When To Plant TomatoesTomatoes are warm weather plants and knowing when to plant tomatoes is the key to being successful. As with other warm weather plants, like basil and peppers, the air temperatures and the soil temperature should be warm before you plant.
Last Frost DateOne of the most important spring dates on a gnome’s calendar is when the average last frost occurs because it indicates that the weather is close to being suitable for planting tomatoes. The date can be found from your county extension educator, as well as many places online. It is important to remember that the date is the average date of the last frost, and that frosts can, and do, occur after that date, so it is important to look at the forecast as well as the calendar.Soil And Air TemperaturesJust because the average last frost date has passed does not mean that the conditions are warm enough to plant tomatoes. The daytime temperatures have to settle into a warm summer-like pattern with warm nights, too.You should wait until those temperatures are consistently reaching 75-80°during the day and staying above 55° at night. If you take a handful of soil, and it feels warm to the touch, then you have reached the right time. This is when to plant tomatoes. Growing Tomatoes from SeedAlthough you can get tomato plants from the supermarket and nursery, you will get many more varieties if you grow from seed. You will need to start the seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost date.Planting out too early will just give you lanky plants that are susceptible to disease and take longer to get settled after transplanting. When your plants have reached a good size and you have warm weather, it is time to adjust them to the outdoors. This process is called “hardening off”. 
Start by placing them in a shady spot for a few days before letting them sit in full sun. Wind and rain are different outdoors than in your greenhouse or windowsill, and the plants benefit from having a gentle introduction to the elements.The biggest problem people have in deciding when to plant tomatoes is that they want to rush – don’t. If the ground and air temperatures are not warm enough for the lawn gnomes to lie in the sun all week, then it is not time to plant tomatoes. If you plant too early they will probably not wilt and die, but they will sulk and take longer to grow into thriving, productive plants. Such a set back is often permanent. So waiting a week, or even two weeks, after the last frost date is better than planting your tomatoes purely based on lack of frost. Happy gardening, Geefrank
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