When to Plant Tomatoes

Set your conditions — the recommendation updates instantly.

GardenSays

Start tomato seeds indoors Mar 10 – Mar 24, transplant outside May 12 – May 19.

Start seeds indoors: Mar 10 – Mar 24
Transplant outside: May 12 – May 19
Last frost (typ.): May 5

In Minneapolis, MN, the typical last frost lands around May 5. Working back 6-8 weeks gives you a seed-starting window of Mar 10 – Mar 24 indoors. Tomatoes are killed by frost, so wait until May 12-May 19 — after frost danger AND once soil hits ~60°F.

That leaves roughly 139 days of growing season before the typical first fall frost (Oct 5) — enough for most varieties. In a short-season area, favor early-maturing varieties (check the days-to-maturity on the tag).

⚠ This year's transplant window (May 12 – May 19) has passed — dates shown are for planning next season.

Why

✓Frost kills tender seedlings outright, and cold soil stunts them even without frost — both dates matter.
✓The 50% frost date is a planning midpoint: a late frost is still possible, so keep covers handy for the first two weeks.

When this doesn't apply

→Season extenders (row covers, walls of water, cold frames) let you plant 2-3 weeks earlier than these windows.
→Frost dates are area averages — low spots and valley floors run colder than the local average.

How this was calculated

1. Last spring frostMay 5
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
2. Seed starting windowMar 10 – Mar 24
Tomato: start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost (May 5)
3. Transplant windowMay 12 – May 19
Tomato is frost-tender: go out 7-14 days after the last frost, once soil reaches 60°F
4. First fall frostOct 5
Minneapolis, MN: typical first 32°F frost in fall — the season's endpoint

Data sources

University of Minnesota Extension — Growing tomatoes in home gardens — Start tomato seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost; transplant after all danger of frost, once soil has warmed. (checked 2026-07-15)
NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)

Community choice

Anonymous, one tap. What did you do?

Your next decisions

Tomato Spacing — How Far Apart to Plant

Spacing by support style, plus how many plants fit your bed

Watering Tomatoes After Transplanting

Get newly transplanted tomatoes through the establishment window

Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes

What to feed tomatoes, how much, and when — by growth stage

Raised Bed Soil Calculator

How much soil your raised bed needs — cubic feet, cubic yards, and bags

More planting dates tools: see all →