When to plant tomato in Missoula
Tomato is frost-tender, so every date keys off Missoula's last spring frost of May 15.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Apr 14 – May 5
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jul 2 – Jul 23
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 31 – Sep 25
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Missoula's 138-day season leaves this much room.
Tomato on Missoula's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FROST
MAY 15
OCT 4
Common questions
When will tomato be ready to harvest in Missoula?
Expect to harvest from around late August (Aug 31–Sep 25) in Missoula, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 75%.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Missoula?
Start seeds indoors around mid April (Apr 14–May 5) in Missoula, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When can I transplant tomato outdoors in Missoula?
Transplant outdoors around early July (Jul 2–Jul 23) in Missoula, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
How long is the growing season in Missoula?
Missoula has roughly 138 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow tomato to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow tomato 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Missoula's frost dates.
Confidence 83/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.