When to plant tomatoes in California
California’s average last spring frost is February 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 1 — about 284 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b). Tomato needs 60–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within California's growing season.
California covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant tomatoes in California: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 20 – Mar 9, with seeds started indoors Dec 26 – Jan 9. Wait until the soil is at least 50°F and frost is over.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow tomatoes in California, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Dec 26 – Jan 9). Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 80°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Feb 20 – Mar 9). Space plants about 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: tomato hornworm, aphids, whitefly, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: early blight, late blight, septoria leaf spot, fusarium wilt, blossom-end rot (calcium disorder).
- Harvest (from about Apr 28 – May 23). Tomato takes 60-85 days to reach harvest. Days to maturity counted from transplant. Bury 2/3 of the stem at transplanting for extra roots. Determinate types suit containers and one big harvest; indeterminate types need staking and produce until frost.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use California’s average frost dates. More in the full tomato growing guide.
Tomato planting dates by USDA zone in California
California spans USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the tomato dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant tomato |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 30 – May 17 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 15 – May 2 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 22 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Jan 30 – Feb 16 |
Questions gardeners in California ask
When is the best time to plant tomatoes in California?
Plant tomato transplants outdoors in California between February 20 and March 9. That timing is set by California's average last spring frost of February 20; California spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in California?
Start seeds indoors between December 26 and January 9, about 7 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 20.
What is the latest I can plant tomatoes in California?
About October 2. Tomatoes need at least 60 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around December 1 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will tomatoes planted in California be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, tomatoes are usually ready from about April 28 to May 23, 60-85 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in California?
On average around February 20, with the first fall frost around December 1 - about 284 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.