Fall is a wonderful time to grow tomatoes. While many gardeners focus on spring and summer crops, fall offers cooler temperatures that are ideal for tomatoes to thrive. With the right care and preparation, you can absolutely grow tomatoes in your garden during the fall season.
Why Grow Tomatoes in the Fall?
There are several benefits to growing tomatoes in fall rather than spring or summer
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Cooler temperatures allow for better pollination and fruit set. Tomatoes can struggle to pollinate when temperatures rise above 90°F. Fall temps are usually perfect.
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Less disease and pest pressure: Fungus and blight diseases can be spread by humid summer weather. Hot temps attract more insects Fall has fewer issues.
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Longer daylight in fall helps plants continue vigorous growth. More sun means more energy for the tomatoes.
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Less work needed for watering and sheltering plants from heat. Fall tomatoes are overall easier to care for.
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Extend your harvest! Get tomatoes fresh from the vine past summer and closer to frost.
When to Plant Fall Tomatoes
Timing is important when planting a fall tomato crop. Here are tips on when to plant:
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Count backwards from your first average frost date. Tomatoes need 60 to 85 days of warm weather to fully grow and set fruit.
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For example, if your first frost is Nov 1, plant your tomatoes around Aug 15. This gives 75 days before frost.
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Plant your tomatoes around 10-12 weeks before your first expected fall frost. Adjust for shorter or longer growing varieties.
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Plant seedlings instead of seeds. Buy larger transplants or start your own indoors in midsummer. This gives plants a head start on growth.
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Wait until summer heat passes, ideally when temperatures drop below 90°F most days. Avoid transplant shock.
Choosing the Best Tomato Varieties
Picking the right tomato varieties can make or break your fall crop. Consider these factors:
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Choose early maturing tomatoes, ideally 60 days or less. This gives them enough time to fruit before frost.
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Go for small fruited tomatoes like cherries or grapes. They ripen more quickly than large beefsteaks.
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Determinate, bush types mature faster than vining indeterminates. Pick determinate varieties.
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Try heat-tolerant varieties if you still have hot weather. Look for heat-set ability.
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Prioritize disease resistance. Common issues are leaf spot, blight, wilt. Find resistant cultivars.
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Quick maturing Roma types and red cherries do well. Also Early Girl, Champion, Park’s Whopper.
Caring for Your Fall Tomato Plants
Give your fall tomatoes a strong start with proper care:
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Plant deeply, burying much of the stem. This encourages root growth along the buried stem.
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Add mulch around plants right after transplanting to retain moisture and heat. Organic compost, grass clippings or straw work well.
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Water plants daily the first week or two until they establish roots. Then water 1-2 inches per week.
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Stake and prune indeterminate types aggressively so energy goes to fruit rather than foliage.
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Fertilize when first planting and every 2-3 weeks after with a balanced fertilizer. Fish emulsion is a good organic choice.
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Protect plants from first light frosts using cloches, row covers or hotcaps over plants or around beds.
Harvesting Your Fall Tomato Crop
Here are some tips for harvesting your fall tomatoes:
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Pick tomatoes when fully colored but still firm. Leave on vine until fully ripe for best flavor.
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Harvest ripe fruits regularly to encourage more flowering and fruit production before frost hits.
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Pick green tomatoes 2 weeks before expected frost and ripen indoors. Wrap in newspaper and store at 55-70°F.
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Pull up entire plants if heavy frost is imminent. Hang plants upside down in garage or basement to continue ripening.
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Water sparingly when frost is coming to discourage new growth. Focus the plant’s energy on ripening existing fruits.
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Fall fruits may take longer to ripen compared to summer heat. Be patient for full color and flavor to develop.
Extending Your Fall Tomato Season
If you love growing fall tomatoes, consider these tricks to stretch your harvest past first frost:
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Cover plants on cold nights to protect from light frosts. Use old sheets or garden fabric secured with weights.
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On nights below 40°F, pull up plants and move to a garage or covered porch. Replant in morning after temperatures warm.
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Grow tomatoes in containers you can move indoors and out daily as needed. Focus on compact determinate varieties.
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Build a cold frame or hoop house to prolong your outdoor planting. Ventilate on sunny days to prevent overheating.
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Grow new seedlings in late summer and gradually harden off for transplanting in early fall. Stagger plantings for longer harvests.
With the right approach, you can absolutely grow a bountiful fall tomato crop. Just time planting correctly, choose suitable varieties, and care for your tomatoes properly. Extend your gardening enjoyment with fresh, homegrown tomatoes into the fall season and up to first frost!
Tomatoes: Fruits or Vegetables?
The age-old argument of fruit vs veggie stands when it comes to tomatoes. They taste like a veggie, but scientifically, they qualify as a fruit. Here’s why!.
Botanical fruits are determined by being formed from flowers, have seeds, and assist with the plant’s reproduction process. Vegetables are determined by the roots, stems, leaves, or other auxiliary parts of the plant.
From a chef’s perspective, tomatoes are labeled vegetables primarily based on their flavor profiles. Tomatoes taste better when you pick them from your own garden, no matter what you call them.
When to Plant Fall Tomatoes
Tomato plants are considered in season from the beginning of spring through to the end of fall. Depending on the climate you live in, your tomato crop might thrive differently during different times of the harvest season. Most tomato plants produce their first fruits after 60-75 days and once the temperatures dip below 90 degrees.
The key to knowing when to plant fall tomatoes is in the numbers. Count back 60-85 days from the average first frost date. Remember, if you are growing in a grow bag or a container garden that is easy to move, you can extend your tomato season by bringing your garden inside when the first cool temperatures arrive. The National Weather Service is a great resource to check the average first frost date in your area.
5 SECRETS For Success GROWING TOMATOES In Fall
FAQ
How late into fall will tomatoes grow?
With the exception of Roma and other plum varieties, most tomatoes planted in the home garden are indeterminate. By definition, these plants never stop growing, at least until cold weather or blight comes calling. This means that your tomato plants will continue to develop new shoots through September and into October.
Can tomatoes still grow in October?
Regardless of what you might read or see in nursery promotions, planting tomatoes in October or November is not a fruitful experience, literally. The night temperatures are too low for the flowers to set fruit. Tomatoes planted in August or early September will grow quickly in the warm soil, warm nights and long days.
What tomatoes can you plant in the fall?
Grow Pro Tip: A few of our favorite tomato varieties for fall include, but are not limited to: Red Cherry, Red Grape, Yellow Sun Gold, Yellow Sun Sugar, Little Porter, and La Roma Red.
Is August too late to grow tomatoes?
Mid-July to the end of August is the ideal time to plant.