When to plant tomatoes in Medford, OR

Start tomatoes from seed indoors Mar 15–29, then plant the young plants in the garden in Medford May 10 – Jun 7.

Moderate Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Medford's typical last spring frost is April 8. Frost kills tomatoes, and warm-season crops also need warm soil. Soil here stays cold for weeks after the last frost, so planting waits until about May 10.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

Difficulty: Moderate
Sun: Full sun; the hottest spot you have
Spacing: 2 feet apart
Planting depth: Bury the stem up to the first leaves
Frost: Killed by frost
First harvest: About 75 days after planting

Step by step

Start seeds indoors Mar 15–29 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden May 10 – Jun 7, 2 feet apart. Bury the stem up to the first leaves.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Harvest: Pick when fully colored. Before fall rains, pick green tomatoes and ripen them indoors.

Varieties that do well here

Stupice
Early Girl
Sungold (cherry)
Oregon Spring (bred at OSU)

Watch out for

Late blight in wet falls turns leaves and fruit brown. Keep leaves dry and give plants space.

OSU Extension advises waiting for soil consistently above 70°F. Early or cherry varieties ripen most reliably here.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Medford, OR?

Typically April 8. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 30. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Medford Rogue Valley Airport.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Medford?

The spring planting window runs through June 7. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around October 29.

When should I start tomatoes from seed indoors in Medford?

March 15 to March 29, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the May 10 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

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Also plant in Medford around the same time

Planting dates for tomatoes in nearby areas

Portland, OR May 10 – Jun 7
Gresham, OR May 10 – Jun 7
Wilsonville and Canby, OR May 10 – Jun 7
Salem, OR May 10 – Jun 7
Eugene, OR May 10 – Jun 7
Roseburg, OR May 10 – Jun 7

Full planting calendar for Medford · Tomatoes in every city