Growing tomatoes in Texas can be challenging due to the hot and dry climate, which can lead to issues with pests, diseases, and water management. However, with proper care and attention, a successful tomato harvest is a reasonable and achievable goal. Planting in the right season, providing ample sun protection, using mulch to conserve moisture, and selecting disease-resistant varieties are some of the strategies that can help overcome the challenges of growing tomatoes in Texas.
Tomatoes in Texas’ Climate
Texas has a varied climate over a huge area that falls into USDA zones 7-9. The western region is arid and semi-arid, while the eastern region experiences humid subtropical conditions. Summers in Texas are hot and dry, while winters are mild and wet, with occasional snowfall in some regions. Spring and fall are transitional seasons with moderate temperatures.
The climate in Texas has a significant impact on tomato growth. The hot and dry summers can lead to issues with drought stress and blossom end rot, which is a common problem for tomatoes. The heat can cause temperature stress, leading to poor yields.
Don’t be afraid to let the plants get some afternoon shade. Pests such as spider mites and whiteflies thrive in hot and dry conditions, making them a common problem for tomato plants. On the other hand, the mild winters and occasional freezes in some regions can cause frost damage to the plants.
It is essential to provide sufficient water, mulch for moisture retention, and sun protection to overcome the challenges of the Texas climate when growing tomatoes. Choosing the right variety that can withstand specific climatic conditions is also crucial for successful tomato growth in Texas.
When to start tomatoes indoors in Texas
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. The approximate indoor planting dates for tomatoes by zone are:
- Zone 6: Around March 10th
- Zone 7: Around February 20th
- Zone 8: Around February 14th
- Zone 9: Around January 17th
Additional Resource: Find Your Texas Hardiness Zone
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 Texas
Growing early-harvest tomatoes is essential in Texas, 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 Texas. I recommend one of the following varieties:
- ‘Aunt Gertie’s Gold’ Tomato – 75-80 Days to Harvest
- ‘Heidi’ Tomato – 90 Days to Harvest
- ‘Opalka’ Tomato – 90 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 Texas
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 Texas, your final freeze date is usually:
Zone 6: Around April 21st
Zone 7: Around April 3rd
Zone 8: Around March 28th
Zone 9: Around February 28th
Additional Resource: Find Your Texas Hardiness Zone
When to harvest tomatoes in Texas
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.
