Forget the annual early season plunge of the Mariners into baseball mediocrity…THIS is the most reliable harbinger of spring: it’s time for the annual Seattle Tilth Alliance edible plant sale at Meridian Park! The main sale will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7; there is also paid admission to a Friday evening (May 5) pre-sale. This is one of the biggest gardening events on the Seattle calendar, and attracts big crowds to the Wallingford neighborhood around Meridian Park and the Good Shepherd Center—so even if you don’t participate in the sale itself, be aware that it will be a busy and congested weekend for getting around. These are the major details from the Tilth Alliance website (please go to the site for more information):
Join us as we celebrate 40 years of helping our community grow delicious and nutritious food! Our annual May Edible Plant Sale features the largest selection of organically, sustainably and locally grown vegetable plant starts in the Puget Sound region. All revenue from the May Edible Plant Sale benefits Tilth Alliance’s year-round programming.
Plants offered at the May Edible Plant Sale are the best varieties to grow successfully in our Pacific Northwest climate. You’ll find an amazing selection of fruits and veggies to choose from, as well as culinary herbs, edible flowers, pollinator plants, and even gardening supplies that will help maximize your harvest all year round. You may even discover new plants or varieties for your summer garden!
Shopping the May Edible Plant Sale
- Shopping starts with the Early Bird Sale on Fri., May 5; 5-7 p.m.
- Shopping continues on Sat.-Sun., May 6-7; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
- In-person shopping only — the sale will be held at the Meridian Playground in Wallingford.
- Capacity in the main sale space will be managed via staggered entry with wristbands.
- Accepted payment methods: debit, credit, Fresh Bucks and EBT.
Early Bird Sale: Friday, May 5
The Early Bird Sale (Fri., May 5; 5-7 p.m.) provides the chance to get first-pick at our selection of plant starts. Plus, it’s a fun way to support Tilth Alliance’s work building a more sustainable, healthy and equitable food future. This year we’re introducing a timed entry system to help manage crowds and lines.
As a longtime gardener in the Good Shepherd P-Patch community garden, which is also located in Meridian Park, I am compelled to tell you that the p-patch gardeners will be on hand for all three days of the plant sale selling yummy baked goods to hungry attendees. We set up our tables on the north side of the p-patch, near the Bagley entrance to the park. This is the major fundraiser for our garden for the year, so you are encouraged to buy (and munch) freely and often!