Planting Guides

When to Plant Tomatoes in Atlanta: Complete Guide + Best Varieties for Zone 8a

Atlanta, Georgia

USDA Zone 8a

Last Frost: Mar 25

Last updated: October 30, 2025

Learn when to plant tomatoes in Atlanta with specific dates for Zone 8a. Compare 6 varieties, get a complete timeline, and discover which tomatoes grow best in Georgia's climate.

DDorothy "Dot" Williams

October 30, 2025

Tomato plants growing successfully in Atlanta Zone 8a garden with spring timing — — Image © PlantReference.org 2025

Quick Answer

Start tomato seeds indoors February 15-22 in Atlanta. Transplant outdoors April 1-7 after March 24 last frost date.

TL;DR

Plant tomato seeds indoors February 15-22 in Atlanta. Transplant outdoors April 1-7 after last frost (March 24). Best varieties for Zone 8a: Early Girl, Cherokee Purple, and Sungold thrive in Georgia's hot summers. Start fall crops July 15-20 for October harvest.

Product Recommendations

Ferry-Morse Early Girl Tomato Seeds

($3-5)— Reliable F1 hybrid perfect for Atlanta's climate

Ferry-Morse Early Girl Tomato Seeds - 30 Seeds

https://www.amazon.com/Ferry-Morse-Tomato-Early-Girl-Seeds/dp/B00B2LIFXK

Ferry-Morse Early Girl seeds produce the most reliable tomatoes for Atlanta gardens. This F1 hybrid sets fruit at cooler temperatures than most varieties, ensuring harvest before Georgia's brutal summer heat. Mature in 50-62 days from transplant with VFF disease resistance package. Indeterminate vines require staking but produce continuously until frost. Seeds germinate reliably with proper bottom heat. Perfect insurance crop for new Atlanta gardeners wanting guaranteed success. Each packet contains 30 seeds, enough for multiple seasons.

Price: $3.49-$4.99

Burpee Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato Seeds

($4-7)— Premium heirloom adapted to Southern humidity

Burpee Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato Seeds - 25 Seeds

https://www.burpee.com/vegetables/tomatoes/tomato-cherokee-purple-prod000456.html

Burpee's Cherokee Purple offers exceptional flavor in an heirloom variety that handles Atlanta's humidity better than other large tomatoes. Dusky purple-brown fruits reach 12-16 ounces with complex, smoky flavor that commands premium prices at farmers markets. Originated in Tennessee, making it naturally adapted to Southeastern climate conditions. Requires 75-90 days to maturity and benefits from afternoon shade protection. Indeterminate growth habit needs strong support. Open-pollinated variety allows seed saving for future seasons.

Price: $4.29-$6.95

Johnny's Selected Seeds Sungold Cherry Tomatoes

($4-6)— Heat-tolerant cherry with exceptional disease resistance

Johnny's Selected Seeds Sungold F1 Cherry Tomato Seeds - 25 Seeds

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/tomatoes/cherry-tomatoes/sun-gold-f1-tomato-seed-770.html

Johnny's Sungold cherry tomatoes excel in Atlanta's challenging climate with superior heat tolerance and disease resistance including Fusarium and TMV resistance. Golden-orange fruits have exceptional sweetness often exceeding 9 Brix, with tropical flavor notes. Produces continuously through summer heat when larger varieties shut down. Thin skin requires daily harvest to prevent splitting after rain. Vigorous indeterminate vines need strong support but reward with pounds of premium fruit. Professional seed quality ensures excellent germination rates.

Price: $4.25-$5.95

Botanical Interests Stupice Heirloom Tomato Seeds

($3-5)— Cold-tolerant Czech variety perfect for fall crops

Botanical Interests Stupice Heirloom Tomato Seeds - 0.25g Packet

https://www.botanicalinterests.com/product/Stupice-Tomato-Seeds

Stupice heirloom seeds from Botanical Interests produce the best fall crop tomatoes for Atlanta gardens. This Czech variety sets fruit reliably in cooler weather, making it ideal for August plantings that produce through October. Potato-leaf foliage distinguishes it from standard tomatoes, with 2-3 inch red fruits maturing in just 52-60 days. Cold tolerance allows continued harvest until hard frost. Balanced flavor superior to other ultra-early varieties. Open-pollinated genetics allow seed saving. Compact indeterminate growth suits container growing.

