When to plant tomatoes

In the Maryland region, start tomato seeds indoors from mid-March through the third week of May, then transplant the seedlings into the ground from May through early July.

The window: Mid-March through the third week of May, plant seeds indoors to grow seedlings; May through early July, transplant seedlings into the ground (Maryland region).

Tomatoes are a warm-season crop, so plant them well after the average last frost date.
Soil should be 60 degrees or more for tomatoes, ideally 65 to 70 degrees.
Tomato seeds can germinate at minimum soil temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees.
Planting dates depend on the first and last frost dates and how long the crop takes to mature.

The mistake to avoid: Avoid planting tomatoes in the ground too early in spring, because their roots will not grow well in cold soil and early planting can cause seed rot, delayed germination, root decay, poor growth, and disease.

Timing varies by region and year; your local extension office is the closest authority.

Grounded in: bygl.osu.edu, extension.illinois.edu, extension.umd.edu, news.oregonstate.edu. Every timing follows sentences verified verbatim on those pages.

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