Submitted by WSU San Juan County Master Gardeners.

One of the most anticipated signs of spring, the WSU San Juan County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale on Orcas Island will take place on Sunday, May 19 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Orcas Grange.

Nearly all vegetable plant varieties for sale will be heirlooms or open-pollinated varieties much loved for their wonderful flavors and dependability in our short San Juan County season and marine environment. Most are not available elsewhere. There will be 16 tomato varieties including the heirlooms Stupice, Cherokee Purple, Little Napoli and Principe Borghese as well as many favorite cherry tomatoes. Among the short season plants available are Marketmore Slicer and Suyo Long Slicer cucumbers and Costata Romanesco zucchini. Multiple varieties of other Master Gardener taste-test winners will include 6 kinds of peppers and herbs that work well in small gardens or containers.

Proceeds from the sale are used to support Master Gardener programs such as the SJI Master Gardener Demonstration Garden – which provides over 1,500 pounds of produce every year for the SJI Food Bank. Funds also support community education programs; Plant Diagnostic Clinics on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands; the Orcas School Native Plant Garden and the Lopez Heirloom Apple Orchard. For more information, visit https://www.mgfsjc.org/eventsnew.html