When to plant tomatoes in Baker City, OR

Start tomatoes from seed indoors Mar 30 – Apr 13, then plant the young plants in the garden in Baker City May 25 – Jun 22.

Moderate Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Baker City's typical last spring frost is May 25. Frost kills tomatoes, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around May 25. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty: Moderate
Sun: Full sun; the hottest spot you have
Spacing: 2 feet apart
Planting depth: Bury the stem up to the first leaves
Frost: Killed by frost
First harvest: About 75 days after planting

Step by step

Start seeds indoors Mar 30 – Apr 13 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden May 25 – Jun 22, 2 feet apart. Bury the stem up to the first leaves.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Harvest: Pick when fully colored. Before fall rains, pick green tomatoes and ripen them indoors.

Varieties that do well here

Stupice
Early Girl
Sungold (cherry)
Oregon Spring (bred at OSU)

Watch out for

Late blight in wet falls turns leaves and fruit brown. Keep leaves dry and give plants space.

OSU Extension advises waiting for soil consistently above 70°F. Early or cherry varieties ripen most reliably here.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Baker City, OR?

Typically May 25. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 16. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Baker City Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Baker City?

The spring planting window runs through June 22. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 15.

When should I start tomatoes from seed indoors in Baker City?

March 30 to April 13, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the May 25 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

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Also plant in Baker City around the same time

Planting dates for tomatoes in nearby areas

Bend and Redmond, OR Jun 9 – Jul 7
Klamath Falls, OR Jun 9 – Jul 7
Burns, OR Jun 11 – Jul 9

Full planting calendar for Baker City · Tomatoes in every city