When to Plant Heirloom Tomato in Fortescue, New Jersey (08321)

Location

Fortescue, New Jersey

ZIP Code

08321

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Sunday, April 5, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Transplant Outdoors

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Based on last frost Sunday, April 5, 2026 · Zone 7b

Pro tip: Start Heirloom Tomato seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Sunday, April 19, 2026.

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🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Solanum lycopersicum

Days to Maturity 80 days

Mature Height 48-84"

Spread 24"

Type Indeterminate

Fruit Size Variable (2-32 oz depending on variety)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6-8 hours)

💧

Water

Regular (1-2 inches/week)

↔️

Spacing

30" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.25" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 5-10 days

Ready to Plant Heirloom Tomato in Fortescue?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Sunday, February 22, 2026.

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🤝 Good Companions

BasilCarrotParsleyMarigoldBorage

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

BrassicasFennelCornKohlrabi

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Heirloom Tomato

See which plants help Heirloom Tomato thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Heirloom Tomato Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Brandywine

heirloom 80d

Large, pinkish-red heirloom prized for its complex, rich flavor — a benchmark for taste.

Cherokee Purple

heirloom 80d

Deep mahogany-purple with a smoky-sweet flavor profile and striking appearance.

Green Zebra

heirloom 78d

Striped green-yellow tomato with tangy, bright flavor — stays green when ripe.

Mortgage Lifter

heirloom 85d

Massive 2+ lb fruits bred by a backyard gardener in the 1930s; famously mild and sweet.

Aunt Ruby's German Green

heirloom 80d

Large green-when-ripe beefsteak with a complex, spicy-fruity flavor.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟢 Easy

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Let fruit ripen fully and slightly past peak on the vine before scooping seeds.

Processing

Scoop seeds into water, ferment 2–3 days, rinse well, dry flat on a non-stick surface for 1 week.

Seed Viability

Up to 4 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated and grow true from seed. Separate varieties by 25 feet to prevent crossing.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 5 plants of Heirloom Tomato. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Heirloom Tomato in Fortescue, New Jersey? +

In Fortescue (Zone 7b), start Heirloom Tomato seeds indoors around Sunday, February 22, 2026 and transplant outdoors around Sunday, April 19, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Fortescue, New Jersey? +

The average last spring frost date for Fortescue, New Jersey (ZIP 08321) is around Sunday, April 5, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 7b.

How long does Heirloom Tomato take to grow? +

Heirloom Tomato typically matures in about 80 days from transplanting. In Fortescue, that means you can expect harvest around Sunday, April 19, 2026 plus 80 days.

Should I start Heirloom Tomato indoors or direct sow in New Jersey? +

Heirloom Tomato should be started indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date. In Fortescue, that means starting around Sunday, February 22, 2026.

📚 More Heirloom Tomato Planting Guides

🗺️

Heirloom Tomato in New Jersey

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 7b Heirloom Tomato Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Fortescue

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Heirloom Tomato in Zone 7b

Heirloom Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a popular garden vegetable. In Fortescue, New Jersey, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b, you should start seeds indoors around Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Sunday, April 5, 2026. Plan to transplant your Heirloom Tomato seedlings outdoors around Sunday, April 19, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.