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When to plant tomatoes in zone 8b

In zone 8b, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 17, start tomatoes indoors February 3 to 17 and plant out March 31 to April 14. For a fall crop, plant July 31 to August 7.

The zone 8b schedule for tomatoes

Start seeds indoors
February 3 to 17
Plant out
March 31 to April 14
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
March 31
Safest planting date (10% frost risk)
April 6
First harvest, roughly
May 22 to July 13
Plant for a fall crop
July 31 to August 7

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,613 ZIP codes in zone 8b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for tomatoes.

Frost risk in zone 8b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8b, the typical last frost ranges from about March 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 3 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from November 2 to November 24. For a typical place in the zone:

  • February 25Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 17Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 6Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Tomatoes are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.

Your dates for tomatoes

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant tomatoes where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

Tomatoes in zone 8b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
San Antonio, TXFeb 26Jan 8 to 22Mar 5 to 19
Dallas, TXMar 2Jan 20 to Feb 3Mar 17 to 31
Fort Worth, TXMar 11Jan 29 to Feb 12Mar 26 to Apr 9
El Paso, TXMar 2Jan 24 to Feb 7Mar 21 to Apr 4
Las Vegas, NVJan 20Jan 16 to 30Mar 13 to 27
Virginia Beach, VAMar 29Feb 25 to Mar 11Apr 22 to May 6
Arlington, TXMar 9Jan 23 to Feb 6Mar 20 to Apr 3
Plano, TXMar 7Jan 25 to Feb 8Mar 22 to Apr 5
Irving, TXMar 2Jan 20 to Feb 3Mar 17 to 31
Garland, TXMar 7Jan 25 to Feb 8Mar 22 to Apr 5
Frisco, TXMar 18Feb 2 to 16Mar 30 to Apr 13
McKinney, TXMar 18Feb 2 to 16Mar 30 to Apr 13

How to grow tomatoesAll zonesTomatoes in zone 8aTomatoes in zone 9aAbout zone 8b

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