Zone 13 is the hottest USDA zone and the only one that is frost-free year-round, with average winter lows above 60°F. There is no last spring frost and no first autumn frost to plan around, so in Zone 13 you plant by heat and by the wet and dry seasons, not by frost. The limits on what grows are heat, humidity, rain and pests rather than cold. All numbers below are published ranges, not promises for your garden: check your local extension service before you plant.
Cherry tomatoes are the most reliable tomato for Zone 13: small-fruited, fast to ripen, heavy-yielding and more tolerant of heat and humidity than large-fruited types. A single plant can produce hundreds of fruit over a long season, and because the fruit ripens quickly it often escapes the worst of the wet-season disease that hits big tomatoes. For a first tomato in the tropics, start here.
Zone 13 timing for cherry tomatoes
The table below is the whole plan in one place.
| Step | Zone 13 timing |
|---|---|
| Average winter low | Above 60°F |
| Last spring frost | None — frost-free year-round |
| First autumn frost | None — frost-free year-round |
| Best planting window | Year-round, whenever the soil is warm |
| Start indoors | Sow indoors several weeks before transplanting (see Starting section) |
| Direct sow outdoors | Not usually — start indoors and transplant out |
| Days to germination | 7–14 days |
| Days to maturity | 60–70 days |
| Cold tolerance | tender |
When to sow cherry tomatoes in Zone 13
Start cherry tomatoes indoors and transplant out once the soil is warm, which in Zone 13 is most of the year. They fruit well in the cool dry season, so plan for fruit to ripen in drier weather when you can. Because plants keep producing for months where there is no frost, one well-timed planting can feed a household for a long stretch. Use the seed-starting calculator to work backwards from your transplant date.
Starting cherry tomatoes: indoors or direct sowing
Cherry tomatoes are started indoors: sow seed in trays about six to eight weeks before transplanting, keep the mix warm and damp, and give seedlings strong light. Germination takes about a week to ten days. Transplant deeply, burying part of the stem, and harden seedlings off for a week before they go out.
Soil, spacing and sun
Cherry Tomatoes needs full sun. Space plants 24–36 inches apart — crowded plants compete for light, water and air, and disease spreads faster between touching leaves in humid tropical air. Cherry tomatoes want rich, well-drained soil, full sun and a pH in the range in the table below. Work compost into the bed, mulch thickly, and give each plant the wide spacing in the table — cherry plants grow large and need airflow. A stake or tall cage at planting time saves trouble later.
Watering cherry tomatoes in Zone 13
Water needs are high. Water deeply and evenly at the base and mulch thickly: irregular watering splits cherry fruit, especially after heavy rain. Morning watering is best, and a drip line or slow soak is far better than overhead sprinkling, which spreads disease in humid weather.
Companion plants
Good companions for cherry tomatoes include marigolds, basil, onions, lettuce. These are the companions listed for this crop in standard horticultural references: they share similar needs, and some, like marigolds, are traditionally planted to help confuse or deter pests. Plant companions in the same bed or nearby, not in a separate corner of the garden, so they actually share the space. Avoid planting heavy feeders that will compete for the same nutrients in the same spot.
Common pests and problems
The pests to watch for are aphids, hornworms, flea beetles and whiteflies, plus blight in humid weather. Hornworms can defoliate a plant fast, so check every few days. Wide spacing, staking and removing lower leaves all improve airflow and reduce blight. Pick fruit promptly — overripe fruit left on the vine attracts pests.
Harvest and storage
Pick cherry tomatoes when they are fully coloured and come away with a gentle tug, about eight to ten weeks after transplanting. Pick every day or two at the height of the season: regular picking keeps the plant producing, and fruit left too long splits or drops. Eat them the same day for the best flavour, or dry, freeze or cook the surplus. Use the harvest date calculator to work out a harvest window from your sowing date.
Succession and rotation in Zone 13
Succession sowing works year-round in Zone 13 for a heat lover like this: sow a fresh batch every few weeks so young, vigorous plants keep coming as older ones tire, and you avoid a single huge glut. Rotate crops so cherry tomatoes does not follow another Solanaceae family crop in the same bed next season. In a frost-free climate some plants can live more than one season, so prune lightly after a fruiting flush and feed with compost rather than pulling a healthy plant. Keep notes on what you sowed and when: with no frost dates to anchor the calendar, your own records are the most useful planting guide you will have.
Related Zone 13 guides
More Zone 13 guides: Roma Tomatoes in Zone 13 and the same crop in a cooler zone, Cherry Tomatoes in Zone 11. The December in Zone 13 guide shows what else to plant in that month, and the planting calendar hub brings all the Zone 13 guides together.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant cherry tomatoes in Zone 13?
Plant cherry tomatoes any time the soil is warm. Zone 13 is frost-free with winter lows above 60°F, so there is no last or first frost date to wait for — heat lovers grow year-round here. Check your local extension service for advice on the wet and dry seasons in your area.
Why do my cherry tomatoes split?
Splitting follows sudden water uptake — usually heavy rain after a dry spell. Water evenly, mulch thickly to hold moisture, and pick fruit as soon as it colours rather than leaving it on the vine. Some varieties resist splitting better than others, so try a crack-resistant type next time.
How many cherry tomato plants do I need?
One or two plants are plenty for most households — a healthy cherry tomato is astonishingly productive in Zone 13. Plant more only if you plan to preserve the harvest, and give each plant its full spacing, because crowded plants give less fruit and more disease.
What soil and spacing do cherry tomatoes need?
It needs full sun, soil pH 6.0–6.8, and spacing of 24–36 inches between plants. Work compost into the bed before planting and test the soil rather than guessing the pH.