost,” organic gardening expert Becky Searle says. “Most parts of the U.K., where I live, still gets frost in May, even if we don’t see it.” In this climate, Searle says that a greenhouse won’t protect tomatoes from frost, and if you see it, then it’s best to start your tomato plant inside on a windowsill.

“[Tomatoes] can be planted out once the temperatures start to climb,” she notes. “Frost can kill a tomato plant, so it’s important not to plant them out too early. You also don’t want to look after huge plants in your house, so don’t sow them too early, either.”

As a good rule of thumb, Lloyd suggests holding off on planting seeds or small garden-store varieties outside until the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. “To figure out your last frost date, you’ll just want to do a quick search of the average frost date in your specific region,” she says. “Try to look at weather patterns the week before planting to make sure there aren’t any surprise frosts headed your way. If temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees, then you’re good to plant.”

The Right Soil and Sunlight to Use

Much like all of us after a chilly winter, tomatoes crave sunlight. “They need six-to-eight hours of direct sunlight per day in order to produce their best yield,” Lloyd says. “The more sun, the better the flavor, so choose the sunniest spot in your garden. However, if you live in an area of intense sun, like the desert, you may need to add a shade cloth over your tomatoes in the hottest months to protect them from sunburn.” Once you’ve determined the best spot, you’ll want to pay attention to the soil. Overall, tomatoes require a rich soil to grow in—one that has a lot of nutrients.

“While they can be planted directly into the ground, raised beds or large containers that can hold at at least 10 or 15 gallons per plant offer better drainage and warmer soil, which can lead to earlier harvests,” Floyd says. “Planting in the ground, especially as a beginner, can be challenging.” Depending on where you live, soil can either be naturally dry, lacking nutrients, or mixed with clay. You can spend years treating the soil so that it eventually is the right type for tomatoes, and that’s why Floyd avoids that route entirely.

“Living in North Carolina, with its dense clay soil, I prefer to plant in raised beds or containers,” she says. “This allows me to have more control over the soil’s quality, and gives me quicker harvests.”

More Tips for Planting Tomatoes

Growing vibrant, juicy tomatoes often comes down to the details. In order to have success after your plants are in place, here’s what else you need to know.

Water your tomatoes consistently

Tomatoes do best in lots of sunlight, which means you’ll need to pay attention to how much water they receive. You don’t want your soil to dry out, but you also don’t want the roots to be waterlogged. “It’s best to check the soil before watering,” Searle says. “Do this by inserting your finger into the soil, and if it feels dry, then you can water.” Instead of sticking to a schedule, Searle says that you can adjust how much water your tomatoes need depending on how the soil feels. “And if you see your plant wilting, water right away,” she adds.

Give your plant enough space

How you space out your tomato plants will depend on its type, but keep in mind that you need good airflow between plants to prevent disease. Lloyd notes that there are generally two types of tomato varieties to choose from: “determinate” ones that are grown as bushes, and “indeterminate” ones that grow as vines. Bushes will need more square footage to grow outwards, but vines will need vertical height.

“Determinate varieties do well with about two feet between plants, while indeterminate varieties like at least three feet and should be staked or caged for support,” she says. “If you’re really short on space, you can get away with planting them about one-foot apart—but you need to stay on top of pruning the lower leaves as they grow to reduce the risk of diseases.”

Offer support with additional tools

As your tomato plant settles in, it’ll need help getting the space and airflow it needs to do well. Searle and Floyd both like using arches and trellises to encourage the vines to reach higher. Searle suggests using stakes and cages for support, too.

“In hot weather, mulching around plants helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature,” Floyd says. “I have my raised beds fitted with drip irrigation, which provides a steady drip that waters the plants deeply at the base, right where they need it.”