Growing Tomatoes In Idaho: Everything You Need To Know
You want to grow tomatoes in Idaho but want to get additional information regarding what things you should take into account in this region so you can make your tomato growing project a real success?
Great! This article is exactly for you since I will show you everything you need to know about growing tomatoes in Idaho in the following chapters.
Not only will you learn about specific climatic conditions and challenges but you will also learn what pests you have to worry about and much more.
After reading this article, you will be a real expert when it comes to growing tomato plants in Idaho and may be able to avoid certain mistakes many people make when growing tomatoes in this region.
Without further ado, let’s jump right into it!
Table of Contents
Do tomatoes grow well in Idaho?
Even though climatic conditions in Idaho are not as great compared to people growing tomatoes in Arizona or other warmer and sunnier regions, you can still grow tomatoes in Idaho in a pretty decent manner as long as you follow some basic principles and care well for your plants.
How long does it take to grow tomatoes in Idaho?
It takes most people between 14 and 18 weeks to grow tomatoes in Idaho from seed to harvest.
However, please note that this also greatly depends on your level of expertise when it comes to gardening and also on the tomato variety you want to grow.
How big do tomato plants grow in Idaho?
As long as you provide decent growing conditions, your tomato plants can get pretty big and you should give them at least 7 feet in the vertical so your tomato plants will not be space-constraint and can produce plenty of fruits.
Can you expect great yields when growing tomatoes in Idaho?
Due to solid climatic conditions, you may also be able to harvest lots of tomatoes in Idaho as long as you care well for your plants and also water and fertilize them in a proper manner.
When to grow tomatoes in Idaho?
The best time to start growing tomatoes in Idaho is between April and May if you want to grow them outdoors from seed since you have to wait until there will be no frost anymore.
However, if you want to pre-grow tomatoes indoors, you can start as early as March and transplant your tomato seedlings outdoors later in the year.
Can you grow tomatoes in Idaho in winter?
Since winters in Idaho can be pretty cold in some regions and lighting conditions are just not perfect, you may have a hard time growing tomatoes during winter months and you should just not expect the same great yields you could get in summer.
Can you grow tomatoes in Idaho multiple times per year?
While you could grow multiple batches of tomato plants per year if you start pretty early with your first tomato growing project in spring, harvest it in early summer and plant the second batch in early summer and harvest it in late fall.
However, please still note that you may not get the same great results for your second batch of tomatoes as you would get for your first one since climatic conditions become worse later in the year.
What tomato varieties grow best in Idaho?
For growing tomatoes in Idaho, you should choose varieties that can deal well with cool weather early in the year. Among others, these are:
- Roma Tomatoes
- Zebra Tomatoes
- Early Girl Tomatoes
- Grape Tomatoes
- Brandywine Tomatoes
- Celebrity Tomatoes
- Golden Nugget Tomatoes
- Orange Pixie Tomatoes
- Husky Gold Tomatoes
Is it better to grow tomatoes in Idaho from seeds or seedlings?
If you want to get the full growing experience, it will be better to grow tomatoes from seed instead of seedlings since you can just grow your plants from scratch and will be able to see every step in the growing cycle without shortcuts.
However, if you want to see quick results, you may rather want to rely on seedlings for growing tomatoes in Idaho.
Should you start growing tomatoes in Idaho indoors?
Since it can be pretty cold outdoors during spring in Idaho, you may want to start growing your tomato plants indoors and raise them to a certain size so they can become more resistant to cool weather and wait with transplanting them outdoors until it gets a little bit warmer and you no longer have to worry about frost.
How to water tomato plants in Idaho?
While you only have to water your tomato plants in Idaho a few times per week while it is still cold outdoors and natural rain is quite common.
However, once it gets warmer, you may have to water your tomato plants on a daily basis so they get everything they need to grow in a decent manner.
Do you have to protect tomatoes against the sun in Idaho?
Since the sun is not really intense during the spring months in Idaho when your plants are still small and vulnerable, you don’t actively have to protect them from the sun since once the sun gets more intense in summer, your plants will already be big enough to deal with radiation on their own as long as you water them in a proper manner.
Will wild animals feed on tomatoes in Idaho?
Voles, rabbits, raccoons, deer, groundhogs and birds are just some of the hungry animals you may want to keep away from your tomato plants by installing a fence or other protective measures.
Pests & plant diseases on tomato plants in Idaho
You should also know that aphids, stink bugs, cutworms, thrips and other pests are pretty common when growing tomato plants in Idaho.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to get rid of tomato pests and plant diseases.
When to harvest tomatoes in Idaho?
If you start growing tomato plants indoors in March and transplant them outdoors later on, you will usually be able to harvest your plants between July and August.
However, if you start growing tomatoes outdoors between April and May, it may take you until late August or even September to see real results.
Additional Information for Growing Tomatoes at Home
I hope this article has been helpful to you and you now know most things you know to grow tomatoes in Idaho in a decent manner.
If you want to get even more information on growing tomatoes at home step-by-step, you should also have a look at my tomato grower’s guide.
Moreover, you may also want to check out my growing tomatoes FAQ section where you will get answers to all questions you might still have regarding growing tomatoes in general.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato
https://www.britannica.com/plant/tomato
Own experience.
About the Author
My name is Andreas and I’m really passionate about our environment and also about growing plants. In fact, I have grown several different plants over many years. I love to see my own plants grow and also always try new things to improve my overall conditions at home.
In my blog posts, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can become successful in growing various different plants and improving your home as well, even though you might still be a beginner right now.
