When to plant tomatoes
Short answer
Tomatoes are very tender: transplants can go in 2 or more weeks after your average last frost, once days are warm and the soil has warmed up. Start seeds indoors 5–8 weeks before you plant them outside. Seeds need soil of at least 50 °F to sprout.[1, 2, 3]
Tomatoes at a glance
| Frost tolerance | Very tender [1, 2] |
|---|---|
| Plant outside (transplants) | 2 or more weeks after the average last frost [1, 2] |
| Start seeds indoors | 5–8 weeks before planting out [1, 3] |
| Soil temperature for seeds | At least 50 °F; best around 80 °F [1] |
| Time to harvest | About 65 days from transplanting [1] |
Spring planting
- Spring, transplants: Plant 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, once days stay above about 55 °F and the soil is warm. [1, 2]
Example dates for some US cities
Based on each city's main airport weather station: the date with an even chance of frost after it (32 °F). [4] Your own dates can differ: use the ZIP code box above.
| City | Average last frost | Plant outside | Start indoors |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | Mar 30 | Apr 13 or later | Feb 16 – Mar 9 |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 15 | Mar 29 or later | Feb 1 – Feb 22 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | Mar 8 | Mar 22 or later | Jan 25 – Feb 15 |
| Chicago, IL | Apr 16 | Apr 30 or later | Mar 5 – Mar 26 |
| Denver, CO | May 5 | May 19 or later | Mar 24 – Apr 14 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | May 7 or later | Mar 12 – Apr 2 |
| Seattle, WA | Mar 2 | Mar 16 or later | Jan 19 – Feb 9 |
Questions people ask
When should I start tomatoes seeds indoors?
5–8 weeks before you plant them outside. Count back from your planting date: 2 or more weeks after your average last frost. [1, 2, 3]
Can tomatoes survive frost?
No. Very tender crops don’t tolerate frost or cool spring winds, which is why they wait until 2 or more weeks after the last frost. [1]
What soil temperature do tomatoes seeds need?
At least 50 °F; they sprout best around 80 °F. [1]
How long do tomatoes take to grow?
About 65 days from transplanting. [1]
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on November 6, 2026. The wording is our own. Frost dates: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; NOAA does not endorse this site. Some guides are written for Utah: we use only their general rules, not their local calendar dates.
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720). Colorado State University Extension. Reviewed Sep 2024.
- Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah. Utah State University Extension. Revised May 2025.
- Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors: I. Planning. Utah State University Extension. Feb 2025.
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (frost dates). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
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