When To Plant Tomatoes In Los Angeles
When to plant tomatoes in Los Angeles? The ideal time is September…and you may need a stepladder!
There is much debate about when to plant tomatoes in Los Angeles. That’s because traditionally tomatoes are synonymous with summer. I tried planting tomatoes in both spring and summer and they always would look hot, unhappy and then eventually wither and die — even when I watered them twice a day.
I was saved when I heard Jerry Coleby-Williams, mention that he plants his tomatoes over fall and winter. Tick! Once I tried this, my tomato game finally picked up. I guess this is because in Los Angeles, fall, winter and spring can all easily hit “summer” temperatures.
Having tested out when to grow tomatoes across the seasons, my best results have come from planting tomatoes in cooler fall weather. Last fall, I tested out heaps of different tomato varieties and include 4 of the best tomatoes to grow in Los Angeles below. Check out my 2024 Seasonal Planting Calendar below too!
Some of the tomato varieties (above) that I grew in my backyard
What Are The Best Tomatoes To Grow In Los Angeles?
#1 Cherry Tomatoes: I love the gorgeous sugarlump cherry variety for it’s ombre colouring and huge trusses.
#2 Currant Tomatoes: Teeny tiny currant tomatoes are about a third of the the size of cherry tomatoes and their cuteness alone make them one of the best tomatoes to grow in Los Angeles. They are easy to pick off the vine to eat like fruit.
#3 Riesetomate: I grew this intriguing Riestomate variety (the third tomato above) because my grandparent’s surname is Ries. It is a super cool heirloom variety that clumps up with 6 or 7 clumps per fruit.
#4 Beefsteak Tomatoes: If you want to challenge yourself, grow a huge beefsteak tomato variety, easily one of the best tomatoes to grow in Los Angeles. They can weigh hundreds of grams each and feed a whole family!
When to plant tomatoes in Los Angeles? My vote is in September or October (not summer as many suggest)
Looking for more info? Check out What Veggies To Grow Now In Los Angeles, By The Seasons or Winter Vegetables To Grow In Southern California.
