When Is it Safe to Plant Tomatoes in Ohio?

Tomatoes can be planted in Ohio after the last frost.

Tomatoes are one of the most popular plants for home gardens---and when grown properly, a single tomato plant can produce up to 10 pounds of fruit. Tomatoes can be grown in Ohio outdoors during the warmer months.

When to Plant

Ohio gardeners should plant tomatoes after the danger of frost has passed. The date of the last frost depends on where you live; for USDA hardiness zone 5, the last frost is generally in mid- to late May, while the last frost in zone 6 usually occurs earlier, during the last week of April or first weeks of May.

Starting Tomatoes from Seed

If you plan to start tomatoes from seed, you can plant the seeds in pots or seed trays in March or early April. Transplant the seedlings outside after the danger of frost has passed.

Warning

Tomatoes are especially sensitive to temperature, and can lose their blossoms if the temperatures drop below 55 degrees in the evening. Blossom drop can prevent the plant from producing fruit. If there is an unexpected drop in temperature after you plant your tomatoes outside, protect the young seedlings with a floating row cover.

References

• Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden
• Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet : Growing Cucumbers, Peppers, Squash And Tomatoes In Containers
• National Gardening Association: Getting Started with Tomatoes
• National Climatic Data Center: Freeze / Frost Occurrence Data
• National Gardening Association: USDA Hardiness Zone Finder