Tomatoes found their way from the sun-drenched regions of South America to cool Central Europe. In the home garden, paradise apples only thrive in summer temperatures. The range for the best planting time is therefore very limited. We reveal the optimal dates.
When is the best time to plant tomatoes?
The optimal planting time for tomatoes in the greenhouse begins in mid/late April, while outdoors can be planted from mid-May, after the Ice Saints. Make sure the plants are strong, 30-40 cm high and hardy.
Early start to planting time in the greenhouse
For happy greenhouse owners, the planting season begins in mid/late April. In a protected environment under glass, delayed ground frosts have little chance of damaging the tomatoes. Provided that the cultivation took place indoors at a constant 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. If you want to be on the safe side, set up a natural 'manure heater' before planting. This trick works like this:
- dig the soil in the greenhouse about 70 centimeters deep
- Put a pack of manure in it, ideally made from horse manure, and tamp it well
- spread a 20-30 centimeter thick layer of compost soil over it
As the dung rots, a pleasant warmth develops. This is passed on to the greenhouse so that the room remains frost-free without any additional energy supply.
Out into the open air from mid-May
For generations, the exodus of the Ice Saints has heralded the beginning of planting time in the vegetable patch. From mid-May onwards, no more ground frosts are expected, which could cause severe damage to the young tomato plants. In particularly rough locations, it is still recommended to protect the bed with a garden fleece overnight. A polytunnel that is closed during the night is particularly effective in protecting tomato plants from frostbite.
Individual plants on the balcony find effective protection from the cold under special tomato covers (€9.00 at Amazon). These are made of weatherproof film and have air holes to prevent mold from forming. It is important to note that spacers keep the hood at a distance from the leaves and flowers. At the same time, these mini tomato houses keep the rain out and minimize the risk of late blight infection.
Date not the sole criterion
Experienced hobby gardeners know that the calendar alone is not sufficient as a basis for deciding when to start the planting season. Only the strongest tomato plants can withstand the stresses outdoors, on the balcony and in the unheated greenhouse. Only the interaction of the following factors signals the final start of the season in the open air:
- the temperature minimum of 13 degrees Celsius is permanently exceeded
- the perfect tomato plant is 30 to 40 centimeters high
- ideally a first flower umbel has formed
- hardening off took place for a week, during the day in the partially shaded place in the garden or on the balcony
- the plant is not or only minimally rotted
Read how to properly plant, care for and prune your tomato plants.
Tip
An unheated greenhouse without a 'manure heater' can be protected from nighttime frost with a simple trick. Simply set up several grave lights. These burn safely and give off enough heat to act as a frost monitor.
