When to Start Pepper Seed in Oregon
Peppers in western Oregon’s Willamette Valley need starting indoors roughly in early March, about 8 to 10 weeks before a transplant date that lands after…
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.
Why Peppers Fail to Set Fruit in Oregon
Pepper fruit set in Oregon runs into trouble at both temperature extremes. Around Portland, 11.9 days a year climb to 90 F or hotter, which is enough…
When to Plant Potatoes in Oregon: Counting Back From Your Last Frost
In Portland and other spots west of the Cascades, potatoes go into the ground 14 to 21 days before the last spring frost, once soil temperature reaches…
Harvesting and Storing Potatoes in Oregon
West of the Cascades, Oregon’s potato harvest wraps up well before the ground freezes, and the state’s mild, damp winter climate makes storage more a…
Potato Varieties That Suit Oregon
Oregon’s growing season splits sharply at the Cascades, and that split decides which potatoes work where.
What to Plant in Oregon in September
September in western Oregon means one thing above all: the fall garden. The soil is warm from a full summer, nights start cooling toward the mid-40s, and…
What to Plant in Oregon in October
October in Oregon still favors the ground, at least west of the Cascades. Garlic, shallots, and cold-hardy greens like spinach, kale, and mâche go in now…
What to Plant in Oregon in November
November straddles Oregon’s first fall frost window, so the honest answer depends on where you garden.
What to Plant in Oregon in May
May is the month when Oregon’s growing season actually opens up west of the Cascades, but the calendar itself is not what makes that true.
What to Plant in Oregon in March
March in western Oregon is a hinge month. The Willamette Valley’s last spring frost typically falls between March 6 and March 21, so early March still…