When to plant tomato in New Orleans
Tomato is frost-tender, so every date keys off New Orleans's last spring frost of Feb 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jan 28 – Feb 18
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Mar 18 – Apr 8
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
May 17 – Jun 11
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
New Orleans's 304-day season leaves this much room.
Tomato on New Orleans'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 9
Common questions
When will tomato be ready to harvest in New Orleans?
Expect to harvest from around mid May (May 17–Jun 11) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 73%.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in New Orleans?
Start seeds indoors around late January (Jan 28–Feb 18) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 77%.
When can I transplant tomato outdoors in New Orleans?
Transplant outdoors around mid March (Mar 18–Apr 8) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
How long is the growing season in New Orleans?
New Orleans has roughly 304 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 New Orleans's frost dates.
Confidence 81/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.