When to plant tomatoes in Burns, OR

Start tomatoes from seed indoors Apr 16–30, then plant the young plants in the garden in Burns Jun 11 – Jul 9.

Moderate Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Burns's typical last spring frost is June 11. Frost kills tomatoes, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around June 11. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible. The season is a little tight here, so an early variety is the safer choice.

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 Apr 16–30 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 Jun 11 – Jul 9, 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 Burns, OR?

Typically June 11. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 28. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Burns Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Burns?

The spring planting window runs through July 9. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 6.

When should I start tomatoes from seed indoors in Burns?

April 16 to April 30, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the June 11 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

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Gardening in Bend and Central Oregon's Short SeasonHow to grow vegetables where frost can come almost any month: what to plant, when, and how to protect it.
Why Northwest Gardeners Should Plant by Soil TemperatureThe air warms up long before the soil does here. A $10 soil thermometer tells you when it's really time to plant beans, squash and tomatoes.

Also plant in Burns 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
Baker City, OR May 25 – Jun 22

Full planting calendar for Burns · Tomatoes in every city