Missed the early planting window? Don’t worry—your tomato dreams aren’t doomed just yet. June isn’t too late if you know a few smart shortcuts.
With the right varieties, timing tweaks, and a little garden hustle, you can still grow a thriving crop. These 15 tricks will help you catch up fast and squeeze every drop of flavor from the season.
1. Choose Quick-Maturing Varieties
Look for tomato varieties with ‘early,’ ‘quick,’ or ’60-day’ in their names. Cherry tomatoes like ‘Sun Gold’ or ‘Early Girl’ mature faster than larger beefsteak types, often producing fruit in just 50-60 days.
These speedy growers give you a fighting chance against the calendar. Roma tomatoes also tend to produce quickly and abundantly, making them perfect candidates for late planting.
2. Start With Established Seedlings
Skip the seed-starting phase entirely. Visit your local nursery to purchase tomato plants that already have a head start, ideally with flowers already forming. This instantly gives you several weeks’ advantage.
Healthy seedlings should have thick stems and vibrant green leaves without spots or yellowing. Some garden centers even offer discounts on seedlings in June as they clear out inventory!
3. Provide Maximum Sunshine
Late-planted tomatoes need every ray of sunshine they can get. Choose your sunniest garden spot that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Southern exposures work best in the northern hemisphere.
Consider removing any nearby plants that might cast shadows. Even partial shade will slow your tomatoes’ growth significantly. If planting in containers, use wheeled platforms to chase the sun throughout the day.
4. Warm The Soil Quickly
Tomatoes thrive in warm soil, ideally around 70°F. Use black plastic mulch to heat the soil faster before planting. Simply lay the plastic over your garden bed for 1-2 days beforehand.
Red plastic mulch has actually been shown to increase tomato yields by reflecting specific wavelengths of light back to the plants. Another trick: place dark-colored stones around plants to absorb heat during the day and release it at night.
5. Use Season-Extending Techniques
Wall O’ Water protectors or plastic cloches create mini-greenhouses around individual plants. These protective covers trap heat while allowing light through, effectively extending your growing season by several weeks.
Remove these covers once temperatures consistently stay above 65°F at night. For an inexpensive alternative, cut the bottoms off plastic milk jugs and place them over seedlings, removing the caps for ventilation during hot days.
6. Focus On Root Development
Plant seedlings deeper than they were in their nursery pots. Bury them up to their first set of true leaves, as tomatoes will develop roots all along the buried stem, creating a stronger foundation.
Add a tablespoon of Epsom salts to the planting hole to provide magnesium that encourages root growth. Avoid disturbing the root zone after planting by installing cages or stakes immediately rather than later when roots have spread.
7. Supercharge Your Soil
Late-planted tomatoes need nutrient-rich soil to fuel their accelerated growth. Mix in plenty of compost and a balanced organic fertilizer before planting. Worm castings are particularly beneficial for tomatoes.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which promote leafy growth at the expense of fruit production. Instead, look for formulations with higher phosphorus content (the middle number in the NPK ratio) to encourage flowering and fruiting.
8. Water Consistently But Carefully
Establish a regular watering schedule that keeps soil consistently moist but never soggy. Irregular watering causes stress and problems like blossom end rot, which can ruin your harvest.
Morning watering is best, allowing foliage to dry before evening. Consider installing a simple drip irrigation system with a timer to maintain perfect moisture levels. Aim for about 1-2 inches of water weekly, adjusting for rainfall.
9. Prune For Productivity
Remove suckers (the shoots that form in the crotch between the main stem and branches) regularly. This focuses the plant’s energy on developing fruit rather than excess foliage, especially important for late plantings.
For indeterminate varieties, consider pruning to just two or three main stems. Also remove any flowers that appear during the first week after transplanting to help the plant establish its root system first.
10. Apply Mulch Strategically
Once soil has warmed, apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch like straw or shredded leaves around plants. This conserves moisture, prevents soil-borne diseases from splashing onto leaves, and reduces weeding time.
Red plastic mulch can actually increase yields by up to 20% by reflecting specific light wavelengths back to the plants. For container gardens, a layer of compost as mulch provides slow-release nutrients while retaining moisture.
11. Feed Weekly With Liquid Fertilizer
Boost growth with weekly applications of liquid seaweed or fish emulsion fertilizer diluted to half strength. These fast-acting nutrients are immediately available to plants, unlike slow-release granular fertilizers.
Alternate between compost tea one week and tomato-specific liquid fertilizer the next. Stop fertilizing once fruits begin to ripen to improve flavor. Overfeeding produces lush foliage but fewer tomatoes.
12. Provide Sturdy Support Immediately
Install cages, stakes, or trellises right at planting time. Late-season tomatoes need to focus energy on fruit production rather than growing sturdy stems, so external support becomes crucial.
Concrete reinforcing wire makes excellent heavy-duty cages that won’t topple under the weight of rapidly growing plants. Secure plants to supports with soft garden twine or strips of old t-shirts that won’t cut into stems as they grow.
13. Hand-Pollinate For Better Fruit Set
Don’t wait for bees! Gently shake flowering branches around midday when pollen is most viable. This simple action helps distribute pollen for better fruit production, especially important when racing against the season.
For even better results, use a small paintbrush to transfer pollen between flowers. Electric toothbrushes work wonderfully too – just touch the back of open flowers with the vibrating brush to release pollen.
14. Monitor And Manage Pests Vigilantly
Late plantings can face intense pest pressure as insects are already established in the garden. Inspect plants daily, looking under leaves for hornworms, aphids, and whiteflies. Catch problems early!
Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings as natural pest control. Neem oil spray works well for multiple pests while being organic. Remember that healthy, unstressed plants naturally resist pests better.
15. Prepare For Frost Protection
Be ready to extend your season when temperatures drop. Keep old sheets, frost cloth, or lightweight row covers handy to drape over plants when frost threatens. These can protect tomatoes down to about 28°F.
Plastic milk jugs filled with water placed near plants create thermal mass that releases heat overnight. For container plants, simply wheel them into a garage or sheltered area when frost is predicted.