Cold Climate Tomato Growing

There are answers to cold climate tomato growing that vary. Each one is perfect for the person that it fits, but useless to others. The one you select is the one that best suits your needs.If you live in the frozen North then you’ll understand some of the problems that a cold climate causes in your vegetable garden.

Cold Climate Tomato Growing in a Cold Frame

You don’t need a large commercial greenhouse to start your tomatoes early; you simply need a homemade hot frame. You can start your seedlings early indoors long before you would plant them and then use the hot frame until the chance of frost is past.

You can build your own cold frame by creating a square of wood. Put four boards together to make a box. Add one board to the back of the box and cut one diagonally to top off the sides. Connect the boards so the highest side is even with the back. Create a frame the size of the square. Using 1 X 3 boards. Cover the frame with clear plastic and attach it at the back. with hinges. On cold days, keep the cold frame closed. When the temperature rises, block the lid open for ventilation.

You can use a cold frame built into the ground with a window as its cover also. What ever method you use, the cold frame allows you to start your plants outdoors long before others even consider it.

Start with Seedlings

Most people that grow tomatoes in the cold areas select this method as the easiest. In the northern areas of the United States, excluding Alaska, the last frost might occur as late as June. If you want to jump start your plants without worrying about frost a quick tip is the use of peat pots.

Simply transplant your tomato seedlings into peat pots and wait for planting until you’re certain no cold weather will hit. You can easily bring the pots indoors if it does. When it comes time to plant them, simply bury them pot and all into the ground. The pots become an additive for the soil as the plants grow.

Plastic Gallon Milk Jugs

Plastic gallon milk jugs are useful for more than holding liquid. They also can protect your plant from frost and create a mini greenhouse when the cold snap comes. Collect the number of plastic bottles that you’ll need for your plants. One bottle per plant is sufficient. Paint the jugs black and fill them with water.The jugs become a method of solar heating your garden. Place the jugs next to your plants and allow the heat from the sun to warm the water. If a cold snap occurs, simply cover both the plant and the jug with a paper sack. The heat from the water protects the tomato plant all night long.

Other Ideas for Cold Climate Tomato Growing

There are people that begin loop houses in the northern areas. These are similar to green houses but removable when the chances of frost are finished. You can heat a loop house easily with 5 gallon black plastic drums filled with water. Just like the milk jugs painted black, these heat with solar power and retain the heat through the night.

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