Planting tomatoes in the Big Horn Basin: A lesson in patience due to Wyoming weather

With nearly 40 years of living in the Big Horn Basin, I’ve learned one thing for certain: Wyoming earns its reputation for unpredictable weather.

This year has been no exception. A mild winter gave way, right on cue, to snowstorms just as track season got underway, canceling meets and reminding us who’s really in charge.

Which brings me to my annual question: When should I plant my tomatoes?

As someone who appreciates salsa, spaghetti sauce and just about anything Italian, I’ve gotten into the habit of starting seeds in early March, nurturing them along in a small greenhouse I built. These days, that habit has grown into more than 100 tomato starts, along with peppers and a scattering of flowers. The challenge isn’t getting them started, it’s knowing when it’s safe to move them outside.

So this year, I decided to take a deeper look. The National Weather Service has more than a century of data for Lovell, and it tells a pretty clear story, just not a comforting one.

Use caution.

The latest spring freeze on record came on June 11, 2012, when temperatures dropped to 28 degrees. That’s well into what most of us would confidently call “gardening season.”

The graph that accompanies this column makes the point even more clearly. While most years cluster around early to mid-May, the swings from year to year are hard to ignore. Some seasons wrap up in late April, while others stretch deep into June. It’s that widespread, year after year, that defines gardening in the Basin. There’s a pattern, but there are just enough exceptions to keep you humble.

As of Tuesday, the 10-day forecast shows no freezing temperatures ahead. But around here, experience and history suggest that doesn’t always mean we’re in the clear.

If there’s one thing a century of weather data and four decades of experience both agree on, it’s this: patience pays off in the Big Horn Basin. The calendar may say spring, and the forecast may look friendly, but Wyoming has a way of reminding us that winter doesn’t always leave quietly.

Until at least Mother’s Day, use caution. If you’re eager to get those tomatoes in the ground, make sure you have a plan to protect them. Keep an eye on the forecast, and if temperatures start creeping toward 32 degrees, be ready with blankets, buckets or whatever it takes to give those young plants a fighting chance.

And if you decide to wait it out a little longer, you’re probably in good company.

In the meantime, if you need something to look forward to, I’m always happy to share a good recipe. If you’re interested in roasted garlic and garden harvest spaghetti sauce, feel free to reach out.