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There’s always room to grow tomatoes

(Pictured: If gardening space is limited, grow tomatoes in hanging baskets or containers.)

By Melinda Myers

Nothing beats the flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes. Keep them close at hand by growing one or more in containers on your patio, balcony, or front steps.

Any tomato can be grown in a pot, but determinate varieties are shorter and more compact, making them a bit easier to manage in a container. They produce fruit in a relatively short time, making them great or preserving as well as using fresh. Look for a D or determinate on the plant tag, seed packet, or in the catalog description. 

Indeterminate tomatoes, often designated with an I, are usually much taller and continue to grow, flower, and produce fruit until frost kills the plant or you pinch out the growing tip. These are usually staked or grown in wire cages to save space, reduce pest problems, and make harvesting easier. Many new containers have built-in trellises, or creative gardeners craft their own, making it easier and more attractive to grow these bigger plants in pots. 

Semi-determinate varieties are in between these two. They are compact like determinates, often trailing, but produce fruit throughout the growing season like indeterminate varieties. 

You can find compact varieties often sold as miniature and dwarf plants that grow well in 4-inch to 8-inch pots. They are a great option for those with limited space, gardening on balconies, indoors in a sunny window or just about anywhere. Kitchen Mini tomatoes, Heartbreakers, Red Velvet, and Micro Tom Thumb are just a few.

The growing process

Grow one tomato per container for maximum productivity. Use a 5-gallon or bigger container for large varieties and at least a two to three gallon or similar size pot for smaller varieties.  Some research suggests a pot that is at least 14 inches but preferably 20 inches wide will yield greater results. Adding flowers and herbs to the container boosts the beauty and diversity of your container garden but will reduce the number of tomatoes produced.

Growing tomatoes in containers also allows you to start the season earlier. Just move the planter inside when the weather is harsh and back outside when the weather is warm and sunny. As the weather turns cold at the end of the growing season, cover the planter or move it into a frost-free location as needed. Some gardeners even move a pot or two inside to finish off the tomato season.

Plant tomatoes in a container with drainage holes and fill it with a quality potting mix. Reduce the time spent watering with a self-watering pot that has a reservoir to hold water and extend the time between watering. Further reduce the need to water by adding an organic, sustainable soil amendment like certified organic Wild Valley Farms’ wool pellets (wildvalleyfarms.com) to the potting mix. Made from wool waste, this product reduces watering by up to 25 percent.

Water thoroughly when the top few inches begin to dry. Mulch the soil with evergreen needles, shredded leaves, or other organic mulch to keep the soil consistently moist and suppress weeds.  Consistent soil moisture encourages more flowering and fruiting, while reducing the risk of blossom end rot, cracking, and misshapen fruit. 

Harvest tomatoes when fully colored or leave them on the plant a few more days for an even sweeter flavor. You’ll enjoy their use in salads, sauces, and other favorite recipes.

Melinda Myers (melindmyers.com) is the author of more than 20 gardening books, host of the “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series. and a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine.

The Senior Scene by — April 1, 2025 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures
Sheriffs with positions on deporting immigrants include Pierce County’s

(Pictured: Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank says his agency is “obligated to honor applicable federal detainers.”

By Moe K. Clark and Farah Eltohamy

President Donald Trump has identified state and local law enforcement agencies as being pivotal in his plans to deport millions of undocumented people from the U.S. But the extent of how his undertaking will play out on the ground remains unclear, especially in Washington and other “sanctuary states” that have local laws prohibiting such collaborations.

Washington’s “sanctuary law,” formally called the Keep Washington Working Act, restricts the extent to which local law enforcement agencies may participate in federal immigration enforcement actions. The law prohibits the use of county jails for immigrant detention and doesn’t allow local law enforcement to interview or detain those suspected of being an undocumented immigrant. 

In a survey by InvestigateWest and Cascade PBS, the majority of Washington sheriffs said they would focus their resources on public safety and local laws, not federal immigration enforcement. 

“We recognize that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and not a part of my elected office or sworn duty. Therefore, we focus our resources and efforts on local law enforcement matters just as we have always done,” Pacific County Sheriff Daniel C. Garcia wrote. “We will not detain or arrest individuals solely based on suspected immigration violations.”

But some responses were less clear-cut. 

“The Pierce County Sheriff Office will abide by all enforceable U.S. immigration laws and legal mandates,” wrote Sheriff Keith Swank, who took office Jan. 15 after being elected last November. “Law enforcement agencies are obligated to honor applicable federal detainers. I believe there will be more legal guidance in the near future.” 

In the same vein, Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete said in his statement that while his office is aware of the Keep Washington Working Act, his office “will not impede federal operations,” providing no further clarification.

While other local law enforcement agencies across the country have formal agreements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under a federal program that allows jails to be used for immigrant detention, Washington doesn’t have any such formal agreements. 

Still, nothing is stopping federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from conducting immigration raids or arrests in Washington or tapping local law enforcement to help if the person of interest is suspected of committing a crime – which could be as simple as a traffic violation.

InvestigateWest and Cascade PBS reached out to all of Washington’s 39 county sheriffs and asked how they plan to balance conflicting local, state, and federal laws. Nine county sheriffs didn’t respond to multiple requests for comments, and nine others didn’t respond tospecific questions, instead forwarding a statement released by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs last December. Our questions:

  1. What role does the sheriff’s office believe local law enforcement should play in federal immigration enforcement?
  2. Will the sheriff’s office change or modify any of its policies or procedures related to immigration enforcement, while still complying with the state’s Keep Washington Working Act?
  3. Anything else you’d like to add?

