Growing Tomatoes Well Here

There’s nothing quite like a juicy, home-grown tomato to add a savory, earthy flavor to your favorite meal. However, here on the North Olympic Peninsula, our short growing season and cool summer temperatures can prevent tomato plants from setting fruit or keep fruit from ripening before the weather turns cold. Tomato lovers do not despair! You can grow vine-ripened tomatoes here.

The presentation will be held

Saturday, May 17th, 2025 from 10:30 to Noon

at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, 2711 Woodcock Road in Sequim.

During the presentation, the Master Gardener team will share tips on growing tomatoes successfully in our short, cool growing season. Participants will learn what tomato varieties grow best in our area and how to plant tomatoes to optimize available heat. They will learn how to care for tomato plants through the growing season and about the benefits and challenges of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or hoop house. The workshop will include demonstrations and displays on planting and pruning tomato bushes, the use of season extenders and trellises, and common tomato problems.

Tomatoes are warmth-loving plants. Unfortunately, our short growing season and cool temperatures can prevent tomato plants from setting fruit or keep fruit from ripening before the weather turns cold. Our Master Gardener panel has grown tomatoes for years in Clallam County and has confronted the many problems associated with this crop. They have experimented with many different approaches and have grown tomatoes in the ground, in hoophouses and greenhouses, and in containers.

Participants will find out what tomato varieties grow best in our area and how to plant tomatoes to optimize available heat. They will learn how to care for tomato plants through the growing season and about the benefits and challenges of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or hoop house. The workshop will include demonstrations and displays on planting and pruning tomato bushes, the use of season extenders and trellises and common tomato problems.

In addition to the scheduled educational presentation, a team of Clallam County Master Gardeners will be available at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on May 17^th to answer all gardening questions. Digging Deeper attendees are encouraged to bring samples of garden problems or pests for diagnosis by Master Gardeners who can recommend control measures.

“Growing Tomatoes Well” is part of the Digging Deeper Saturdays educational series which is free and open to the public. This presentation will be held in-person, outdoors at the Master Gardener Woodcock Demonstration Garden. Presentations cover basic gardening topics relevant to many home gardeners and are scheduled for 90 minutes to allow for demonstrations and questions from viewers.