When to plant tomatoes in Yakima, WA

Start tomatoes from seed indoors Mar 13–27, then plant the young plants in the garden in Yakima May 8 – Jun 5.

Moderate Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Yakima's typical last spring frost is May 8. Frost kills tomatoes, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around May 8. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

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 13–27 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 8 – Jun 5, 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 Yakima, WA?

Typically May 8. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 27. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Yakima Air Terminal.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Yakima?

The spring planting window runs through June 5. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around October 4.

When should I start tomatoes from seed indoors in Yakima?

March 13 to March 27, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the May 8 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

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Also plant in Yakima around the same time

Planting dates for tomatoes in nearby areas

Pendleton, OR May 1–29
The Dalles, OR May 1–29
Wenatchee, WA May 1–29
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 Yakima · Tomatoes in every city