Blog

When to Plant Tomatoes in Stewart County, TN

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.

Stewart County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 208 days.

At an elevation of 2,725 feet, Stewart County receives approximately 43 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tomatoes during the growing season.

Stewart County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
208 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
208 growing days
First Fall Frost October 30

Stewart County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (63 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Sep 12

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
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Tomatoes needs ~1,378 GDD — county provides 3,952 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Stewart County, TN

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 15 Feb 15 โ€“ Mar 1
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 โ€“ May 3
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ May 3
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 โ€“ Aug 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
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 7a

Growing Season

208 days

Growing Tips for Stewart 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 Stewart County, TN?

Stewart County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stewart County, TN?

Stewart County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 30.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Stewart County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Stewart County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.