Growing Tomatoes In Wisconsin: Everything You Need To Know
You wonder whether you could grow great tomato plants in Wisconsin at home?
Of course, you can! However, you should still have a look at some tips and tricks in this article since there are some specific things you should account for when growing tomatoes in this region.
Not only will you learn what pests you may have to keep away from your plants but you will also learn how to water your plants in this region and many other important things.
You will also find some additional helpful resources at the end of this article when it comes to growing tomatoes at home in general so you may be able to get really good at gardening in the long run.
Enough talk, let’s get to the meaty part of this article!
Table of Contents
Do tomatoes grow well in Wisconsin?
Since Wisconsin is a rather cool state, you may not be able to grow tomato plants as well as in many other warmer regions of the US.
However, you can still get pretty decent results if you follow the tips and tricks in this article and may grower’s guides.
How long does it take to grow tomatoes in Wisconsin?
It will usually take you between 16 and 20 weeks to grow tomatoes in Wisconsin from seed to harvest.
However, please note that this also greatly depends on the tomato variety you want to grow as on many other individual factors.
How big do tomato plants grow in Wisconsin?
Even though climatic conditions may not be perfect, your tomato plants can still get pretty big and you should therefore provide them with at least 8 feet in the vertical so they will not get space-constrained and can develop in a healthy manner.
Can you expect great yields when growing tomatoes in Wisconsin?
While you may not get as great yields as people growing tomatoes in Arizona or other much hotter regions, you may still be able to produce decent tomato yields as long as you care well for your plants and are also willing to put some work into your gardening project.
When to grow tomatoes in Wisconsin?
You should start growing tomatoes outdoors once you no longer expect spring frost in your region and this is usually around May in most regions of Wisconsin.
Can you grow tomatoes in Wisconsin in winter?
Since winters in Wisconsin are pretty cold and lighting conditions are not perfect for growing tomatoes at all, you would not be able to grow tomatoes in this region unless you use a heated greenhouse and since those greenhouses are often pretty energy-intensive, growing tomatoes in such a way is often just not worth it.
Can you grow tomatoes in Wisconsin multiple times per year?
Since winters are pretty long and growing season is often rather short, you may not be able to harvest multiple tomato batches per year but may be better off growing only one single yield and focusing on it as best as possible.
What tomato varieties grow best in Wisconsin?
For growing tomatoes in Wisconsin, you should choose varieties that get along with cool climatic conditions. Those include:
- Manitoba tomatoes
- Earl Girl Tomatoes
- Husky Tomatoes
- Grape Tomatoes
- Beefmaster Tomatoes
- Glacier Tomatoes
- Legend Tomatoes
- Celebrity Tomatoes
- Spring Tomatoes
Is it better to grow tomatoes in Wisconsin from seeds or seedlings?
Since growing season is usually pretty short in most parts of Wisconsin, you may be better off growing tomatoes from seedlings instead of seeds since you may have a better chance that your plants will be ready to harvest before growing season ends and frost arrives.
Should you start growing tomatoes in Wisconsin indoors?
Since growing season is rather short, it can make sense to pre-grow tomato seedlings indoors early in spring and transplant them outdoors once you no longer expect frost outside so you may have a better chance that your plants get ready in time.
How to water tomato plants in Wisconsin?
Since Wisconsin is a rather cool state, you may not have to water your plants a lot once they are still young during springtime.
However, once it gets warmer outdoors and your plants get bigger, you may also have to water them on a regular basis and sometimes even daily.
Do you have to protect tomatoes against the sun in Wisconsin?
There is no need to actively protect your plants against the sun.
Just let them grow and your plants will become resistant to the sun and radiation in a natural manner.
Will wild animals feed on tomatoes in Wisconsin?
Voles, rabbits and deer are just some of the hungry intruders you may have to keep away from your plants when growing tomatoes in Wisconsin in your garden.
Thus, installing a fence around your plants may make quite a lot of sense.
Tomato pests & plant diseases in Wisconsin
Aphids, slugs, thrips and many other pests may also be really keen on feeding on your tomato plants in Wisconsin.
Fortunately, there are simple but still efficient ways how to deter tomato pests and plant diseases.
When to harvest tomatoes in Wisconsin?
When sowing tomato seeds in May, you may be able to harvest your tomato plants in Wisconsin around September.
If you want to see results earlier in the year, you may want to pre-grow tomato seedlings indoors and transplant them outdoors once it gets warmer outside.
Additional Information for Growing Tomatoes at Home
I hope you got lots of useful information from this article.
If you want to learn even more about growing tomatoes from seed to harvest, you should also have a look at my article related to growing tomatoes at home in general.
If you have further specific questions about growing tomatoes at home, you may also want to have a look at my FAQ section for growing tomatoes where you will find answers to most questions people often have when it comes to growing tomatoes in their garden or on their balcony.
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.
