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When to Plant Tomatoes in Trumbull County, OH

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.

Trumbull County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 166 days.

At an elevation of 651 feet, Trumbull County receives approximately 34.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tomatoes during the growing season.

Trumbull County, OH (Zone 5b) Moderate season
166 days
Last Spring Frost May 4
166 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Trumbull County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 20 – Sep 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (13 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: Jun 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Oct 16

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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 212 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Tomatoes needs ~1,051 GDD — county provides 2,407 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Trumbull County, OH

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 9 Mar 9 โ€“ Mar 23
Transplant Outdoors May 18 May 18 โ€“ Jun 1
Direct Sow May 11 May 11 โ€“ Jun 1
Harvest July 20 Jul 20 โ€“ Sep 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April โ€”
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
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 5b

Growing Season

166 days

Growing Tips for Trumbull 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 Trumbull County, OH?

Trumbull County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 4. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Trumbull County, OH?

Trumbull County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 4 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Trumbull County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Trumbull County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.