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When to Plant Tomatoes in Tillamook County, OR

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.

Tillamook County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 193 days.

At an elevation of 332 feet, Tillamook County receives approximately 40.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tomatoes during the growing season.

Tillamook County, OR (Zone 8b) Moderate season
193 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
193 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Tillamook County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Sep 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Sep 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Oct 2

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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 193 gal / 100 sq ft
Tomatoes needs ~997 GDD — county provides 2,653 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Tillamook County, OR

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 โ€“ Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 17
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 โ€“ May 17
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Sep 13

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
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 8b

Growing Season

193 days

Growing Tips for Tillamook 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 Tillamook County, OR?

Tillamook County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Tillamook County, OR?

Tillamook County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Tillamook County gardeners in Zone 8b 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 Tillamook County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.