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When to Plant Tomatoes in Martin County, FL

Tomatoes are the most popular home garden crop, available in thousands of varieties from tiny cherries to massive beefsteaks. They are warm-season plants needing full sun.

Martin County, Florida is in USDA Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is January 25 and the first fall frost is December 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 322 days.

At an elevation of 80 feet, Martin County receives approximately 56.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tomatoes during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Tomatoes will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tomatoes root diseases.

Martin County, FL (Zone 10a) Year-round
322 days
Last Spring Frost January 25
322 growing days
First Fall Frost December 13

Martin County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

5.1-5.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (188 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 4 Transplant: Jan 22 🍅 Harvest: Mar 26 – Jun 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (182 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 14 Transplant: Feb 1 🍅 Harvest: Apr 5 – Jun 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (169 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 6 Transplant: Feb 24 🍅 Harvest: Apr 28 – Jul 7

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,959 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Tomatoes needs ~1,160 GDD — county provides 5,168 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Martin County, FL

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 14 Dec 14 โ€“ Dec 28
Transplant Outdoors February 1 Feb 1 โ€“ Feb 15
Direct Sow January 25 Jan 25 โ€“ Feb 15
Harvest April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Jun 14

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 24" apart ยท Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Direct Sow
February Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
March โ€”
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December Start Indoors

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

60โ€“85 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 10a

Growing Season

322 days

Growing Tips for Martin County

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Bury transplants deep to encourage rooting along the stem. Provide consistent moisture to prevent blossom end rot and cracking.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Cabbage
  • Fennel
  • Potatoes

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Tomatoes Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Scoop seeds from ripe fruit; ferment 2-3 days to remove gel coating.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4-6 years at 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

Isolate 25 ft between varieties for purity. Use open-pollinated varieties for true-to-type seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tomatoes in Martin County, FL?

Martin County is in Zone 10a with an average last frost of January 25. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Martin County, FL?

Martin County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is January 25 and first fall frost is December 13.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Martin County gardeners in Zone 10a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Martin County, FL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.