When to plant tomatoes in Wenatchee, WA

Start tomatoes from seed indoors Mar 6–20, then plant the young plants in the garden in Wenatchee May 1–29.

Moderate Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Wenatchee's typical last spring frost is April 8. Frost kills tomatoes, and warm-season crops also need warm soil. Soil here stays cold for weeks after the last frost, so planting waits until about May 1.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

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

Step by step

Start seeds indoors Mar 6–20 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 May 1–29, 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 here

Stupice
Early Girl
Sungold (cherry)
Oregon Spring (bred in Oregon)

Watch out for

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

Wait for warm soil and mild nights before planting out. Early or cherry varieties ripen most reliably here.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Wenatchee, WA?

Typically April 8. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 23. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Wenatchee Pangborn Airport.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Wenatchee?

The spring planting window runs through May 29. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around October 24.

When should I start tomatoes from seed indoors in Wenatchee?

March 6 to March 20, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the May 1 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors: A Northwest TimelineWhen to start tomatoes, peppers and other seeds indoors in Oregon and Washington, plus the simple setup that grows strong seedlings.
How Much to Water Vegetables in a Dry Northwest SummerThe Northwest is rainy for nine months and bone dry for three. How much water vegetables need in summer, when to water, and how to waste less of it.
Raised Beds for Rainy Northwest GardensWhy raised beds suit the Northwest so well, how big and deep to build them, what to fill them with, and the mistakes to avoid.
Growing Vegetables in Containers on a Northwest Balcony or PatioNo yard? Herbs, greens, tomatoes and more grow well in pots. Container sizes, soil, watering and the best crops for small Northwest spaces.
The Best Tomatoes for Cool Northwest SummersWhich tomato varieties actually ripen in Portland, Seattle and the coast, and how to give them the heat they need.
Gardening in Bend and Central Oregon's Short SeasonHow to grow vegetables where frost can come almost any month: what to plant, when, and how to protect it.
Why Northwest Gardeners Should Plant by Soil TemperatureThe air warms up long before the soil does here. A $10 soil thermometer tells you when it's really time to plant beans, squash and tomatoes.

Also plant in Wenatchee around the same time

Planting dates for tomatoes in nearby areas

Pendleton, OR May 1–29
The Dalles, OR May 1–29
Yakima, WA May 8 – Jun 5
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA May 1–29
Walla Walla, WA May 1–29
Moses Lake, WA May 1–29

Full planting calendar for Wenatchee · Tomatoes in every city