Earlier today I posted a photo on Facebook of racks of large, gallon container-sized tomatoes with the caption, “Don’t let [big box name] convince you it is time to plant tomatoes. Because it’s not.” A few friends replied with questions such as why and when. Good questions.

But first, let’s flash back to even earlier today to when I left the house at 8:30 a.m. this last day of April here in the Northeast. In addition to the long-sleeved shirt I had on, I also had a hooded sweatshirt and a lightweight winter jacket. I wish I had been wearing a knit cap, as well. Later on around noon when I took the puppy for a walk, I put on the hat and wore the shirt and hooded sweatshirt and I felt quite comfortable.

Now that you are familiar with how I dress, I’ll tell you the point of the story: I can put on jackets and hats and take them off to accommodate my comfort. Your tomato plants cannot.

It’s too early

I’ve checked the weather for the next few days and while daytime temps are comfortably in the mid-50s or even in the 60s, evening temps drop down to the low- to mid-40s. That is too cold for tomatoes, especially considering they’ve been growing in a nice warm greenhouse for the past several months. Remember, they can’t put on coats, and while you might say “Oh, I’ll cover them at night,” be realistic about how they experience temperatures. So that answers why it’s too early to plant tomatoes. Let’s address the question of when you should.

When to plant tomatoes

“After the danger of frost has past,” is the typical answer. You can easily find that estimated date for your area if you search online. However, temperatures could be in the 40s and you would be out of danger of frost—it would still be too cool for tomatoes.

My rule of thumb is when nighttime temperatures have been in the 50s for 10 consecutive days, I’ll think about planting my tomatoes the following weekend. This consistency helps to warm the soil. When the soil begins to warm, the plant can grow happier and healthier.

Some folks in the more southern sections of the country can feel free to plant all the tomatoes they want now. It’s warm enough. In the northern portions of the country, though, I’d have some patience. There’s plenty of the gardening season left—don’t rush it.