Best Tomatoes to Plant in March & Proven Tips for a High-Yield Harvest

March 5, 2025

March marks the start of prime tomato-planting season in many regions, and choosing the right varieties and planting techniques can set you up for a successful harvest. Whether you're growing in raised beds, containers, or a traditional garden, selecting the best tomato varieties and using proper planting methods will help ensure strong plants, bigger yields, and tastier tomatoes all season long.

Choosing the Right Tomato Variety for Your Garden

Tomatoes come in two main types: determinate and indeterminate. Understanding the difference will help you choose the right plants for your space and gardening goals.

Determinate Tomatoes (Bush Varieties)

Grow to a set height and produce most of their fruit in a short window (usually four to six weeks).
Best for containers, small gardens, and preserving or canning since they produce all at once.
Require minimal pruning and staking.
Good Choices for March Planting:
- Roma – Classic paste tomato, widely available and perfect for sauces.
- Celebrity – Popular hybrid with excellent disease resistance and high yields.
- Bush Early Girl – Produces medium-sized fruit early in the season, great for short spring windows and scorching summers.
- Tycoon – Texas-bred hybrid known for heat tolerance and disease resistance.
- Amelia – Resistant to common tomato diseases, making it a solid choice for Texas gardeners.

Indeterminate Tomatoes (Vining Varieties)

Continue growing and producing fruit all season long.
Require staking, caging, or trellising for support.
Best for gardeners who want a continuous harvest of fresh tomatoes.
Good Choices for March Planting:
- Cherokee Purple – Heirloom variety with rich flavor, does well in Texas heat (pictured above).
- Beefsteak – Large, meaty slicing tomato, widely found in nurseries across Texas.
- Sweet 100 – Prolific cherry tomato with high disease resistance and great flavor.
- Brandywine – Heirloom with deep flavor, best grown with afternoon shade in hotter regions.
- Juliet – Grape tomato with firm texture and long harvest season.

Best Heat-Tolerant Tomatoes for Texas (Perfect for surviving hot Texas summers and producing into fall)

Phoenix – Specifically bred for high heat and continues producing in summer.
Solar Fire – Stays productive in temperatures above 85°F. (Pictured Above)
Heatmaster – Designed for extreme heat conditions, widely sold in Texas nurseries.
Florida 91 – Strong disease resistance and can set fruit in hot weather.
Arkansas Traveler – Heirloom known for its ability to handle heat and drought.
Tycoon – A Texas A&M-recommended hybrid that thrives in high temperatures.

If you’re planting in a raised bed or large container, choose a compact determinate variety. If you have space and want a season-long harvest, go for indeterminate varieties. If you want to learn more about which type to choose, click here for a more in depth blog.

When to Plant Tomatoes in March

Tomatoes are warm-season crops that require careful timing. Planting too early can result in stunted growth, while waiting too long may shorten the growing window.

Outdoor Planting: In warm climates (USDA Zones 8-10), tomatoes can be planted outdoors in March. In cooler zones, wait until soil temperatures reach at least 60°F and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F.
Starting Indoors: In colder climates, start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected frost and transplant once the weather warms up.
Use Season Extenders: If there is a chance of a late cold snap, row covers, cold frames, or cloches can help protect young plants. You can also place a 5 gallon bucket over your plant for a quick fix!

The Best Planting Methods for High Tomato Yields

A strong start is critical for ensuring healthy tomato plants that produce well. These methods help maximize root development, nutrient absorption, and fruit production.

Deep Planting for Stronger Roots

Unlike most vegetables, tomatoes can develop roots along their buried stems. When planting, bury at least two-thirds of the stem in the soil to encourage a stronger root system.

How to Do It: Remove the lower leaves and bury 2/3 of the plant. If the plant is too tall, dig a trench, lay the plant sideways, and cover most of the stem with soil.
Benefits: A deep root system provides better nutrient absorption, increased drought resistance, and stronger plant structure. More roots always means a more robust plant!

Spacing for Maximum Production

Overcrowded plants compete for nutrients and sunlight, leading to reduced yields and a higher risk of disease.

Determinate tomatoes: Space 18-24 inches apart.
Indeterminate tomatoes: Space 24-36 inches apart with at least three feet between rows.

If planting in containers, use at least a five-gallon pot per plant to give the roots enough room.

Soil Preparation and Fertilization

Tomatoes are heavy feeders, meaning they require nutrient-rich soil for optimal growth and production.

Soil Preparation: Use well-draining, loamy soil enriched with compost or aged manure. A soil pH of 6.0-6.8 is ideal.
Fertilization: Mix organic compost or worm castings into the soil at planting. A balanced 5-10-10 fertilizer (low nitrogen, higher phosphorus and potassium) supports flowering and fruit production.

For more information on optimizing soil nutrition, read Troubleshooting Nutrient Deficiencies in Tomato Plants.

Mulching for Moisture Retention and Weed Control

Applying mulch around tomato plants provides multiple benefits:

Retains soil moisture and reduces watering frequency.
Suppresses weeds that compete for nutrients.
Prevents soil-borne diseases by reducing splashing on leaves.

The best mulches for tomatoes include straw, wood chips, shredded leaves, or grass clippings. Apply two to three inches around the base of each plant.

Providing Support from the Start

Indeterminate tomatoes require strong support to keep fruit off the ground and prevent disease.

Support Options:

Tomato cages – Good for determinate varieties.
Stakes – Ideal for single-stem pruning.
Trellises – Best for maximizing space and improving airflow.

Supporting plants early prevents stem breakage, disease, and fruit rot.

Where to Find the Best Tomato Varieties in Texas

Many local nurseries and garden centers across Texas carry a wide range of tomato plants suited for the region’s climate. For harder-to-find or Texas-adapted varieties, consider these sources:

Local Nurseries & Garden Centers – Most independent nurseries stock tried-and-true varieties like Celebrity, Tycoon, and Cherokee Purple. Popular Texas chains include Calloway’s, The Natural Gardener (Austin), and Buchanan’s Native Plants (Houston).
Feed Stores & Farm Supply Stores – Many carry region-specific hybrids, especially heat-tolerant varieties such as Phoenix, Solar Fire, and Heatmaster.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Offers recommendations and sometimes plant sales featuring Texas-adapted hybrids like Tycoon.
Farmers’ Markets & Plant Sales – Local growers often sell heirloom and specialty varieties not found in big-box stores.
Online Seed Suppliers – If you prefer to start from seed, websites like Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and Texas-based Wildseed Farms offer high-quality options.

Final Tips for a High-Yield Tomato Season

Rotate Crops: Avoid planting tomatoes in the same spot as the previous year to prevent soil-borne diseases.
Water Consistently: Deep, even watering of about one to two inches per week is best. Avoid overhead watering to reduce fungal infections.
Prune and Remove Suckers: For indeterminate tomatoes, prune excess shoots to focus energy on fruit production.
Watch for Pests and Diseases: Keep an eye out for aphids, hornworms, and fungal infections. Treat early using organic methods such as neem oil or companion planting.

Set Your Tomato Plants Up for Success This Spring

March is the perfect time to get tomato plants in the ground for a productive growing season. By choosing the right varieties, planting deeply, spacing correctly, and using high-quality soil, you can ensure a bountiful harvest of homegrown tomatoes.

For more gardening tips, check out these resources: