When to plant tomato in Charleston
Tomato is frost-tender, so every date keys off Charleston's last spring frost of Feb 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jan 21 – Feb 11
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Mar 30 – Apr 20
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
May 29 – Jun 23
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Charleston's 310-day season leaves this much room.
Tomato on Charleston's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FEB 8
DEC 15
Common questions
When will tomato be ready to harvest in Charleston?
Expect to harvest from around late May (May 29–Jun 23) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Charleston?
Start seeds indoors around late January (Jan 21–Feb 11) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant tomato outdoors in Charleston?
Transplant outdoors around late March (Mar 30–Apr 20) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Charleston?
Charleston has roughly 310 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow tomato to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow tomato 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Charleston's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.