When to plant tomato in Chesapeake
Tomato is frost-tender, so every date keys off Chesapeake's last spring frost of Mar 18.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 15 – Mar 8
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 23 – May 14
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 22 – Jul 17
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Chesapeake's 248-day season leaves this much room.
Tomato on Chesapeake'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
FROST
MAR 18
NOV 18
Common questions
When will tomato be ready to harvest in Chesapeake?
Expect to harvest from around late June (Jun 22–Jul 17) in Chesapeake, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Chesapeake?
Start seeds indoors around mid February (Feb 15–Mar 8) in Chesapeake, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant tomato outdoors in Chesapeake?
Transplant outdoors around late April (Apr 23–May 14) in Chesapeake, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Chesapeake?
Chesapeake has roughly 248 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 Chesapeake's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.