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As the weather warms and the first official day of spring arrives, we are often tempted to start laying out our vegetable garden plot and planting seeds.
Except for a very few exceptions, early planting of vegetable seeds or transplants will lead to disappointment. Here are a few dates and tips that should help you time planting for greater success.
If you look back at 20 years of data, the average date of the last expected frost for the Roseburg area is May 5. If you look at just the past 10 years, the average date is April 25. This tells me that no one should be planting any transplants or seeds of warm season crops (tomatoes, peppers, melons, squash, cucumbers, green beans) before the first of May.
The other number you should be looking at is soil temperature. Most warm season crop seed does not germinate quickly when the soil temperature is below 60 degrees. In March and April it is very unusual for soil temperature in our area to get above 60 degrees. It is much better to wait until May when the soil temperature has warmed up.
Plants that are able to grow non-stop without having cold weather interrupt them will be much more productive. Take two tomato plants, plant one in April and one in mid- to late-May. By the end of June the one planted in late May will often look better and be more productive. So be a patient planter.
If you want to get an earlier start, sow seeds indoors and transplant them in late May. Or you can put plants out early in raised beds or hilled up soil that warms faster, and cover them with plastic cages that act like mini greenhouses.
There are a couple of exceptions when early planting makes sense. Planting garlic and onion sets during the winter is recommended. February is my favorite time, but others plant way back in December with good results. Peas are another crop that can be planted in March or April with good results. Spinach, lettuce, broccoli and other cold crops can be sown in mid- to late-April because they can tolerate cooler soil and some light frost.
If you know that vegetable gardening is something you do well, or are learning to do well, you should consider raising a little extra food to donate this year as a community activity. There are a number of national, state and local programs being encouraged by community support groups to plant a row for the hungry, or grow a victory garden to donate produce.
The OSU Extension supports this type of activity in our community. We support community gardens by having Master Gardeners teach and demonstrate sustainable practices. We can put you in touch with a community garden if you don’t have space to garden where you live.
The time is right for gardeners in our community to lead the way toward ample local food supplies for all this summer.
Except for a very few exceptions, early planting of vegetable seeds or transplants will lead to disappointment. Here are a few dates and tips that should help you time planting for greater success.
If you look back at 20 years of data, the average date of the last expected frost for the Roseburg area is May 5. If you look at just the past 10 years, the average date is April 25. This tells me that no one should be planting any transplants or seeds of warm season crops (tomatoes, peppers, melons, squash, cucumbers, green beans) before the first of May.
The other number you should be looking at is soil temperature. Most warm season crop seed does not germinate quickly when the soil temperature is below 60 degrees. In March and April it is very unusual for soil temperature in our area to get above 60 degrees. It is much better to wait until May when the soil temperature has warmed up.
Plants that are able to grow non-stop without having cold weather interrupt them will be much more productive. Take two tomato plants, plant one in April and one in mid- to late-May. By the end of June the one planted in late May will often look better and be more productive. So be a patient planter.
If you want to get an earlier start, sow seeds indoors and transplant them in late May. Or you can put plants out early in raised beds or hilled up soil that warms faster, and cover them with plastic cages that act like mini greenhouses.
There are a couple of exceptions when early planting makes sense. Planting garlic and onion sets during the winter is recommended. February is my favorite time, but others plant way back in December with good results. Peas are another crop that can be planted in March or April with good results. Spinach, lettuce, broccoli and other cold crops can be sown in mid- to late-April because they can tolerate cooler soil and some light frost.
If you know that vegetable gardening is something you do well, or are learning to do well, you should consider raising a little extra food to donate this year as a community activity. There are a number of national, state and local programs being encouraged by community support groups to plant a row for the hungry, or grow a victory garden to donate produce.
The OSU Extension supports this type of activity in our community. We support community gardens by having Master Gardeners teach and demonstrate sustainable practices. We can put you in touch with a community garden if you don’t have space to garden where you live.
The time is right for gardeners in our community to lead the way toward ample local food supplies for all this summer.
Steve Renquist is the Horticulture Extension Agent for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. He can be reached by e-mail at steve.renquist@oregonstate.edu or by phone at (541) 672-4461.
