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When to Plant Tomatoes in Lyon County, NV

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.

Lyon County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 151 days.

At an elevation of 4,379 feet, Lyon County receives approximately 17.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 101ยฐF, so Tomatoes may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Tomatoes will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Tomatoes successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Lyon County, NV (Zone 7a) Moderate season
151 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
151 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Lyon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Sep 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Oct 6
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: Jun 20 🍅 Harvest: Aug 22 – Oct 31

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
0.5″/week
You supply
1.0″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,329 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Tomatoes needs ~1,867 GDD — county provides 3,888 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Lyon County, NV

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 24 Mar 24 โ€“ Apr 7
Transplant Outdoors May 26 May 26 โ€“ Jun 9
Direct Sow May 19 May 19 โ€“ Jun 9
Harvest July 28 Jul 28 โ€“ Oct 6

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Harvest
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 7a

Growing Season

151 days

Growing Tips for Lyon 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 Lyon County, NV?

Lyon County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lyon County, NV?

Lyon County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is October 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lyon County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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