Springtime planting in Oregon

Today is probably your day to get started due to our first days in the 60 degree range, I could have given you 3-4 days worth of notice but I've been working in the yard and getting some equipment ready. If you don't have the first set of peas in, it's time to set them (they were due last month, but I'm lazy too). Don't get carried away with the post frost items yet, we still have a month or so left.

Dig out those old weeds, mix in some compost or peat moss and then make holes for what you plant or intend to plant in the few months. This actually allows the soil to regrow many of the beneficial strands of soil.It's a permaculture thing I don't have down yet but it's valid, the soil needs to attach to itself. The idea is to just prep the soil even if you don't plant it, leave it high on one side to brush over your future plantings.

You don't have to put in supports for pole crops today, you have 3-6 weeks before they can reach the first 12 inches. If you're planting bush peas/beans just plan to give them a 4' post to give them something to play with and it keeps them from getting too tight, a nail and some string gives them something to play on. Corn is a valid pole for many crops, just make sure you track things as you weed or you might remove the poles or the trailers.The 'three sisters' figure in here if you haven't noticed, once you have a place for the vines to grow make sure you have a ground plant to keep the moisture down. Squash is the traditional method, but cucumbers work well.

Onion sets are pretty good to plant now based on the temperature(definitely time for walla wallas), if you don't have garlic in it's still safe to plant green cloves, or even dry cloves at about 2" apart, kill off the ones that come up too close (2"). If you have raised beds it's a little cool but tomatoes and peppers should start easily. If you have plants from the local (outdoor) home and garden store let them sit outside for a week and then plant them in your yard.

Get out there and grow food for your family. Anything you grow will taste better than what you find in the store, You have the option of choosing when it's ripe for you, and it can live for a few weeks when you're not ready for it. Home grown food is like short term canning, it's live food that can be used everyday to fill your belt or more importantly supplement flavor and nutrients.

Rick