Does Insulation Keep a Home in Oregon Cool?
Yes, insulation keeps a home cooler in Oregon, but the honest answer is smaller than it would be in Georgia or Texas: this is a short, dry heat, not a…
Gardening in Oregon
Everything we have worked out for Oregon: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Portland, the last spring freeze runs March 6 to March 21 and the first fall freeze runs November 11 to November 27, USDA zones 4a-9b, 2,942 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 17.4 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Oregon: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Does a Wall in Oregon Need a Vapor Barrier?
In Oregon, the answer splits with the state itself. Eighteen counties sit in IECC climate zone 5B, where the 2021 International Residential Code requires…
Heating With Pellets in Oregon: What a Winter Takes
A pellet stove in Portland works about 9 months a year but rarely alone. The reference station shows 4,104 heating degree days annually, a season long on…
Brown garden snail in Oregon: When It Shows Up and What Stops It
Brown garden snails show up in Oregon whenever nights stay above 50°F and the ground is moist, which lines up with the same two stretches Oregon State…
Symphylans in Oregon: When It Shows Up and What Stops It
Garden symphylans don’t get their own entry on Oregon State University Extension’s spring pest calendar, and that gap tells you something.
Trees, Shrubs and Perennials for Oregon: What Will Not Survive
Oregon’s hardiness range stretches from USDA zone 4a in the high desert around Bend to 9b along the southern coast, and that spread decides almost…
When to Sow Carrots in Oregon: Counting Back From the Last Frost
Carrots take 70 to 100 days from seed to harvest, and because the crop is sown directly in the ground rather than transplanted, that clock starts the day…
How Much Insulation Does a Home in Oregon Need?
Oregon doesn’t have one insulation answer. The state splits across two IECC climate zones, and each has its own row on the ENERGY STAR retrofit table.
When Can You Turn the Heat Off in Oregon?
September is Oregon’s quietest month for climate control, but “quiet” doesn’t mean off.
Will Sweet Corn Ripen in Oregon?
Yes, in western Oregon the growing season is long enough for sweet corn to reach full maturity, provided the seed goes into ground that has actually…