When Is it the Best Time to Grow Tomatoes?
Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) are among the most widely grown vegetable crops in home gardens. Tropical in origin, they cannot survive temperatures below freezing, but they also tend to falter if summer temperatures get too hot. Therefore, the best time to grow tomatoes outdoors varies depending on latitude and elevation. It's easy to say "plant tomatoes for summer," but such generic advice doesn't apply to all geographies. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Growing Season Conditions
-
Tomatoes must be grown when there is no threat of frost. Although great variation exists among the hundreds of different tomato varieties, the plants tend to need long growing seasons, anywhere from 100 to 200 days to produce their fruit crops. Soil temperatures need to be above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures should range between 55 and 75 degrees to sustain both flowers and developing fruits, according to Washington State Cooperative Extension. Daytime temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees is excellent. Excessively hot weather, extended days of over 90 degrees with either arid or humid air, also causes tomato plants to wither and not perform well.
Geography
-
The key is growing tomatoes in the best time frame for your area, when temperatures are most conducive. Across the United States, the growing season -- the time from the last killing frost of spring to the first killing frost of autumn -- varies and determines the best time to grow tomatoes. In subtropical areas like Hawaii, the low deserts of southwestern Arizona and southern Florida, frosts rarely occur and thus tomatoes may be grown year-round. Conversely, in northern Minnesota, the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains or in Maine, the conditions aren't warm enough for even early-maturing tomato types until June and the killing frost could occur as early as August or September.
-
When to Plant Tomatoes
-
Start to plant tomatoes 1 to 2 weeks after the last expected spring frost date in your area. The 3 to 5 months that follow planting should be warm with sunny weather and ample rainfall or irrigation to keep the soil evenly moist, never dry nor soggy. In the northern three-fourths of the United States, tomatoes are best planted in late April, May or early June. The farther north or higher in elevation, the later in this time frame. In the extreme southern United States where summers are intensely hot, gardeners may plant tomatoes in two different seasons: very late winter and late summer. For example, in Florida, tomatoes are grown in two periods: plant in early February with harvest through June and plant again in September for harvest until a potential winter freeze.
Determining Best Time for Growing Tomatoes
-
The sheer size of the United States and the many variables that affect climate makes it difficult to assign precise planting rules across the board. Therefore, contact your local county Cooperative Extension Office, reputable garden center or botanical garden. Staff experts can answer questions and provide you with succinct, locally accurate guidelines for the best tomato growing times and techniques for your area.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tomato plant image by hazel proudlove from Fotolia.com
