(Don’t miss our delicious salsa recipe below!)

Growing tomatoes is one of the most rewarding crops you can grow in your garden—but in Northern Nevada’s high-desert climate, success starts with timing and technique. At the beautiful Greenhouse Garden Center & Gift Shop, we’re here to help you master tomato growing in Zones 6a–7a with expert tips tailored to our local weather and soil conditions.

When to Plant

Tomatoes are sensitive to cold. Wait until at least one week after the last average frost, typically around Memorial Day in Northern Nevada. Tomatoes won’t set fruit well when night temps fall below 55°F or soar above 76°F, so it’s all about finding the sweet spot. If you just can’t wait to plant, you can plant before the last frost if you use Season Starters or some other protectant, which helps protect plants and vegetables when there are freezing temperatures overnight.

How to Start

Most gardeners use transplants. Whether you start your own or buy them, make sure they are stocky and healthy, with 4–6 true leaves. Plant deep—bury leggy seedlings sideways with only the top showing. Tomatoes will root along the buried stem, making for a stronger plant.

Soil Prep & Fertilizing

Tomatoes love nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Mix in compost like Paydirt or Bumper Crop and add Master Nursery Master Start at planting. Fertilize with Bumper Crop Tomato and Vegetable Fertilizer again when blooming begins, and once a month while fruits develop. This fertilizer has calcium in it that will prevent blossom end rot when used through out the season. Use Bud N’ Bloom, 16-16-16, or organic options like Down to Earth 4-4-4.

Water Wisely

Tomatoes need consistent moisture after fruit sets—alternating wet and dry conditions can cause blossom-end rot. Early on, slightly stressing the plant between waterings can even encourage fruiting. Use mulch to stabilize soil temperature and moisture.

Containers & Training

Yes, you can grow tomatoes in pots! Just choose the right variety and use cages, trellises, or stakes to keep fruit off the soil and prevent cracking, pests, and disease. Indeterminate varieties (tall-growing) need support; determinate varieties (bush types) are more compact.

Common Problems

• Blossom-End Rot: Prevent with consistent watering and good calcium levels.
• Leaf Curl: Often from heat or pruning—generally not harmful.
• Poor Fruit Set: Caused by temps below 55°F or above 90°F—try vibrating plants to release pollen.
• Sunscald & Poor Color: Choose varieties with good leaf cover during hot spells.

Best Practices

• Choose disease-resistant varieties marked V, F, N (Verticillium, Fusarium, Nematodes).
• For longer harvests, allow one basal sucker to grow for a 2-stemmed plant.
• Stop fertilizing when fruits near full size to avoid overgrowth and poor flavor.

Tomatomania

Tomatomania is here! Learn everything you need to know about growing juicy, flavorful tomatoes in our high-desert climate on Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m. Tom will share tips on variety selection, soil prep, frost protection, and watering schedules tailored for Northern Nevada gardens. And take advantage of our Tomatomania Sale (May 17–26): Buy 3 tomato plants, get a 4th for a penny!

🥗 Julie’s Garden-Fresh Salsa Recipe

There’s nothing like the taste of sun-ripened, homegrown tomatoes—and Julie’s simple salsa recipe lets them shine!

Ingredients:

• 4 medium ripe tomatoes (any juicy variety), diced
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1–2 jalapeños (seeded if you prefer less heat), minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt to taste

 Optional Add-ins:

• 1 ear fresh sweet corn, removed from cob (grilled or raw)
• 1 ripe peach or mango, diced
• ½ avocado, cubed (add just before serving)

 Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir gently. (for smooth, restaurant-style salsa, pulse ingredients in a blender.)
2. Let sit for at least 15–30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
3. Serve with chips, tacos, or spooned over grilled fish or chicken.

Visit Greenhouse Garden Center for expert help, the region’s best tomato starts, and everything you need for a thriving veggie garden—plus maybe a few jalapeños and onions to go with your tomatoes. 😉