Blog

When to Plant Tomatoes in Unity, OR

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the most popular home garden crop, available in thousands of varieties from tiny cherries to massive beefsteaks. They are warm-season plants needing full sun.

Unity, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and the first fall frost is September 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 105 days.

At an elevation of 1,398 feet, Baker County receives approximately 16.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Tomatoes during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Tomatoes successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Unity, OR (Zone 6b) Short season
105 days
Last Spring Frost May 30
105 growing days
First Fall Frost September 12

Unity Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

How Much Tomatoes to Grow

10-15 lbs
Average yield per plant
3
Plants per person
6 sq ft
Space per person

For a family of 4, plant approximately 12 tomatoes plants in about 24 sq ft. In Baker County's 105-day season, you'll have plenty of time for a full harvest. Plan your garden layout →

Monthly Watering Guide for Tomatoes

Tomatoes needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Tomatoes Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.6" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.2" 4.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.3" 4" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Baker County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Tomatoes Planting Timeline — Unity, OR

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 18
Transplant Outdoors June 13 Jun 13 – Jun 27
Direct Sow June 6 Jun 6 – Jun 27
Harvest August 15 Aug 15 – Oct 24

Plant 0.5" deep · 24" apart · Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

60–85 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

105 days in Baker County

Growing Tips for Unity

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Bury transplants deep to encourage rooting along the stem. Provide consistent moisture to prevent blossom end rot and cracking.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Cabbage
  • Fennel
  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Tomatoes Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Scoop seeds from ripe fruit; ferment 2-3 days to remove gel coating.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4-6 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Isolate 25 ft between varieties for purity. Use open-pollinated varieties for true-to-type seeds.

🌱

Your Baker County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Baker County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Baker County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.