When to Plant Tomatoes in Utah

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This is the ultimate guide to tomato planting and taking care in Utah.

You can find the best solutions for tomato weeds, pests, and care approaches for wholesome tomatoes.

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Best Time to Plant Tomatoes in Utah

The best time to plant tomatoes in Utah is in May and early June.

For indoor planting, sow the seeds in February end and March. It is best to look for seed catalogs as soon as possible. Any tomato variety has an average harvesting period of 60 days. 

The complete strategy for tomato harvesting must be based on tomato varieties and the climatic conditions of the area.

Step by Step Process of Planting Tomatoes in Utah

Here is a quick step-by-step process to help you out –

• Start by looking at seed catalogs in January.
• Prepare the soil bed for seeds in February. Check the pH of the soil every week. 
• Sow the seeds in March and let the plant grow inside under at least fifteen hours of sunlight per day.
• Let the plant germinate in April and produces its flowers. 
• At the end of April, the plants are outside for a maximum of 3 hours under sunlight. It will help your plants to adjust to upcoming weather changes.  
• Prep the garden and the soil bed before transplanting the tomato plants. 
• Transplant at least four inches tall tomato plants in the garden in May. Transplanting must be done according to the frost condition of a particular area. Keep the plants outside after 15 days of the last frost. 

Let your plants grow, produce more flowers, and mature till September. At September end, bring in the pinkish tomatoes inside for further ripening. 

Harvest all the tomatoes a week before the first frost of the season.

Here is quick detail of frost dates for Utah.

Table: Frost Dates For Utah

City	First Frost Date	Last Frost Date
Corinne	October 29	April 14
Thomson Springs	October 11	May 5
Ibapah	Year round risk	Year round risk
Kanab	October 16	May 7

Check out this video on when to plant tomatoes in Utah-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8iT7xuvhk

The optimum range for climatic conditions in Utah is-

• Daytime Temperature – 65 to 75 degrees F.
• Nighttime Temperature – 55 to 65 degrees F.
• Soil temperature – Warmth, 75 degrees F.
• Soil pH – 6.2 to 6.8, Neutral to slightly acidic. 
• Humidity – 65% to 75%.
• Sunlight – Eight to Nine hours per day. 
• Water – At least three inches of water per week in absence of enough rainfall.

Check out this video on planting tomatoes in Utah-

How to Take Care of Tomatoes in Utah

There are always small things you can do for your tomatoes for their maintenance and care.

Start by cleaning the garden and end by preparing the garden for the next batch of beautiful tomatoes. 

• Use good quality seeds
• Prepare your soil mix by mixing well-drained loamy or sandy soil with fewer amounts of fertilizer and lots of organic matter.
• Prepare your soil bed two weeks before sowing seeds.
• Mulch your tomato plants for an extra beneficial layer of organic matter, immunity, and nutrition.
• Stake the tomato plants for physical balance and a stable root system.
• Use herbicides if weeds are prevalent. 
• Use insecticides or fungicides for pests and diseases.
• Do not overwork with Nitrogen and water.
• Avoid working in the garden when the foliage is wet.
• Maintain strict cleaning techniques for the garden.

Check out this video on how to plant tomatoes in Utah-

A good transplant should have 7-8 leaves and a well-developed root, and shoot system.

A germinating seed requires much higher soil temperature, sunlight, and water. A temperature of 85 degrees F is enough for germinating the seeds.

Transplants need deep and infrequent watering.

Best Tomato Varieties To Grow in Utah

Some best tomato varieties available in Utah are – The small fruit varieties – Sweet 100, Red Cherry, Patio, Yellow Pear, and Roma. They tolerate the heat better. The Large fruit varieties- Beefsteaks, Heartland and Heatwave.

Choose tomato varieties based on your preference of stem height, number of fruits, size of fruits, taste, and color of tomato fruits.

The tomato varieties are classified as determinate and indeterminate varieties.

Indeterminate varieties need more space than determinate ones and they necessarily require staking. 

FAQ’s

Summary

I hope you find the methods manageable, handy, and insightful.

Do share this with your friends and family in Utah who love growing tomatoes.