When to plant tomatoes in Nebraska

Tomatoes
Plant out in Omaha
Apr 23–May 7

Across Nebraska the window opens between April 23 and May 18. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Omaha
Feb 19–Mar 5
Plant out, Omaha
Apr 23–May 7
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 11
Last frost, Omaha
Apr 16

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
OmahaApr 23–May 7
LincolnMay 1–May 15
BellevueApr 24–May 8
Grand IslandApr 30–May 14
KearneyMay 7–May 21
FremontApr 30–May 14
NorfolkMay 8–May 22
ColumbusApr 28–May 12
PapillionApr 28–May 12
HastingsApr 29–May 13
North PlatteMay 18–Jun 1

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Nebraska?

In Omaha, plant out from April 23 to May 7. Across Nebraska the window opens between April 23 and May 18, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Nebraska

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Nebraska