How to Grow Tomatoes in Western Washington

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Tomatoes are a much loved garden treat. Growing tomatoes in western Washington can be a challenge because of excessive rain and mild summers. By following a few simple steps, you can increase your chances of having a bountiful tomato harvest.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Railroad ties or gardening stones
Top soil
Organic mulch or manure
Ground tilling tools
Small to medium variety tomato starts
Fertilizer

Step1

Build a raised tomato bed. Use railroad ties or landscaping stones. Make the bed at least 12 inches deep.

Step2

Till the existing soil. Mix in a high nutrient top soil as well as organic mulch or manure. Add enough soil to fill the bed.

Step3

Make the bed in a spot that receives plenty of sun. Find a spot that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of day light.

Step4

Plant tomatoes that are small to medium in size. Do not use large tomato types, as they have difficulty ripening in this area.

Step5

Plant in the last part of April to May. Wait to plant tomato starts outside after the danger of frost has passed.

Step6

Water tomatoes every other day, depending on rain cycles. Do not over water. Fertilize tomatoes weekly.

Step7

Treat tomatoes for pests using an organic pesticide. Find pesticides at a local nursery.

Tips & Warnings

Put tomatoes in a window sill indoors if they are not ripening.
Try planting Roma, Early Girl, Yellow Pear or Cherry tomatoes for great results.
Treat for slugs. They will eat all of your tomatoes in western Washington.
Do not plant large variety tomatoes like Big Boy. They will not ripen because of the lack of heat.