Plant Sale

Help fund our Educational Outreach and get a great plant along the way!

WSU Extension > Yakima County > Master Gardener Home > Educational outreach > Plant Sale

A large group of people shopping for plants in a large plastic-sided greenhouse. Some shoppers carry black plastic flats of plants while others are bent over the tables taking a closer look. Banners from the ceiling label the type of plants.

About the Plant Sale

Each year, our Extension Master Gardeners put in thousands of volunteer hours to pull together a Plant Sale. The goal is to give you a good selection of high-quality plants at reasonable prices.

Held every Spring, we have thousands of annuals, vegetables, perennials, herbs, hanging floral baskets, and garden art.

The funds raised at this sale allow the Yakima County Master Gardeners to continue their work in our community, from classes at our demonstration gardens to our answer clinic and plant diagnostic clinic. Your purchases make our outreach possible!

Save the date!

The 2026 Plant Sale is in the planning stages.

Dates and details will be announced soon.

Location:

1522 S. 18th Ave, Yakima, WA 98909

Map

Two Master Gardeners stand together in the plastic-sided greenhouse among tables laid out with flats of young plants. The person on the left is holding paperwork and a marker for the tables while the other individual holds a plant in a black plastic square pot.

Two large curved-top greenhouses against a blue sky with light clouds.

A “Pop-up Nursery”

The annual Master Gardener Plant Sale is a major undertaking by our volunteers. One of our Foundation’s key funding activities, it takes about eight months efforts to produce a plant sale that meets our standards. And yours. Read on for just a quick overview of the effort involved.

Broad plant selection, locally grown

Important details about the Plant Sale

Please know that the first morning of the sale, from opening until around 10 or 11 is a VERY busy and crowded time. We are doing everything we can to efficiently get folks through the line. We hope you can be patient! (While there may be a few varieties of unusual plants that are in limited supply, we have literally hundreds of excellent plants in all areas for you.)

We have a limited number of garden carts and boxes for you to use. If you can bring your own containers and a cart, you will be well prepared.

For the safety of you, your child, and others, we must ask that you do not bring strollers into the greenhouse shopping area. Our gravel floors and irregular surfaces are not conducive to many stroller wheels, and the crowded conditions can be very hard to navigate safely.

Due to the anticipated crowd and the hazards of leashes, please leave all pets at home. Working service animals are welcome.

What you’ll find at the Plant Sale

Vegetables

Those who buy vegetable starts at our annual plant sale might wonder, “Why did they select those particular varieties? Or often, “Why isn’t a certain tomato/cucumber variety available?”
The answer to the first question is philosophical. Whenever possible, we try to choose heirloom varieties. Heirloom vegetables are typically unavailable at the garden centers, big box stores and nurseries in our area. Many of these varieties have a rich and diverse history that can only be kept alive by growing them. These varieties are open-pollinated and their seeds will breed true if certain parameters are met. Saved seeds can be planted in your garden next year or donated to the Seed Library and keep the gene pool strong.
The answer to the second question comes from analyzing sales data from previous plant sales and asking our colleagues for feedback about the success, or failure, of the vegetables that they grew during the summer. Each year will be slightly different depending on what sells or how well a variety grew under Yakima Valley conditions.

Shoppers peruse row after row of colorful annual flowers in bloom in black plastic flats on wooden tables in a large greenhouse under a banner reading "annuals." There are plant-laden garden carts in the aisles as shoppers choose their plants.

Annuals

Annual plants live their entire lives in our climate zone within ONE growing season. You will find that they are the most colorful as a group, providing beautiful splashes in your yard. Most of them require a sunny site in your garden or patio, with at least 6 hours of sun daily. They will want their soil to be keep moist, but not soaked. It’s best to let them dry almost completely before watering. Just don’t let them dry out completely! Use a moisture meter, or your finger to feel the dampness at the root level (about 3 to 5 inches for most.) Information on the pot labels will provide more details about your specific plant.

Perennials

Most perennials will survive nicely in your yard for years to come. They are generally quite cold-hardy, allowing them to live through our Yakima area winters. Many perennials display colorful flowers, interesting leaves of various shades of green, and attractive stems and branches year around. You won’t have to re-plant each season, and you will find these plants to be reliable features in your garden, especially if you provide just a little maintenance and pruning each year. Look to the labels for details, and feel free to ask our Master Gardeners for advice on making your selection.

Two Master Gardener volunteers stand beside a collection of garden decoration for sale, such as bottle trees, wooden signs with flowers on them, and metal decorations. They are under a sign made from wood boards and old tools that spells out the phrase, "mirth in the garden."

…and more!

You’ll find a selection of HERBS to fill out your Kitchen garden. And we have prepared nearly 200 beautiful HANGING BASKETS, each one filled with a colorful variety of plants. Our “MIRTH IN THE GARDEN” department is chock full of fun and interesting yard art to add interest to your gardens. It has all been made from recycled material.
As we get closer to sale time, lists of the available plant varieties will be posted in our updates below!

Plant Sale Updates

2025 Vegetable Plant List Vegetable Variety Descriptions for 2025 Plant Sale All varieties are open-pollinated unless hybrid. Most are heirloom. *Indicates a test variety. Tomatoes – Cherry Black Strawberry Cherry- The gorgeous 1-ounce fruits are beautifully marbled […]

Caring for your plants after taking them home

People often ask whether they should keep their plants in the house until they’re ready to plant them.

If you purchased perennials, the answer is probably no. The sooner the plants are in the ground, the sooner they can establish a substantial root system. But, if you encounter severe weather warnings or frost warnings before you plant your perennials, cover your plants or take them into a protected area under a porch or into an unheated garage to protect their vulnerable roots from freezing.

We have kept our vegetables in our hoop house for the week or two before the sale. So, they have had some hardening. If there is a danger of frost soon, you should keep them protected until frost season is over.

If you purchase annuals, or hanging baskets, these plants are very susceptible to frost damage and should not be put out until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to the temperature most suited for the variety you are plant.

Pulling it all together

A group of Master Gardener volunteers wearing silly hats and carrying props such as flowers and stems with leaves. They are sitting on a purple picnic table under a maple tree turning yellow in the fall.

The Team

Each year Master Gardener volunteers strive to create a sale where customers can find what plants they are looking for and easily understand the pricing.

Three Master Gardener volunteers around a table of flats of young plants. Two volunteers are standing, one is sitting. The person sitting is wearing gloves as they work with the plants on the table.

Greenhouse grown

Most of our plants are grown from seed by our Master Gardener volunteers, who will stand ready to advise on best practices for planting and care.

Two Master Gardener volunteers working at a table of young plants in black plastic square pots. The standing volunteer on the right has dirt on her fingers and is carrying a watering can. The seated volunteer across from the viewer wears gloves while handling one of the plants.

Setup

Master Gardeners set-up and are ready for the public at 8:00 am. Come as-you-are! We have boxes available under the plant tables for your use. Pricing is color coded and we accept cash or credit. Come to our sale – it’s really a lot of fun!