Is it too late to plant tomatoes in June? A growing expert shares all you need to know to get a successful fruit crop

There’s little in the vegetable garden as emblematic of a fertile summer as the ripe red fruit of a tomato plant, and at this time of year, they are at their most delicious and fragrant.

If you are interested in growing tomatoes, or have it pencilled in on your summer agenda, but have not yet committed any tomato plants to your soil, you may find yourself wondering: is it too late to plant tomatoes in June? It may be entirely possible to plant and grow them on successfully, but it depends on a few deciphering factors.

Here, we ask a vegetable expert what can we do if we want to plant tomato plants this late in the year? Or are we too late to the (garden) party?

Understand your climate

If you are blessed with high temperatures, there is still plenty of time to plant tomatoes outdoors. Even if you are starting to grow your tomatoes from seed.

‘One thing you must keep in mind is that each yard is unique,’ explains vegetable expert Kate Russell.

‘Temperatures start dropping at different times in each USDA plant hardiness zone. What you can start growing in June in Arizona will be very different from what you can do in Minnesota.’

‘It takes 60-100 days to go from tomato seed to harvestable fruit. To see how many growing days you have, identify your first frost date and count backward from there.’

Of course, if you buy starter plants from the garden center or local store, it will be much quicker and easier to catch up some lost tomato growing time.

Know your soil and tomato variety

'All tomato plants need warmth, full sun, and nutrient-rich soil. If you want big, juicy tomatoes, then look for tomato varieties such as Beefsteak, Super Steak, or Beefmaster.

'These days, tomatoes come in every size, shape, and color imaginable. Cherry tomatoes may well produce fruit faster if your time is short.' Kate explains.

Try early ripening tomato varieties such as these Fourth of July hybrid tomato seeds from Burpee, or a breed of tomato that produces fruit two weeks earlier than most varieties, like this Summer Girl hybrid tomato from Burpee.

'Before setting out and before adding any fertilizer, it is a good idea to get an inexpensive lab-based soil test or invest in a home machine, like this soil tester kit from Amazon.

'Too much of a particular nutrient can be just as bad for your tomato plants as not enough of it. Knowing what is in your soil lets you save time and money because you only add what is needed. Soil tests should be done every 3-5 years to get the most out of your garden.'

Kate Russell

Kate Russell helps others make the most of a landscape by incorporating delicious, attractive edible plants. She is the author of 'Stop Wasting Your Yard!', available at Amazon.

Consider growing tomatoes inside

‘Keep in mind that you can grow tomatoes year-round indoors, as long as you have a sunny windowsill and are willing to hand-pollinate.’ Kate explains.

If you are concerned that your yard is simply not warm enough to support tomato growth or feel nervous that young tomato plants would not thrive in your particular microclimate, rest assured that growing tomatoes indoors is always a possibility, so long as there is adequate sunlight and warmth.

With this in mind, June is the perfect month to start growing tomatoes in pots indoors. If you start now, you will likely have fruit ready to be picked by the end of summer. If you want to support plant growth as much as possible, you may want to invest in a hydroponics growing system like this one available at Amazon.

Get growing now!

So, rest assured, even though the clock is ticking and it feels as though summer is slipping through our fingers, there is still plenty of time to get growing tomato plants.

If you are looking for a good spot in your yard to position your plants, bear in mind that there are certain plants to never grow with tomatoes, so it's worth ensuring you take heed of tomato companion planting advice, so that they will be happy bedfellows.