When to plant tomatoes in Vermont
Vermont’s average last spring frost is May 14, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 25 — about 134 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b). Tomato needs 60–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Vermont's growing season.
When to plant tomatoes in Vermont: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out May 14 – May 31, with seeds started indoors Mar 19 – Apr 2. 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 Vermont, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 19 – Apr 2). 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 (May 14 – May 31). 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 Jul 20 – Aug 14). 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 Vermont’s average frost dates. More in the full tomato growing guide.
Tomato planting dates by USDA zone in Vermont
Vermont spans USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont (this page) | May 14 | May 14 – May 31 |
| Maine | May 14 | May 14 – May 31 |
| New Hampshire | May 13 | May 13 – May 30 |
| Massachusetts | April 24 | Apr 24 – May 11 |
| Rhode Island | April 25 | Apr 25 – May 12 |
| Connecticut | April 25 | Apr 25 – May 12 |
| New York | May 1 | May 1 – May 18 |
Questions gardeners in Vermont ask
When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Vermont?
Plant tomato transplants outdoors in Vermont between May 14 and May 31. That timing is set by Vermont's average last spring frost of May 14.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Vermont?
Start seeds indoors between March 19 and April 2, about 7 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from May 14.
What is the latest I can plant tomatoes in Vermont?
About July 27. Tomatoes need at least 60 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around September 25 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will tomatoes planted in Vermont be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, tomatoes are usually ready from about July 20 to August 14, 60-85 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Vermont?
On average around May 14, with the first fall frost around September 25 - about 134 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.