Tomato: when to sow, plant out and harvest
Sowing, planting and harvest dates for your climate, good and bad companions, growing tips.
When to sow in your region
Average dates, computed from the frost dates of each climate. For your exact dates, choose your town.
| Climate | Sow under cover | Plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern France | 18 February – 10 March | 29 April – 12 May | 1 July – 31 October |
| Atlantic coast | 8 February – 28 February | 19 April – 2 May | 21 June – 4 November |
| Eastern France | 10 February – 2 March | 21 April – 4 May | 23 June – 29 October |
| Mediterranean | 7 January – 27 January | 18 March – 31 March | 20 May – 20 November |
| Mountains (around 1,000 m) | 15 March – 4 April | 24 May – 6 June | 26 July – 29 September |
Growing
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Latin name
- Solanum lycopersicum
- Cold tolerance
- Tender (killed by frost)
- Soil temperature to germinate
- 10–16 °C minimum
- Emergence
- 6–14 days
- Between rows
- 70–90 cm
- In the row
- 50–70 cm
- To harvest
- 65 days
Companion planting
The level of evidence is shown for each pairing: many rest on tradition rather than on studies.
Good neighbours
- CabbageScientific studySources disagree
- French / African marigoldScientific study
- BasilExtension service
- Pot marigoldExtension service
- NasturtiumExtension service
- PeaExtension service
- AsparagusTradition
- French bean (bush or climbing)Tradition
- BorageTradition
- CarrotTradition
- CeleryTradition
- CosmosTradition
- CucumberTraditionSources disagree
- GarlicTraditionSources disagree
- German chamomileTradition
- LeekTradition
- Lemon balmTradition
- LettuceTradition
- MintTradition
- OnionTraditionSources disagree
- ParsleyTradition
- RadishTradition
- RosemaryTradition
- SageTradition
- ThymeTradition
Keep apart
- PotatoExtension service
- BeetrootTradition
- BroccoliTradition
- Courgette (zucchini)Tradition
- Eggplant (aubergine)Tradition
- Florence fennelTradition
- Melon (cantaloupe)Tradition
- Sweet and chilli peppersTradition
- SunflowerTradition
- Winter squash and pumpkinTradition
Sources
- Aujardin.info — Le calendrier du potager (reference: Île-de-France)
- Jardiner Malin — Calendrier de semis et récolte au potager
- La Bonne Graine (seed company) — Le calendrier des semis et des plants
- The Old Farmer's Almanac — Planting Calendar (New York City, last frost Apr 3; cross-checked with Minneapolis, last frost Apr 30)
- Colorado State University Extension — Vegetable Planting Guide
- Oregon State University Extension — Soil temperature conditions for vegetable seed germination (from the UC Davis/Harrington data)
- Gerbeaud — Mémento des semis de légumes
- Tous au potager — Distance de plantation des légumes : tableau des espacements
- Gerbeaud — Les distances de plantation à respecter