Whether you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift or gardening wisdom (or are simply on a quest to find the funkiest tomato name you’ll ever hear), the master gardeners’ Plant Fair has got you covered.
The 32nd edition of the event, hosted by the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation at the Skagit County Fairgrounds, will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, and feature more than 10,000 plants grown from seed by about 160 master gardeners, over 60 vendors and an expected crowd of 3,200 attendees — many of whom are devoted regulars.
“We’ve heard people say that the plant fair is the one holiday that they celebrate,” said Claire Cotnoir, who co-chairs the fair with her husband Henry Davies.
The fair, which once occupied one building, has expanded significantly, now occupying almost all of the buildings in the fairgrounds, they said.
It’s the master gardeners’ main fundraiser, which supports the foundation’s outreach efforts, events and activities. On top of that, the couple said, it’s an opportunity to connect with the community and recruit more master gardeners — novice growers, plant nerds and anyone in between.
The plant fair offers thousands of vegetables, herbs, flowers, shrubs, trees, berries and native plant varieties, according to a press release.
Growing food can help save on grocery costs and can also beautify one’s home and green spaces, with Cotnoir mentioning grape vines, rhubarb, and blueberry and rosemary bushes as some edible and visually appealing examples that people can procure at the fair.
The stars of the event are the over 3,700 tomato plants, grown by 35 master gardeners and 11 interns led by master gardeners Barb and Ron Edman.
The fair has been known for its wide tomato diversity, offering a total of 84 varieties, 30 of them in limited quantities. These include the widely known cherry, plum and San Marzano tomatoes, as well as apartment-friendly varieties with catchy names like dwarf metallica, dwarf Tiny Tim and dwarf sneaky sauce tomatoes, the co-chairs said.
The tomatoes are so popular that in past years they’ve sold out as early as 11:30 a.m., Davies said.
The “Tomato Answer Man,” master gardener Denny Organ, will demonstrate planting and pruning techniques, share tips to grow the perfect tomato plant and answer any tomato-related questions from 8 a.m. to noon at the booth outside the tomato sales barn.
Visitors can ask questions about gardening and the master gardener program at the Community Outreach, Education and Information booth. According to Davies, they may also ask for a list of plants that are less likely to attract deer and bunnies.
The plant clinic can diagnose plants and provide advice to attendees who bring samples and photos of their sickly plants.
Curious about what plants attract pollinators, or struggling with dull tools? Check out the plant pavilion to learn more or get your tools sharpened for free.
Attendees can browse over 60 vendors offering garden accessories, hand-made gifts, plant arrangements and educational resources, or find second-hand gardening books, tools, art and accessories at the Emporium.
After the event, many plants are donated to local nonprofits to support their efforts to educate people on how to grow food and enhance community gardens, Davies said, expecting to donate over 600 plants this year.
Luisa Loi is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
