How to grow tomatoes

Tomatoes need warmth, sun and support. Get the timing right and the rest is steady care.

Reviewed October 2026

Start indoors

6–8 weeks before planting out

Plant outside

1–2 weeks after last frost

Spacing

24 in apart, rows 48 in

Days to harvest

70–90 from transplant

When to plant

Tomatoes are damaged or killed by frost and don't grow well in cool soil, so they go outside after your last spring frost. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before you plan to transplant, then set plants out 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date. The planting planner turns that into dates for your area.

Spacing and support

Give each plant about 24 inches in the row, with rows about 48 inches apart. Virginia Tech's guide allows 18 to 36 inches between plants depending on variety, with large, sprawling types at the wide end. Stake or cage plants when you set them out, before roots spread, so you don't damage them later.

Care through the season

• Water deeply and regularly. Uneven watering stresses plants.
• Mulch around plants to hold moisture and keep soil off the leaves.
• Pick fruit as it colors. Harvest typically starts 70 to 90 days after transplanting, depending on the variety.

If flowers drop without fruit

Blossom drop is usually caused by temperatures that are too high or too low, or by too much nitrogen fertilizer. It often settles once temperatures moderate. In hot climates, cherry tomatoes cope with heat better than large-fruited types.

Planting dates in Florida

Plantings made in August and September face more insects and diseases that thrive in the heat. See our Florida guide for the full season.