Tomato in Zone 3a & 3b
Solanum lycopersicum
Yes, tomato grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors Apr 18–Apr 25 and plant out Jun 13–Jun 20.
When to plant tomato in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Apr 18–Apr 25 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Estimated harvest | Aug 22–Aug 29 (~70 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-6 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of tomato in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Bush BeansJun 6–Jun 13
- Sweet CornJun 6–Jun 13
- CucumberJun 6–Jun 13
- ZucchiniJun 6–Jun 13
- Winter SquashJun 6–Jun 13
- BroccoliniMay 30–Jun 6
Tomatoes are the crop most people plant first, and for good reason: a single well-tended plant can produce for months, and the taste difference between a homegrown and store-bought tomato is the single biggest "why do I garden" argument there is.
How tomato fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Tomato needs about 70 days from transplant to first harvest.
Tomato planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Apr 18–Apr 25 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | Aug 22–Aug 29 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 3–Apr 10 | May 29–Jun 5 | Aug 7–Aug 14 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 24–May 31 | Aug 2–Aug 9 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 14–Mar 21 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 18–Jul 25 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 3–Jul 10 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 11–Feb 18 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jun 17–Jun 24 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 4–Jan 11 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Dec–Feb | Feb–Apr | ~70 days after transplanting |
| Summer window | May–Jul | Jul–Sep | ~70 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bSummer window | Jun–Dec | Aug–Feb | ~70 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 70 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
- Basil: Widely reputed to improve tomato flavor and repel pests, but a multi-year, garden-scale controlled trial found no consistent taste preference in blind tests, and no evidence basil reduced pest pressure: treat this as one of companion planting's least-supported popular claims.
- Marigold: UF/IFAS Extension confirms French marigold is effective against a wide range of root-knot nematode species: a real, documented effect, not folklore. The insect-pest-deterrent half of this claim is less well documented.
- Carrot: Loosens soil for tomato roots without competing for space above ground.
Where to buy tomato seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's tomato seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Iron Lady: Carries the Ph2 + Ph3 resistance genes for strong resistance to late blight plus early blight and Septoria leaf spot, worth considering in disease-prone, humid climates. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- Sweet 100 (Super Sweet 100): Mississippi State University Extension's Southern Gardening series lists Super Sweet 100 among the earliest tomatoes, ripening in as few as 50 days from transplant, a prolific cherry type useful where you want fruit before summer heat stalls set. Buy: Burpee Full notes
- 'Cherokee Purple' (best for heirloom flavor): Bonnie Plants lists 10-12 ounce fruit with dusky pink skin and deep red interior, 80-90 days, and vigorous indeterminate vines needing strong staking. Buy: Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- 'San Marzano' (best for sauce and canning): An Italian paste type, 70-90 days, oblong 3-4 inch fruit with thick flesh and few seeds, bred to cook down into sauce rather than eaten fresh like the beefsteak varieties above. Buy: Botanical Interests · Burpee Full notes
- 'Celebrity' (F1) (best for broad disease resistance): Cornell's disease-resistant variety guide lists Celebrity with resistance to Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, tobacco and tomato mosaic virus, root-knot nematode, gray leaf spot and Alternaria stem canker, a broader resistance package than any single variety above. Buy: True Leaf Market · Burpee Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing tomato" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Tomato in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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