Growing tomatoes in Maryland can be a satisfying experience with proper care and attention. Maryland’s warm and humid summers, coupled with mild winters, make it an ideal environment for tomato growth. Providing consistent watering and proper pest and disease management is essential for producing healthy tomato plants in Maryland. Be prepared to deal with early and late frosts.
Tomatoes in Maryland’s Climate
Maryland has a moderate climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold and snowy, but less severe than in some other nearby states. The state receives moderate rainfall throughout the year, with slightly more precipitation during the summer months.
Hot and humid summers can lead to an increase in pests and diseases, such as tomato hornworms and late blight. This can be mitigated by using organic pest control methods, such as handpicking pests and using copper fungicides to treat fungal diseases.
Maryland’s relatively mild winters can provide a longer growing season for tomatoes, but occasional cold snaps can damage or kill tomato plants. Address this by planting tomatoes in sheltered areas or using frost blankets to protect them from the cold.
The state’s moderate rainfall can provide adequate moisture for tomato plants, but too much rain can cause issues with soil drainage, leading to root rot and other diseases. It is important to use well-draining soil and plant tomatoes in raised beds if the soil is too heavy.
When to Start Tomatoes Indoors in Maryland
If you want to get an early start on cultivating tomatoes, begin growing the seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the final spring frost in your area, regardless of the tomato variety you’re growing. In Maryland, start sowing tomato seeds indoors from February 20th to March 19th.
You may want to get them going even earlier than that and plant them in a large pot ahead of producing them outdoors, just to give them even more of a head start. To start tomato seeds indoors:
- Select a planting container. Choose a container at least 6-8 inches deep, with holes in the bottom for drainage.
- Fill with a seed starter potting soil.
- Plant 2-3 tomato seeds ⅛ inch deep in the soil and cover.
- Water the soil until it is moist but not soggy.
- Place the container in a warm, sunny spot indoors and keep the soil moist.
- When the seedlings reach 2-3 inches tall, thin them out so there is only one seedling per container.
Tomato Varieties That do Well in Maryland
Growing early-harvest tomatoes is essential in Maryland, due to the shortened growing season. Some varieties of tomatoes are ready to harvest in under 60 days, which is ideal in the short growing season of Maryland. I recommend one of the following varieties:
- ‘Early Girl’ Tomato – 55 Days to Harvest
- ‘Sun Gold’ Tomato – 55 Days to Harvest
- ‘Sungold’ Tomato – 50 Days to Harvest
- ‘Stupice’ Tomato – 52 Days to Harvest
- ‘Fourth of July’ Tomato – 49 Days to Harvest
- ‘Sweet Million’ Tomato – 45 Days to Harvest
- ‘Oregon Spring’ Tomato – 50 Days to Harvest
- ‘Celebrity’ Tomato – 70 Days to Harvest
- ‘Yellow Pear’ Tomato – 60 Days to Harvest
- ‘Gardener’s Delight Tomato – 52 Days to Harvests
Hardening Off Your Tomatoes
Hardening off tomatoes that you’ve started indoors before planting outdoors is essential to ensure they can thrive in the outdoor environment. When tomatoes are started indoors, they become accustomed to the warm and more stable environment. When planted outdoors, they are exposed to more extreme temperatures, wind, and sun. Hardening off tomatoes helps them slowly adjust to their new environment by exposing them to these elements for an extended period.
The process of hardening off tomatoes begins by slowly introducing them to the outdoors. Start by placing them in a sheltered spot, such as a porch or a partially shaded area, for a few hours each day. Over a week, gradually increase the amount of time they are kept outdoors and the amount of sun they are exposed to. After a week of hardening off, the tomatoes should be ready to move to their final outdoor planting location.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Maryland
It’s generally safe to plant tomatoes outdoors when there is no risk of frost or freezing temperatures. In most climates, this means waiting until at least late spring or early summer. In Maryland, the final freeze date is expected around March 28th to April 30th depending on where you live. Still, be mindful of your weather forecast. If it seems like you’re in for a late freeze, wait to plant your tomatoes!
When to Harvest Tomatoes in Maryland
When tomatoes have turned a deep red (or the ripe color of their particular variety) and have no green spots visible, they are ripe and ready to be picked. If there are still green patches on the tomato, it has not yet ripened and should remain on the vine. The ideal way to pick ripe tomatoes is to cup the tomato in your hand and give it a gentle twist- it should come off the vine with ease. When in doubt, you can leave it on the vine an extra couple of days, or harvest the entire branch of tomatoes and allow it to ripen on the vine on your window sill.
