There’s nothing quite like the taste of homegrown tomatoes – sweet, juicy, and bursting with flavour. Whether you prefer classic red varieties, cherry tomatoes, or heirloom types, growing your own is a rewarding experience for both beginner and seasoned gardeners.
Tomatoes are one of the best fruits to plant in your garden because they’re versatile, productive, and packed with nutrients. With the right care, a few plants can yield an abundant harvest all summer long. In the UK, timing is everything when it comes to planting tomatoes. Since these warm-weather lovers thrive in sunny, frost-free conditions, knowing when and how to plant them is key to success.
According to organic gardening expert Becky Searle, the best time to plant tomatoes is mid-March.
“The best time to sow tomato seeds is in early to mid-March, but it’s really important to keep them protected from frost,” she told Real Simple. “Most parts of the UK, where I live, still gets frost in May, even if we don’t see it.”
To help seedlings stay alive, the expert suggests starting them off on your windowsill as greenhouses don’t always protect them from frost.
“[Tomatoes] can be planted out once the temperatures start to climb,” she added. “Frost can kill a tomato plant, so it’s important not to plant them out too early. You also don’t want to look after huge plants in your house, so don’t sow them too early, either.”
She suggests waiting to plant seeds or small garden-store varieties outside until the temperature reaches above 10C.
“To figure out your last frost date, you’ll just want to do a quick search of the average frost date in your specific region,” she said.
“Try to look at weather patterns the week before planting to make sure there aren’t any surprise frosts headed your way. If temperatures are consistently above 10C, then you’re good to plant.”
According to Plant Maps data, areas in the south east and south west of England have some of the earliest last-frost dates.
In central Scotland, gardeners should be able to say goodbye to frost by the end of March, while the Highlands often see frost until early June.
