When to plant tomatoes in Florida
Florida’s average last spring frost is February 12, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 10 — about 301 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a). Tomato needs 60–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Florida's growing season.
Florida 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 Florida: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 12 – Mar 1, with seeds started indoors Dec 18 – Jan 1. 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 Florida, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Dec 18 – Jan 1). 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 12 – Mar 1). 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 20 – May 15). 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 Florida’s average frost dates. More in the full tomato growing guide.
Tomato planting dates by USDA zone in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. 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.
When to plant tomatoes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this page) | February 12 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Mar 5 – Mar 22 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
Questions gardeners in Florida ask
When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Florida?
Plant tomato transplants outdoors in Florida between February 12 and March 1. That timing is set by Florida's average last spring frost of February 12; Florida spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Florida?
Start seeds indoors between December 18 and January 1, about 7 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 12.
What is the latest I can plant tomatoes in Florida?
About October 11. Tomatoes need at least 60 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around December 10 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will tomatoes planted in Florida be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, tomatoes are usually ready from about April 20 to May 15, 60-85 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Florida?
On average around February 12, with the first fall frost around December 10 - about 301 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.