When to Sow Sweet Corn in Oregon
Sow sweet corn in Oregon once soil temperatures hold above 60°F, not on the date of the last frost.
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.
When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Oregon
In western Oregon, the practical window for autumn spinach runs from mid-August through mid-September, once soil temperatures have dropped below 80°F.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Oregon?
West of the Cascades, spinach bolts early no matter how mild the summer feels.
Will Oregon Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Oregon’s answer is yes, with one condition attached. The state’s official soil, the Jory series, drains well by the book, and drainage is the single soil…
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Oregon
Plant asparagus crowns in early spring, timed to this region’s frost window rather than a fixed date on the calendar.
Growing Sweet Corn in Oregon: Will It Ripen?
West of the Cascades, sweet corn ripens most seasons if the grower waits for the soil instead of the calendar.
Growing Asparagus in Oregon: Fifteen Years in One Spot
An asparagus bed planted in Oregon can keep producing for a decade and a half, so the ground you pick now is a decision you’ll live with long after the…
When to Sow Pumpkins in Oregon
Western Oregon gardeners sow pumpkin seed outdoors once soil temperature holds at 65°F, which usually lands several weeks after the last spring frost…
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Oregon?
West of the Cascades, where most Oregon pumpkin patches sit, the first fall frost lands somewhere between November 11 and November 27.
When to Sow Parsnips in Oregon
West of the Cascades, near Portland, the sowing window sits between mid-February and mid-March, roughly two to three weeks ahead of the last spring…