Follow the planting schedules below for when to plant tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables. The Best Tomatoes to Grow Where You Live Enjoy bumper tomato harvests. Although the Plant Hardiness Zone Maps are a great reference to estimate the minimum temperature a plant can survive, this is only part of what affects your growing season. The Bushsteak tomato is ideal for growing in containers and small gardens since the compact plant only grows to 20 – 24 inches in height, but produces large, juicy tomatoes. They produce new blooms and new tomatoes all summer. Indeterminate tomato plants continue to grow taller until they are killed by the frost in the fall. Tomatoes ripen over the course of several weeks. Grow a Good Life is located in Maine, Zone 5b: -15˚F to -10˚F. I've been growing tomatoes in my home garden in Maine for over 25 years. The leaves and seeds are an excellent source of nutrition, but I love just to watch the plants grow . Select varieties that are adapted to Maine’s climate and your local growing conditions. The leaves and seeds are an excellent source of nutrition, but I love just to watch the plants grow . Maine on average has approximately 155 days between the last and first frost. I've seen summers with as little as 60 days of frost-free weather, but most years stretch to 90 days or more. Follow the planting schedules below for when to plant tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables. Sweetheart of the Patio The Sweetheart of the Patio is another variety that is perfect for containers on a balcony, or deck. This is one of the reasons why store bought tomatoes never taste as good as homegrown. Find more of our publications and books at extensionpubs.umext.maine.edu. These plants need to be staked or caged as they will grow to … You can get high quality kelp meal for your tomatoes here. Tomatoes are best when harvested at peak ripeness. Plant when soil and sun are warm. Kelp meal is full of trace minerals that will help your plants thrive and produce bumper crops. Maine Vegetable Gardening: Keep Your Garden Growing — Plant from Spring to Fall (PDF) Early Spring Midspring Early Summer Midsummer to Fall Plant as soon as the ground can be worked. Zone 5 stretches from Maine to Missouri to Utah and even to Colorado. Choosing the right varieties of vegetables to grow is an important part of successful gardening. If you want to grow the best tomatoes with the best flavor you’ve got to feed them trace minerals. Plant in late June-early July PLANTS: Broccoli Cabbage […] Plant two weeks before the average last frost date. Organic gardeners with broad experience of multiple varieties recommend the best tomatoes to grow in your region. My garden is right on the border of USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4b and 5a and can go either way depending on the year.