🗓️ When to Plant Tomatoes in Alabama

Tomatoes are warm-season crops, so timing is important:

North Alabama (Huntsville, Florence, etc.):

• Start seeds indoors: Late February to early March
• Transplant outdoors: Mid-April to early May (after last frost)

Central Alabama (Birmingham, Montgomery, etc.):

• Start seeds indoors: Early February
• Transplant outdoors: Early to mid-April

South Alabama (Mobile, Dothan, etc.):

• Start seeds indoors: Late January to early February
• Transplant outdoors: Mid to late March

🔁 You can also do a fall planting: start seeds in June and transplant in July for harvest into fall.

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🌱 How to Grow Tomatoes in Alabama

1. Choose the Right Variety

For Alabama’s humidity and heat, choose disease-resistant and heat-tolerant varieties:

• Celebrity (determinate)
• Better Boy (indeterminate)
• Roma (great for sauces)
• Cherokee Purple (heirloom)

2. Start Seeds or Buy Transplants

• Start seeds 6–8 weeks before your planting date.
• Use seed trays with a heat mat for even germination (70–80°F).
• Harden off plants outdoors 7–10 days before transplanting.

3. Site Selection

• Full sun (at least 6–8 hours daily)
• Well-draining soil rich in organic matter
• Slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–6.8)

4. Soil Prep & Planting

• Mix in compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
• Add lime if soil is too acidic (do a soil test if unsure).
• Plant deeply — bury 2/3 of the plant, including some of the stem to encourage root growth.
• Space:
  • Determinate types: 18–24″ apart
  • Indeterminate types: 24–36″ apart with cages or stakes

5. Watering & Mulching

• Water 1–1.5 inches per week, deeply and less frequently.
• Use drip irrigation or water at the base to prevent leaf diseases.
• Mulch with pine straw or hay to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

6. Feeding

• Use a balanced fertilizer at planting (e.g., 10-10-10).
• Side-dress with calcium nitrate once fruit sets to prevent blossom-end rot.
• Don’t over-fertilize with nitrogen — it leads to leafy plants and poor fruiting.

7. Support & Maintenance

• Stake, cage, or trellis all indeterminate varieties.
• Prune suckers for better airflow and fruit size (especially on indeterminates).
• Monitor for pests: hornworms, whiteflies, aphids.
• Watch for diseases: blight, wilt, leaf spot — rotate crops yearly and avoid overhead watering.

8. Harvesting

• Pick tomatoes when they turn full color and are slightly soft to the touch.
• Store at room temperature (never in the fridge unless fully ripe and soft).