Growing Tomatoes In Pennsylvania: Everything You Need To Know

You want to know how to grow tomatoes in Pennsylvania in the best possible manner?

Great! Stick with me since I will show you what you have to take into account when growing tomatoes in the Pennsylvania region.

Not only will you learn how to water your plants in Pennsylvania but we will also talk about pest control and many other factors that will determine the success of your tomato gardening project.

After reading this article, you will be able to avoid many mistakes other people often make when it comes to growing tomatoes at home and may also be able to give some useful tips to your loved ones.

Enough talk, let’s get right into it!

Do tomatoes grow well in Pennsylvania?

Even though climatic conditions in Pennsylvania are not really great since your plants will not get as much sunlight and hot weather as in many other states, you can still grow tomato plants at home in a pretty decent manner as long as you follow the advice in my grower’s guides.

How long does it take to grow tomatoes in Pennsylvania?

It takes most people between 14 and 19 weeks to grow tomatoes in Pennsylvania from seed to harvest.

If you want to see results quicker, you may rather want to grow tomatoes from seedlings instead of seeds to save some time.

How big do tomato plants grow in Pennsylvania?

While climatic conditions may not be perfect, you can still grow tomato plants in Pennsylvania to a pretty decent size and you should provide your plants with at least 7 feet in the vertical and 2 feet in the horizontal and if you want to grow a tomato variety that grows quite big in nature, you should give your plants even more space.

Can you expect great yields when growing tomatoes in Pennsylvania?

Even beginners can get pretty decent tomato yields when growing tomatoes at home in Pennsylvania if they are willing to put in some work and are also willing to learn a lot about gardening so they can avoid the most common mistakes and become really good at growing plants at home in the long run.

When to grow tomatoes in Pennsylvania?

You should start growing tomato plants in Pennsylvania outdoors from seed between April and May when you no longer expect winter frost.

If you want to pre-grow tomato seedlings indoors, you may want to start between February and March and transplant your seedlings outdoors later on when it gets warmer outside.

Can you grow tomatoes in Pennsylvania in winter?

Since winters in Pennsylvania are pretty cold, it doesn’t make sense to grow tomato plants in Pennsylvania in winter since you would have to spend lots of energy and use a heated greenhouse which would just not be worth it from a monetary perspective and would also be pretty bad for our environment.

Can you grow tomatoes in Pennsylvania multiple times per year?

Since winters are pretty long and growing seasons are rather short, it doesn’t make sense to grow multiple batches of tomatoes at different times.

Instead, you would be better off focusing on just one single tomato yield and caring for your plants as best as possible during the main season.

What tomato varieties grow best in Pennsylvania?

If you want to grow tomatoes in Pennsylvania, you should choose varieties that get along with cool weather in a proper manner. Those include:

• Glacier Tomatoes
• Golden Nugget Tomatoes
• Legend Tomatoes
• Grape Tomatoes
• Spring Tomatoes
• Zebra Tomatoes
• Pixie Tomatoes
• Siletz Tomatoes
• Cold Set Tomatoes
• Beefsteak Tomatoes

Is it better to grow tomatoes in Pennsylvania from seeds or seedlings?

Since winters are pretty long and growing season rather limited, it may make sense to grow tomatoes from seedlings instead of seed since you would have a higher chance to harvest your tomato plants in time before winter frost arrives and growing season would be over.

Should you start growing tomatoes in Pennsylvania indoors?

If you want to see results rather early in the year, it can make sense to start growing tomatoes from seed indoors early in spring and transplant them outdoors later on when they are still rather resistant to the cold and pests of many sorts so they can strive in their natural environment and are ready to harvest rather quickly.

How to water tomato plants in Pennsylvania?

Since it often rains in Pennsylvania during spring, you often just have to water your plants a single time per week during cool spring months.

However, once it gets hotter outdoors and your plants get bigger, you may have to water your tomato plants on a daily basis so they don’t dry up and provide you with decent yields at the end of the growing cycle.

Do you have to protect tomatoes against the sun in Pennsylvania?

Since radiation is not really extreme in the early months of the year in most parts of Pennsylvania, there is no need to actively protect your tomato plants against the sun.

Instead, you can just let them grow in a natural manner and once your plants get bigger, they will also become more resistant in general.

Will wild animals feed on tomatoes in Pennsylvania?

You may have to keep away rabbits, mice and other wild animals when growing tomatoes in Pennsylvania and you may therefore take some protective measures like installing a fence or using a scarecrow to deter those hungry intruders and keep them away from your plants.

Tomato pests & plant diseases in Pennsylvania

Thrips, slugs and aphids are just some of the annoying pests you may have to deal with when growing tomatoes in Pennsylvania.

Fortunately, there are simple but still efficient ways how to deter tomato pests and plant diseases.

When to harvest tomatoes in Pennsylvania?

If you start growing tomatoes in Pennsylvania from seed outdoors between April and May, you will usually be able to harvest them between August and September.

Additional Information for Growing Tomatoes at Home

I hope you found lots of useful information regarding growing tomatoes in Pennsylvania in this article.

In case you want to learn more about growing tomatoes at home in general, you may also want to have a look at my tomato grower’s guide.

Moreover, if you still have some specific questions, you may also want to have a look at my growing tomatoes FAQ section where you find many answers to the most common questions that often arise when growing tomatoes at home.

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.