When to plant tomato in Riverside
Tomato is frost-tender, so every date keys off Riverside's last spring frost of Feb 16.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 19 – Mar 12
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 9 – Apr 30
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 8 – Jul 3
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Riverside's 293-day season leaves this much room.
Tomato on Riverside'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 16
DEC 6
Common questions
When will tomato be ready to harvest in Riverside?
Expect to harvest from around early June (Jun 8–Jul 3) in Riverside, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 70%.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Riverside?
Start seeds indoors around mid February (Feb 19–Mar 12) in Riverside, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 74%.
When can I transplant tomato outdoors in Riverside?
Transplant outdoors around early April (Apr 9–Apr 30) in Riverside, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.
How long is the growing season in Riverside?
Riverside has roughly 293 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 Riverside's frost dates.
Confidence 78/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.