Growing Tomatoes In Missouri: Everything You Need To Know
You think about growing tomatoes at home in Missouri and want to get additional information on what to account for when growing tomatoes in this region?
Great! This article is for you since I will show you how to grow tomatoes in Missouri in the best possible manner taking into account climatic conditions, pest control specifics and much more.
After reading this article, you will be able to grow tomatoes in Missouri in a decent manner and may also be able to avoid some mistakes many other people make in this regard.
Enough talk, let’s get down to business!
Table of Contents
Do tomatoes grow well in Missouri?
Tomatoes grow really well in Missouri since your plants can get many hours of direct sunlight and it is also pretty warm in Missouri so you can provide a climate most tomato varieties love and you will therefore be able to grow tomatoes much better compared to people trying to grow tomatoes in Alaska or other much cooler regions.
How long does it take to grow tomatoes in Missouri?
Since climatic conditions are perfect for growing tomatoes in most parts of Missouri, you may be able to grow tomatoes from seed to harvest within 3 to 4 months and this is much quicker than in many other states where it will often take you around one month longer.
How big do tomato plants grow in Missouri?
Thanks to really great climatic conditions, your tomato plants in Missouri can get quite big and you may therefore want to provide lots of space for your tomato plants in your garden so they are not constrained and get enough space and sunlight to grow in a solid manner.
Can you expect great yields when growing tomatoes in Missouri?
As long as you care well for your plants, you will be able to get pretty solid tomato yields even if you are still new to gardening since your plants will get many hours of sun and lots of warm air and will even allow you to make some mistakes while still delivering solid yields at the end of the growing cycle.
When to grow tomatoes in Missouri?
The best time to start growing tomatoes in Missouri outdoors is when you no longer expect frost and this is usually between March and April in most regions
Can you grow tomatoes in Missouri in winter?
Even though winters in Missouri are rather short and mild, you would still need to protect your plants from cool weather and would have to use lots of artificial lighting when growing tomatoes during this time of the year and the costs of energy and time you have to put into your growing project may just not be worth it during winter months.
Can you grow tomatoes in Missouri multiple times per year?
Since the growing season for tomatoes in Missouri is pretty long, you may be able to grow more than one batch of tomatoes and may get multiple harvests per year.
For instance, by planting the first batch of seeds in March and harvesting it between June and July, this would give you the opportunity to start growing a second batch in July and harvest it in October.
What tomato varieties grow best in Missouri?
Due to hot and humid climatic conditions, you should choose a tomato variety that is well-adapted to those sorts of climatic conditions when growing tomatoes in Missouri. I listed some of the most suitable varieties for you below:
- Flamenco Tomatoes
- Summer Set Tomatoes
- Beefmaster Tomatoes
- Heatmaster Tomatoes
- San Marzano Tomatoes
- Roma Tomatoes
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Grape Tomatoes
- Solar Fire Tomatoes
Is it better to grow tomatoes in Missouri from seeds or seedlings?
Since the growing season in Missouri is pretty long and you have more than enough time to grow tomato plants from seed to harvest, there will be no real need to grow tomato plants from seedlings since this would just be a shortcut that would take away some of the overall growing experience.
Should you start growing tomatoes in Missouri indoors?
Since winters are rather short in most parts of Missouri, you will be able to start growing tomato plants outdoors rather early in the year and there may be no need to grow them indoors.
How to water tomato plants in Missouri?
While tomato plants in Missouri may not need lots of water while they are still young during spring months when it might still be rather cool outdoors, things change rapidly when it gets hotter outdoors and your plants get bigger and you may even have to water your plants multiple times per day during hot summer days so your plants don’t dry up and can grow in a solid manner.
Do you have to protect tomatoes against the sun in Missouri?
Since the sun can be pretty intense in many parts of Missouri, you may not want to expose small tomato seedlings to full sun and may rather provide them with a partially shady environment until your plants get bigger and will no longer be sensitive to the heat.
Will wild animals feed on tomatoes in Missouri?
You should know that raccoons, rabbits and many other wild animals may want to feed on your tomato plants in Missouri.
Hence, try to install a fence or keep them away using other methods if you don’t want to share your tomato harvest with those hungry intruders.
Tomato pests & plant diseases in Missouri
Nematodes, slugs, aphids and trips are just some of the pests you may have to keep away from your tomato plants in Missouri.
Fortunately, there are easy ways how to deal with tomato pests and plant diseases.
When to harvest tomatoes in Missouri?
If you start growing tomato plants in Missouri between March and April, you will usually be able to harvest your plants between July and August.
However, if you use seedlings instead of starting from seed, you may be able to see results much quicker.
Additional Information for Growing Tomatoes at Home
Now that you got lots of specific information on how to grow tomatoes in Missouri, 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.
