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When to Plant Tomatoes in Fremont County, ID

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.

Fremont County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is June 12 and the first fall frost is September 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 86 days.

At an elevation of 5,282 feet, Fremont County receives approximately 12.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Tomatoes to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Tomatoes successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Fremont County, ID (Zone 4b) Very short season
86 days
Last Spring Frost June 12
86 growing days
First Fall Frost September 6

Fremont County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Jun 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Oct 24
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: Jul 3 🍅 Harvest: Sep 4 – Nov 13
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 25 Transplant: Jul 18 🍅 Harvest: Sep 19 – Nov 28

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 349 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Tomatoes needs ~942 GDD — county provides 1,118 GDD Good fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Fremont County, ID

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ Apr 24
Transplant Outdoors July 3 Jul 3 โ€“ Jul 17
Direct Sow June 26 Jun 26 โ€“ Jul 17
Harvest September 4 Sep 4 โ€“ Nov 13

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

60โ€“85 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 4b

Growing Season

86 days

Growing Tips for Fremont County

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

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ 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 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tomatoes in Fremont County, ID?

Fremont County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of June 12. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fremont County, ID?

Fremont County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is June 12 and first fall frost is September 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Fremont County gardeners in Zone 4b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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