Summer Tomato Planting in Southern California Coastal Areas

June 16, 2017 Author: C. Darren Butler GardenZeus Southern California / Organic Gardening: Vegetables / The Mighty Garden Archive

Want to plant tomatoes in June or July along the Southern California Coast but not sure the seasonal timing is right? This article gives tips and advice for succeeding with summer tomato planting in GardenZeus California Climate Zone 15: Southern Coastal.

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Late spring through midsummer is the prime planting window for growing tomatoes in Southern California coastal areas. For most varieties of tomatoes, the plants will grow well but they may not produce much harvest because of cool summer growing conditions. For the best yields, grow cold-tolerant varieties like Oregon Spring and Siberian in your zone even during summer.

Choose mildew-resistant varieties when possible and space plants widely for air circulation to minimize foliar diseases. Avoid wetting leaves of tomato plants with overhead irrigation such as sprinklers.

Plant tomatoes into rich, deep, fertile, and living soil; or use raised beds and large containers filled with fertile topsoil, washed sand, compost, and organic amendments. Chances are low for a good yield when planting tomatoes into previously uncultivated soils especially infertile sandy soils or heavy clay soils.

Mulch well, maintain even soil moisture, be careful not to overwater, and see GardenZeus customized tomato-growing information, including more seasonal recommendations and customized recommendations for tomato varieties for your zipcode:

See customized advice and information for growing tomatoes in your Southern California zip code