One of the most common questions a new gardener asks is when is the best time to plant tomatoes. A search online, flipping through a gardening book or even a trip to your local garden center may give conflicting advice.
What zone do you live in?
If you have the benefit of a year-round growing season you can pretty much plant new tomato anytime you'd like. If you live where the climate is not provide warm year round, plant once the last frost has passed.
Depending where you live, this could be early Spring in South Florida Or as late as June in Washington state. Gather this information before you do any planting.
Will your soil help or hurt you tomato plants?
Soil is a very important part of successful gardening, especially with tomato plants.
Hard, lumpy, rocky and heavy clay soils are a sure path to failure. Light, loose, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter and fertilizer is best for these plants.
So what are you to do if you don't have this type of soil? Rent a tiller or breakout a pitchfork and get busy turning and mixing the area. Add a few bags of gardening soil, worm castings and quality compost and mix it in thoroughly.
Best time to plant new plants:
Soil is easier to work with a few days after a healthy rainfall. If you can do your planting after a rain, go for it. But what if you can't? All is not lost. Schedule a planting day and wet down the area the night before.
Make sure you apply enough water for it to seep down a few inches below the surface. The late afternoon is the best time to move your tomato plants into the ground. Why? Too much direct sunlight can harm young transplants. Getting them in the ground during the late afternoon gives them time to adjust overnight before the hot sun returns.
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