Tomato Planting Guide

Quick Facts

Sunlight ☀️ Full Sun

Water Needs 💧💧 Moderate

Spacing 24 inches apart

Planting Depth 0.25 inch

Min Soil Temp 60°F

Germination 5–10 days

Days to Maturity 60–85 days

Frost Tolerance No frost tolerance

Soil pH 6.0–6.8

Difficulty Easy

Planting Schedule by Zone

Select your USDA zone below for a detailed guide with tips specific to your region.

Zone	Start Indoors	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest Start	Harvest End
Zone 3	Mar 15	May 25	—	Jul 25	Sep 10
Zone 4	Mar 10	May 20	—	Jul 20	Sep 20
Zone 5	Mar 1	May 10	—	Jul 10	Oct 1
Zone 6	Feb 15	Apr 25	—	Jun 25	Oct 10
Zone 7	Feb 5	Apr 15	—	Jun 15	Oct 20
Zone 8	Jan 20	Mar 30	—	Jun 1	Nov 1
Zone 9	Jan 10	Mar 10	—	May 15	Nov 20
Zone 10	Dec 15	Feb 20	—	May 1	Dec 1
Zone 11	—	Jan 15	Jan 15	Apr 1	Dec 15
Zone 12	—	any	any	year_round	year_round
Zone 13	—	any	any	year_round	year_round

What you'll need — Your Zone

🛒 Tomato — Seeds & Supplies

🌱 Tomato Seeds

Search for these at your local garden center or nursery.

Companion Planting

Companion planting improves growth, deters pests, and makes better use of garden space.

✓ Good Companions

Basil Carrot Parsley

✗ Avoid Nearby

Brassicas Fennel

📚 Data Sources

Frost dates: NOAA Climate Normals 1991–2020, National Centers for Environmental Information.
Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Agricultural Research Service.
Growing requirements: Cooperative Extension Services — NC State, Penn State, University of Florida IFAS.
Companion planting: Cornell University Cooperative Extension.
Data compiled from public agricultural sources. Always verify with your local extension office for micro-climate adjustments.