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When to Plant Tomatoes in Palm Beach 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.

Palm Beach County, Florida is in USDA Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is February 17 and the first fall frost is April 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 57 days.

At an elevation of 355 feet, Palm Beach County receives approximately 50 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, 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.

Palm Beach County, FL (Zone 10a) Very short season
57 days
Last Spring Frost February 17
57 growing days
First Fall Frost April 15

Palm Beach County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

5.1-5.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 30 Transplant: Feb 17 🍅 Harvest: Apr 21 – Jun 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 6 Transplant: Feb 24 🍅 Harvest: Apr 28 – Jul 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 13 Transplant: Mar 3 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jul 14

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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,354 gal / 100 sq ft
Tomatoes needs ~1,432 GDD — county provides 7,208 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Palm Beach County, FL

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 6 Jan 6 โ€“ Jan 20
Transplant Outdoors February 24 Feb 24 โ€“ Mar 10
Direct Sow February 17 Feb 17 โ€“ Mar 10
Harvest April 28 Apr 28 โ€“ Jul 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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

57 days

Growing Tips for Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County, FL?

Palm Beach County is in Zone 10a with an average last frost of February 17. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Palm Beach County, FL?

Palm Beach County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is February 17 and first fall frost is .

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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 Palm Beach County, FL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.