While no sheriffs said they would work hand and hand with federal immigration enforcement, Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer, who considers himself a “constitutional sheriff” and didn’t respond to our requests, posted a video on Facebook on Dec. 11, telling federal ICE officials to “put me on speed dial.”

Source: Cascade PBS and Investigate West, which are non-profit journalism sites.

RELATED STORY: PIERCE EXECUTIVE SETS POLICY FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

In response to questions arising from federal policy changes and actions regarding immigration enforcement, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello issued an executive directive March 25 that he said creates guidelines and procedures for county employees. 

Mello said the directive ensures executive-branch departments of county government share guidance for how to comply with state and federal immigration enforcement laws. Federal law makes immigration enforcement is the sole responsibility of the federal government, and a Washington state law limits local governments’ participation in federal immigration enforcement.
The state law requires public schools, health facilities, courts, and law enforcement agencies to ensure that they are safe and accessible for all Washington residents, regardless of immigration or citizenship status. Under Mello’s order, Pierce County’s executive departments will interact with federal law enforcement to ensure legally required requests, such as judicial warrants, are responded to properly. The order doesn’t apply to other county government agencies headed by elected officials.  
The Senior Scene by — April 1, 2025 in News

The Legislature is halfway to approving new standards for memory care at assisted-living facilities in Washington.

The state Senate unanimously passed and the House of Representatives is considering passage of Senate Bill 5337, which would require certifications for assisted-living communities that provide memory care. Advocates for long-term care residents say the measure would help improving care and accountability. The House until April 16 to approve or reject the bill.

The proposed legislation is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Washington State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, as well as SEIU 775, the labor union for thousands of care workers.

If approved by the House and later signed into law by the governor, the measure would provide increased safety measures, accountability, and transparency around memory care. It would standardize the definition of memory care, allow oversight by the state Department of Social and Health Services of facilities, and give the state attorney general enforcement authority under the Consumer Protection Act.

An estimated 70 percent of assisted-living residents have some form of dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH): “As dementia and behavioral symptoms become increasingly common in AL (assisted living) settings, so do questions about the quality of dementia care in AL facilities,” NIH stated in a study of the issue.

Industry analysts say assisted living facilities tend to be large, with hundreds of residents and relatively low staff-to-resident ratios, and sometimes have track records that are difficult to monitor due to complex ownership and rebranding. In addition, unlike nursing homes, AL care workers currently aren’t required to be certified nursing assistants or registered nurses and have minimal training and minimum wages—factors that can affect the quality of care for residents, according to supporters of the proposed state standards. 

The Senior Scene by — March 27, 2025 in News
Seattle community leader is new AARP WA member

(Pictured: Ron Chew has been named AARP Washington’s state president.)

Ron Chew, whose previous leadership roles have ranged from libraries locally to the arts nationally, now has a new one as AARP Washington’s state president.

In the volunteer role, Chew will help lead the organization’s activities on behalf of more than 870,000 Washington members and provide leadership in long-range planning to help meet the needs of the state’s older adults and their families. 

“I’m truly excited to collaborate with Washington’s AARP volunteers and staff,” Chew said. “As an older adult myself, I recognize the importance of ensuring that people can age according to their desires and have the necessary supports in place.”

Washington’s older population is growing. Currently, people 65 and older are about 18 percent of it. By 2050, they are projected to be more than 23 percent, with those 85 and older more than tripling. 

“Meeting the diverse needs of older Washingtonians requires empathy, innovation, and a profound respect for their life experiences,” said Chew. ” Issues like health security and future financial stability impact not only today’s older adults, but also their families and friends for generations to come.”

He said supporting family caregivers “is a significant concern at present. Each day, more than 820,000 Washingtonians perform an incredible labor of love—caring for older parents, spouses, and other loved ones, enabling them to stay at home, where they wish to be. While most of us wouldn’t have it any other way, the financial and emotional tolls of caregiving can be profound. It’s essential that we find ways to support caregivers with the resources and connections they require.”

Chew is a lifelong Seattle resident. He graduated from Franklin High School and attended the University of Washington, where he majored in journalism. He worked for 13 years as editor of the International Examiner, a newspaper in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District.  Before that, he was executive director of the Wing Luke Museum, where his efforts led to the construction of the current museum building.

Recognized nationally, he was appointed to the National Council on the Humanities by then-president Bill Clinton in 2001 and has received numerous accolades for his leadership. 

On a local level, Chew is a member of the Board of Trustees of Seattle Public Libraries.

In 2020, Chew published his memoir, “My Forgotten Seattle,” a personal account of the history and vibrant community of Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of Asian American activists and families.

He himself became part of that history when his contributions to aging and community health were recognized recently with the naming of the International Community Health Services’ state-of-the-art senior care facility as the Ron Chew Healthy Aging and Wellness Center.

“Ron has made significant contributions to community healthcare and the humanities, exemplifying leadership and dedication in both fields,” said AARP Washington director Marguerite Ro. “His experience and dedication to community service and advocacy is notable, and his leadership will serve our members well.”

Chew is an avid gardener. He’s also an avid runner, often seen mornings traversing the Beacon Hill neighborhood in Seattle.

The Senior Scene by — March 25, 2025 in Food, People