When to plant tomatoes in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Start tomatoes from seed indoors Mar 15–29, then plant the young plants in the garden May 10 – Jun 7. In Bend: Jun 9 – Jul 7. Find your city below.

Difficulty: Moderate
Sun: Full sun; the hottest spot you have
Spacing: 2 feet apart
Planting depth: Bury the stem up to the first leaves
Frost: Killed by frost
First harvest: About 75 days after planting

OSU Extension advises waiting for soil consistently above 70°F. Early or cherry varieties ripen most reliably here.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

City	Start seeds indoors	Plant in the garden
Astoria, OR	Mar 25 – Apr 8	May 20 – Jun 17
Baker City, OR	Mar 30 – Apr 13	May 25 – Jun 22
Bend and Redmond, OR	Apr 14–28	Jun 9 – Jul 7
Burns, OR	Apr 16–30	Jun 11 – Jul 9
Coos Bay and North Bend, OR	Mar 25 – Apr 8	May 20 – Jun 17
Eugene, OR	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Gresham, OR	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Klamath Falls, OR	Apr 14–28	Jun 9 – Jul 7
Medford, OR	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Pendleton, OR	Mar 6–20	May 1–29
Portland, OR	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Roseburg, OR	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Salem, OR	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
The Dalles, OR	Mar 6–20	May 1–29
Wilsonville and Canby, OR	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA	Mar 25 – Apr 8	May 20 – Jun 17
Bellingham, WA	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Ellensburg, WA	Mar 25 – Apr 8	May 20 – Jun 17
Everett, WA	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Forks, WA	Mar 25 – Apr 8	May 20 – Jun 17
Moses Lake, WA	Mar 6–20	May 1–29
Olympia, WA	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Omak and Okanogan, WA	Mar 25 – Apr 8	May 20 – Jun 17
Seattle and Tacoma, WA	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Spokane, WA	Mar 25 – Apr 8	May 20 – Jun 17
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA	Mar 6–20	May 1–29
Vancouver, WA	Mar 15–29	May 10 – Jun 7
Walla Walla, WA	Mar 6–20	May 1–29
Wenatchee, WA	Mar 6–20	May 1–29
Yakima, WA	Mar 13–27	May 8 – Jun 5

How to grow tomatoes

Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 2 feet apart. Bury the stem up to the first leaves.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Harvest: Pick when fully colored. Before fall rains, pick green tomatoes and ripen them indoors.

Varieties that do well in the Northwest

Stupice
Early Girl
Sungold (cherry)
Oregon Spring (bred at OSU)

Watch out for

Late blight in wet falls turns leaves and fruit brown. Keep leaves dry and give plants space.

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