Price: $3.25-$4.95

Territorial Seeds San Marzano Nano

($5-8)— Compact paste tomato ideal for Atlanta containers

Territorial Seeds San Marzano Nano Tomato Seeds - 20 Seeds

https://territorialseed.com/products/tomato-san-marzano-nano

San Marzano Nano from Territorial Seeds offers classic paste tomato quality in a compact determinate plant perfect for Atlanta patios. Authentic San Marzano flavor and texture in 3-4 inch elongated fruits ideal for sauce and canning. Determinate growth habit produces concentrated harvest, perfect for preservation projects. Requires consistent moisture to prevent blossom end rot, making container growing with controlled irrigation advantageous. Compact 24-30 inch height suits space-limited Atlanta gardens. Produces 75-80 days from transplant with authentic Italian genetics.

Price: $4.95-$7.95

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Atlanta?

The optimal time to plant tomato seeds indoors is February 15-22, and transplant outdoors April 1-7 after Atlanta's March 24 average last frost date. This timing allows plants to establish before summer heat arrives. For fall crops, start seeds July 15-20 and transplant August 20-30 for October harvest before the November 9 first frost.

What tomato varieties grow best in Atlanta's Zone 8a climate?

Solanum lycopersicum 'Early Girl' and Solanum lycopersicum 'Sungold' are the most reliable varieties for Atlanta gardeners. Early Girl produces full-sized slicers before summer heat, while Sungold cherry tomatoes continue producing through hot weather. Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee Purple' handles humidity well for those wanting heirloom flavor, and Solanum lycopersicum 'Stupice' excels for fall crops.

How do you deal with Atlanta's clay soil for tomatoes?

Amend Georgia red clay heavily with 3-4 inches of compost annually and mix in coarse sand to improve drainage. Consider raised beds if drainage remains poor. Work amendments when soil moisture is correct—it should crumble in your hand, not stick or turn to dust. Test and adjust pH to 6.0-6.8, as Atlanta clay tends to be acidic.

Why aren't my tomatoes setting fruit in Atlanta summers?

Tomatoes stop setting fruit when nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F, which occurs regularly in Atlanta from mid-July through August. Pollen becomes sterile in extreme heat. Plant early varieties to harvest before heat stress, use shade cloth during heat waves, and plan fall crops to resume production when temperatures moderate in late August.

How do you prevent Early Blight in Atlanta's humid climate?

Prevention is key: mulch heavily, space plants wide for airflow, and remove lower leaves that touch the ground. Apply preventive copper fungicide in May before disease pressure builds. Choose resistant varieties like Solanum lycopersicum 'Sungold'. Early Blight thrives in Atlanta's humidity, so consistent prevention is more effective than treatment.

What's the secret to growing Cherokee Purple tomatoes in Georgia?

Provide morning sun but afternoon shade protection and ensure excellent air circulation to prevent fungal diseases. Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee Purple' handles humidity better than other large heirlooms but still needs careful management. Deep planting, consistent moisture, and preventive disease treatment are essential for success with this flavorful variety.

When should you start fall tomato crops in Atlanta?

Start fall crop seeds July 15-20 during Atlanta's hottest period. Keep seedlings in air-conditioned space or under shade cloth to prevent heat stress. Transplant August 20-30 as temperatures begin moderating. Calculate backward from November 9 first frost: latest transplant dates are August 20 for short-season varieties, July 20 for long-season types.

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Written By

Dorothy "Dot" Williams

Dot grew up on a small farm in rural Virginia and has maintained a vegetable garden for decades. After retiring from teaching elementary school, she became a Master Gardener volunteer and spends her time mentoring new gardeners at community garden plots in Richmond. She's especially knowledgeable about heirloom varieties, seed saving, and traditional growing methods passed down from her grandmother. Dot's no-nonsense advice comes from extensive trial and error—she's seen every tomato disease, pest problem, and weather disaster imaginable. Her biggest pet peeve is gardeners who overcomplicate simple tasks. "Plants want to grow," she often says. "Your job is to not get in their way."