Knowing exactly when to plant tomatoes in California may be tricky. If you live anywhere in California and the North Coast, it’s best to plant your tomatoes within March and June. On the other hand, if your location is somewhere in the Southern part of California, the best months to plant those tomatoes are December to March. With the right information, you’ll be able to enjoy the best-tasting, homegrown harvest of plump and juicy tomatoes.
Nothing else could ever compare to the psychological and emotional boost that every gardener will get to experience as they joyfully anticipate their tasty harvests. Although it’s perfectly fine to grow tall varieties in grow bags that are up against the wall or bush varieties in a bunch of hanging baskets and larger pots, the best way to grow tomatoes is to do it in a greenhouse.
What is the Best Time to Plant Tomatoes in the Northern and Southern parts of the Golden State?
As previously mentioned, the best time to plant tomatoes in California depends on your location in the Golden State. Its large size makes it a little challenging for you to plan your vegetable gardens if you only rely on statewide date recommendations for sowing and transplanting tomatoes.
California generally offers an excellent climate for growing a vegetable garden because it has about 270 days between its season’s last and first frost dates. However, since certain areas that include Sacramento and San Diego have no frost dates, your plants could be in the ground throughout the year.
Furthermore, the fact that the height of California stretches the height of the U.S., it features different USDA Hardiness Zones. In case you’re wondering, this means that there are different times for planting vegetables in the northern and southern parts of the state.
When Should Tomatoes Be Planted?
If you want to get the best germination results, it’s best to plant tomato seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before your location’s last frost date. While you’re at it, use sterile soil for planting and be sure to plant those seeds about 1/4-inch deep into it. Doing will help you keep your plants safe from disease and other issues.
To set the stage for the best germination conditions, horticulturists recommend keeping the soil temperature consistent between 80˚ to 90˚, keeping the soil moist, and watering lightly. As soon as the young plants are about ready to transplant, be sure to harden them off by increasing their exposure to the outdoor environment within a week.
Finally, when you’re transplanting them, pick a spot where the plants can soak in enough sunlight to make them thrive. Be sure to maintain a minimum distance of about 32 inches between each plant and each row. You may choose to add some fertilizers as needed.
What Else Can I Plant in Northern and Southern California in January?
Northern California
When you’re in the northern part of the state of California, the best types of vegetables to plant within January include asparagus, turnips, Brussels sprouts, beets, carrots, cabbage, chard, leeks, kale, lettuce, and peas.
Southern California
The best vegetables to plant in January when you’re living in the southern part of the Golden State include chard, leeks, chives, carrots, and asparagus.
What are the Planting Zones in Northern and Southern California?
The planting zones in the northern region of California can be from 5a to 10b, while the southern half of the state has planting zones from 5a to 11a. In case you’re curious, a planting zone or hardiness zone is a categorization that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) uses to divide areas of the entire country based on each location’s weather pattern data. While some people might assume that the Golden State is the ideal place for year-round gardening, its large size makes its planting zones incredibly unique.
Moreover, gardeners will be able to identify the plant types that are tolerant to low temperatures if they knew about the designated hardiness zone of these specific plant types. It’s best to learn more about these Plant Hardiness Zones to determine what you can plant and plant them throughout the year to survive. It’s important to note that these zones might change as climate conditions change.
Top 5 Benefits of Growing Your Plants in a Greenhouse
Longer growing seasons, the ability to garden in any weather, and grow various types of plants, protection from seasonal pests – these are only some of the many benefits of greenhouse gardening. Take a closer look at each one of them:
You can extend growing seasons.
One of the best things about growing your plants in a greenhouse is that you’ll get to extend growing seasons even in areas where the climate is mostly cold. Since the greenhouse traps the sun’s radiation, the heat can be retained within the structure. The fact that that temperatures remain consistent within the structure allows it to provide an ideal environment for longer growing seasons.
You can garden in any weather.
With a greenhouse, you can garden in the middle of a storm or during the winter season without worrying about getting wet or anything.
You can grow various types of plants.
Greenhouse gardening allows you to grow a wide range of plants – even those that aren’t found in your local area. You can finally experiment with those beautiful exotic plants if you set up your own greenhouse.
It protects your plants from pests and various predators.
Another considerable advantage of greenhouse gardening is the protection that your plants get from pests and predators that include deer, squirrels, moles, and rodents.
It protects your plants from inclement weather.
Harsh weather conditions that include dust storms, blizzards, thunderstorms, and high winds can cause considerable damage to your plants. With a greenhouse to protect your plants from these elements, you can be sure that they’ll be safe.
The Takeaway
Knowing when to plant tomatoes in California doesn’t have to be so difficult. Learning more about the planting zones and setting up your own greenhouse will ensure a bountiful harvest. If you’re looking to find greenhouses that are made from top-quality materials that are strong and durable, contact Krostrade today.