Growing Tomatoes In Minnesota: Everything You Need To Know
You want to know how to grow tomatoes in Minnesota in the best possible manner and also want to get some secret tips and tricks in this regard?
Great! Stick with me since I will show you everything you need to know so you can grow healthy tomato plants in Minnesota even though you might still be rather new to gardening.
Not only will you learn how to keep away pests but we will also talk about how to water your plants in Minnesota and many other things you have to know.
After reading this article, you will be a true expert when it comes to growing tomatoes in this region and may also be able to give some useful advice to your loved ones and neighbors.
Without further ado, let’s get right into it!
Table of Contents
Do tomatoes grow well in Minnesota?
Even though Minnesota is a rather cool state and climatic conditions for growing tomatoes in this region may not be as great as for people growing tomatoes in Arizona or other hotter regions, you will still be able to grow pretty decent tomato plants in Minnesota as long as you follow some basic advice in this article and may grower’s guides.
How long does it take to grow tomatoes in Minnesota?
It usually takes most people between 15 and 19 weeks to grow tomatoes in Minnesota from seed to harvest outdoors.
However, you may also be able to grow tomatoes much quicker by relying on seedlings instead of growing tomatoes from seed.
How big do tomato plants grow in Minnesota?
Tomato plants in Minnesota can grow quite big in the vertical and it is therefore crucial that you provide enough space to your plants so they will not be space-constraint and can grow as high as they want to deliver great yields at the end of the growing season.
Can you expect great yields when growing tomatoes in Minnesota?
While climatic conditions may not be perfect for growing tomatoes in Minnesota, you may still be able to see solid harvests as long as you care well for your plants and are also willing to put in the work.
When to grow tomatoes in Minnesota?
You should start growing tomatoes from seed outdoors between April and May as soon as you no longer expect frost anymore.
However, if you want to speed up your growing project and want to harvest your plants earlier in the year, you may want to pre-grow tomato seedlings indoors around March and transplant your seedlings outdoors later.
Can you grow tomatoes in Minnesota in winter?
You should not try to grow tomato plants in Minnesota in winter since it is simply far too cold outdoors and using a heated greenhouse would cost lots of energy and money and would just not be worth it in most cases.
Can you grow tomatoes in Minnesota multiple times per year?
Since winters are pretty long and growing season is rather short in many regions of Minnesota, growing tomatoes multiple times per year might not be a good idea and you may rather want to focus on just one single tomato batch where you can put all your energy in and hopefully get pretty decent results.
What tomato varieties grow best in Minnesota?
You should choose a tomato variety that is well-adapted to cool weather. Hence, the best tomato varieties to grow in Minnesota are:
- Legend Tomatoes
- Husky Tomatoes
- Manitoba Tomatoes
- Early Girl Tomatoes
- Golden Nugget Tomatoes
- Siletz Tomatoes
- Orange Pixie Tomatoes
- Celebrity Tomatoes
- Spring Tomatoes
Is it better to grow tomatoes in Minnesota from seeds or seedlings?
Since winters in Minnesota can be pretty long and the growing season outdoors may be rather short, you may rather want to rely on seedlings instead of growing tomatoes from seed since you would have much higher chances that your plants will be ready before the first strong winter frost arrives.
Should you start growing tomatoes in Minnesota indoors?
You could also try growing tomatoes from seed indoors between February and March and grow them to a certain size so you can transplant your seedlings later in May when you no longer expect spring frost.
How to water tomato plants in Minnesota?
Since Minnesota is a rather cool place in the early months of the year and your plants will also be pretty small, you only have to water your plants a few times per week.
However, once your plants get bigger and it gets hotter outdoors, you may have to water your plants much more frequently and even multiple times per day during hot summer days so your plants don’t dry up.
Do you have to protect tomatoes against the sun in Minnesota?
There is no need to actively protect tomato plants from the sun in Minnesota since radiation is not really high in the first months of the year and once your plants get bigger, they also become more resistant to the heat without needing any intervention on your side.
Will wild animals feed on tomatoes in Minnesota?
Groundhogs, rabbis and voles are just some of the hungry animals that may try feeding on your tomato plants and you should therefore try to keep those hungry intruders using a fence.
Tomato pests & plant diseases in Minnesota
You may also have to deal with nematodes, aphids or other pests that may try feeding on your tomato plants in Minnesota.
Fortunately, there are easy ways how to deal with tomato pests and plant diseases.
When to harvest tomatoes in Minnesota?
If you start growing tomatoes in May from seed outdoors, it may take you until September or even October when you will be able to harvest your plants.
However, if you pre-grow them indoors early in the year, you may see results as early as August.
Additional Information for Growing Tomatoes at Home
Now that you got lots of specific information on how to grow tomatoes in Minnesota, you may also want to get some additional information on how to grow tomatoes at home in general.
You will also find additional information in my growing tomatoes FAQ section where I answer the most common questions about growing tomatoes most people out there have.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato
Own research.
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.
