Good afternoon gardeners,
Today's bright warm sunshine and 55 degree temperatures may trigger an early gardening spring fever for you. If you are tempted to start planting your edible garden, please trust me it is still too early!
Our average last frost in Portland is March 15 and this is conveniently close to the spring equinox when we are halfway between winter and spring. This is important because it means the longest days and closest sun distance are on their way. Edible garden plants benefit from the warmer air temperatures, warmer soil temperatures, longer days, and brighter closer sun.
January is a perfect time to do your garden planning, enjoy your seed catalogs, begin purchasing seeds, inventory, repair and purchase new gardening tools and supplies. During the winter month of January you could expand your gardening knowledge by taking a gardening workshop, reading a gardening book, or subscribing to a gardening magazine.
Check out my February workshops: Gardening Planning and Organic Vegetable Gardening Basics for Beginners by visiting my website.
February weather in Portland is extremely unpredictable. Though February can afford us more opportunity to garden if the weather is mild. If you are growing tomatoes from seed, now is the time to start those indoors.
February direct seed outdoors with protection of frost blanket, cloche, cold frame, tunnel or greenhouse:
Arugula
Chevil
Cilantro
Escarole & Endive
Florence fennel
Kale
Mache
Mesclun mix
Mustard greens
Peas
Radishes
Radichio
Scallions
Spinach
February is an excellent time to purchase fruit trees and plants, as selection is abundant at nurseries. It's also a good time to plant fruit trees and small fruit in Portland.
Trees: apples, asian pears, european pears, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots
Vines: kiwi, grapes, hops
Bushes: blueberries, currants, gooseberry, huckleberry
Canes: raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries
And don't forget about your strawberry crowns. Strawberries grow awesome in Portland!
Happy gardening and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts,
Jolie
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2 comments:
Hello there Mrs. Jolie, thanks so much for the wonderful bogs!! I'm wondering if it okay to transplant some raspberrys and blueberries. My bunnies �� won't let them grow where they are now. Am I to late?
Hello sweet Vanessa,
Now would be a perfect time to transplant your raspberries and blueberries. Late winter and early spring is the perfect time in Portland & Vancouver to plant small fruit. The plants in your yard should be still dormant or just breaking dormancy with some budding leaves. Your ground is also still moist and easy to dig. Dig a big hole around the root mass and gently lift out the plants. Make sure their new home is in full sun with well-drained soil. Put some compost in the new planting hole along with some "sure start" fertilizer to encourage root growth. Water them in well. Hope that helps and thank you for reading!
Happy Gardening,
Jolie
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