“Growing Tomatoes Well on the North Olympic Peninsula,” Saturday, May 20, 2023

May 11, 2023 1:30 am
Learn the tricks necessary to produce vine-ripened tomatoes in your own backyard Saturday, May 20th from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim for the Digging Deeper Educational Series presentation “Grow Tomatoes Well on the North Olympic Peninsula” (left to right) Veteran Clallam County Master Gardeners Jeanette Stehr-Green, Laurel Moulton Jan Bartron, and Audreen Williams demonstrate a DIY cattle panel hoophouse to protect tomatoes in our cool climate. Six-millimeter plastic sheeting will be placed over the top and sides to trap heat and protect the developing plants. Photo by Paul Green
Learn the tricks necessary to produce vine-ripened tomatoes in your own backyard Saturday, May 20th from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim for the Digging Deeper Educational Series presentation “Grow Tomatoes Well on the North Olympic Peninsula” (left to right) Veteran Clallam County Master Gardeners Jeanette Stehr-Green, Laurel Moulton Jan Bartron, and Audreen Williams demonstrate a DIY cattle panel hoophouse to protect tomatoes in our cool climate. Six-millimeter plastic sheeting will be placed over the top and sides to trap heat and protect the developing plants. Photo by Paul Green

There’s nothing quite like a home-grown, juicy tomato to add a savory, earthy flavor to your favorite meals. However, here on the North Olympic Peninsula, our short growing season and cool temperatures can prevent tomato plants from setting fruit or keep fruit from ripening before the weather turns cold. Tomato lovers do not despair! The Digging Deeper Saturdays team has you covered.

Join veteran Clallam County Master Gardeners Jan Bartron, Betsy Burlingame, Laurel Moulton, David Rambin, Jeanette Stehr-Green, and Audreen Williams on Saturday, May 20th from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the beautiful Woodcock Demonstration Garden, 2711 Woodcock Road in Sequim for the Digging Deeper Saturdays presentation “Grow Tomatoes Well on the North Olympic Peninsula” and learn the tricks necessary to produce vine-ripened tomatoes in your own backyard.

The panel 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.

“Growing Tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest” is part of the Digging Deeper educational series which is free and open to the public. This presentation will be held in-person, out of doors at the Master Gardener Woodcock Demonstration Garden.

In addition to the scheduled educational presentation, a team of Clallam County Master Gardeners will be available at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on May 20th 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.

Digging Deeper presentations are held from 10:30 am to 12 noon on the third Saturday of selected months. Presentations cover basic gardening topics relevant to many home gardeners. Presentations are free and open to the public and are scheduled for 90 minutes to allow for demonstrations and questions from viewers.

“Growing Tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest” is scheduled to occur out of doors, in-person at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at 2711 Woodcock Road in Sequim. Attendees are encouraged to check the Clallam County Master Gardener online calendar for updates about the location of the talk at https://extension.wsu.edu/clallam/master-gardener-calendar/. For more information about “Growing Tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest” or the Digging Deeper series call 360-477-0116.