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When to Plant Tomatoes in Natrona County, WY

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.

Natrona County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 127 days.

At an elevation of 6,332 feet, Natrona County receives approximately 13.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, 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.

Natrona County, WY (Zone 4b) Short season
127 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
127 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Natrona County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Oct 13
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Oct 20
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: Jun 23 🍅 Harvest: Aug 25 – Nov 3

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.

Soil Compatibility in Natrona County

How your county's soil matches Tomatoes's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.6) is more alkaline than Tomatoes prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Natrona County is excellent for Tomatoes โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Tomatoes.

How to Plant Tomatoes

0.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
36"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Tomatoes

2
successive plantings in your 127-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 30 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.2″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,013 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Tomatoes needs ~888 GDD — county provides 1,555 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Natrona County, WY

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Mar 31
Transplant Outdoors June 9 Jun 9 โ€“ Jun 23
Direct Sow June 2 Jun 2 โ€“ Jun 23
Harvest August 11 Aug 11 โ€“ Oct 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.2"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“85 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

127 days in Natrona County

Growing Tips for Tomatoes in Natrona County

Direct sow Tomatoes outdoors after May 19 in Natrona County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Tomatoes in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Natrona County receives only 14" of rain annually. Tomatoes needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

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.

Recommended Tomatoes Varieties for Natrona County

Choose determinate, early-maturing varieties for your short season

Early Girl (52d) Stupice (55d) Glacier (55d) Sub Arctic Plenty (45d)

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 Natrona County, WY?

Natrona County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 19. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Natrona County, WY?

Natrona County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is September 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

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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 Natrona County, WY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.