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When to Plant Tomatoes in Gogebic County, MI

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.

Gogebic County, Michigan is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 22 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 126 days.

At an elevation of 695 feet, Gogebic County receives approximately 33.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Tomatoes to ensure they mature before fall.

Gogebic County, MI (Zone 4a) Short season
126 days
Last Spring Frost May 22
126 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Gogebic County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Jun 8 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Oct 19
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Jun 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 14 – Oct 23
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: Jun 27 🍅 Harvest: Aug 29 – Nov 7

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
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Tomatoes needs ~888 GDD — county provides 1,543 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Gogebic County, MI

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 20 Mar 20 โ€“ Apr 3
Transplant Outdoors June 12 Jun 12 โ€“ Jun 26
Direct Sow June 5 Jun 5 โ€“ Jun 26
Harvest August 14 Aug 14 โ€“ Oct 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors
May โ€”
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
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 4a

Growing Season

126 days

Growing Tips for Gogebic 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 Gogebic County, MI?

Gogebic County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 22. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Gogebic County, MI?

Gogebic County, Michigan is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 22 and first fall frost is September 25.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Gogebic County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Gogebic County, MI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.