Hello gardening friends,
Happy spring equinox and welcome the first official day of spring! Have you got that spring fever gardening itch? Have you started planting or are you waiting until we are past the average last frost date?
I get a lot of questions about frost dates and I think there is a lot of varied information on the internet, gardening books, and at nurseries. According to this source from the Multnomah County Master Gardeners the average last frost date at the Portland Airport is March 28. In prior years our average last frost date was April 15th. However, due to climate change, most sources will now report an earlier last frost date anywhere from March 15-March 31. So, what is a gardener to do?
Considering the last five years of weather and gardening I do think we are mostly safe from a hard frost at the end of March. The current forecast predicts day temps between 40-60 degrees and night temps in the upper 30s-40s. Thats a big range and pretty typical for early spring.
And if you were wondering, I have not planted any vegetable seeds or starts in my raised beds yet this year. What I have done in my raised beds is top dress with organic granular fertilizer and bumper crop compost. Then covered them back up with a frost blanket to prevent marauding squirrels and cats. This way they are prepped, warm, and dry all ready for planting later this month.
Let me emphasize, you have not missed out if you have not planted vegetables or herbs during March. April is a fine and lovely month for planting all of your cool season vegetable and herb crops. To read the full story on March edible gardening please visit this blog post.
The cool season crops I recommend planting at the end of March:
Asparagus-from crowns
Garlic-from cloves
Horseradish-from roots
Jerusalem Artichokes/Sunchokes-from tubers
Potatoes-from seed potato tubers
Onions-from bulbs or bunches
Shallots-from cloves
Plant from seed directly in the garden or transplants:
Arugula-direct seed is best
Asian Greens
Beets-direct seed is best
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Cress-direct seed is best
Escarole & Endive-direct seed is best
Florence Fennel
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Leeks-transplants are best
Mache-direct seed is best
Mesclun Mix
Mustard Greens
Peas
Purslane-direct seed is best
Radicchio
Radish-direct seed is best
Scallions
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnips-direct seed is best
I would hold off to plant carrots by seed until April. I typically plant seeds for carrots, scarlet runner beans, and sunflowers at the same time around April 15.
Don't forget about your herbs! Cool season annual herbs like chervil and cilantro can be planted in March, as well as all perennial herbs. You can even begin annual herbs like dill and chamomile from seeds or starts at the end of March. Just hold off on planting your hot season herbs like basil and shiso until May.
Remember I have only 2 more gardening classes this month. Both are fully registered, but you can still attend by emailing me at jolieann.donohue@gmail.com During April and May I am focusing on my garden consultation and design work. I would love to come visit your home garden for an edible gardening consultation. I am now scheduling appointments for April so contact me ASAP to ensure you are on my schedule! I will resume gardening workshops again in June.
Wishing you the happiest of spring growth and renewal!
Happy Gardening,
Jolie
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Monday, March 5, 2018
What to Plant in the March Edible Garden
Good morning gardeners!
Our average last frost in Portland is March 15th and that is just 10 short days away! It is a good date to keep in mind when garden planning and planting. Light frost occurs at 36 degrees, frost occurs at 32 degrees and most annual vegetables and herbs are not able to survive temperatures that low. Please keep in mind the March 15th date is an AVERAGE based on previous years. We could still get an overnight frost. Also remember it is not officially spring until March 21st and March weather is wildly unpredictable with rain, hail, wind, and fluctuating temperatures averaging highs in the 50/60s and lows in the 40s/30s.
For optimal planting conditions not only do day temperatures need to rise, the soil needs to warm, and dry out some. In wet cold soil potato tubers will rot, seeds won’t germinate and transplants will struggle to grow. As March proceeds into April we generally have more ideal planting conditions.
In March think cool season crops. It is way to early for summer heat lovers like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, basil, etc--you will plant these crops after May 15th.
Working in wet gardens causes soil compaction that impacts plant health. I’ve had my raised beds "lasagna mulched," planted with crimson clover, and covered with a frost blanket that is keeping the soil warm and drier through the rainy season. Sometime soon I will prepare my raised beds by removing the frost blanket, hoeing the fall-planted crimson clover cover crop, leaving greens on soil, sprinkling on an organic granular fertilizer, adding a fresh layer of compost, and then replacing the frost blankets. By mid-end of March when I assess the weather the raised beds will be prepped and ready for planting.
Cool Season Crops to Plant in March:
Asparagus-from crowns
Garlic-from cloves
Horseradish-from roots
Jerusalem Artichokes/Sunchokes-from tubers
Potatoes-from seed potato tubers
Onions-from bulbs or bunches
Shallots-from cloves
Direct seed in the garden with protection of a frost blanket, cloche, cold frame or plant transplants directly into the garden
Arugula
Asian Greens
Escarole & Endive
Florence Fennel
Kale
Lettuce
Leeks-transplants are best
Mache
Mesclun Mix
Mustard Greens
Peas
Radicchio
Radish-direct seed is best
Scallions
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnips-direct seed is best
I would wait a little later in March to see how the weather goes for planting: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. Or if you want to plant these now from transplants into the garden be sure to keep a warming frost blanket handy or use some other kind of protection from a cloche, cold frame or low tunnel. I would also hold off until late March into April for direct-seeding beets and carrots. Make sure the soil has warmed up or their seeds won't germinate!
March is a great time to get started with your herb garden. Cool-loving annual herbs like chervil and cilantro should be planted now from seed or transplants. Biennial parsley can be planted now. Additionally perennial herbs like chives, lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme can all be planted from transplants in March. This month is an ideal time to divide and transplant perennial herbs grown in containers like chives, lemon balm, lovage, and mint.
Late winter into early spring is the ideal time to plant small fruit and fruit trees in your garden. This time of year you will also get the best selection at nurseries. Consider planting a dwarf or columnar fruit tree such as apple, Asian pear, pear, cherry, or plum which all grow excellent in Portland. Fruiting shrubs, canes, and vines include:
Blackberries
Blueberries
Currants
Grapes
Hops
Kiwi
Raspberries
And don’t forget the strawberries!
Spring is right around the corner. Please email me to schedule and in-person or email edible gardening consultation. Happy Planting!
Jolie
Our average last frost in Portland is March 15th and that is just 10 short days away! It is a good date to keep in mind when garden planning and planting. Light frost occurs at 36 degrees, frost occurs at 32 degrees and most annual vegetables and herbs are not able to survive temperatures that low. Please keep in mind the March 15th date is an AVERAGE based on previous years. We could still get an overnight frost. Also remember it is not officially spring until March 21st and March weather is wildly unpredictable with rain, hail, wind, and fluctuating temperatures averaging highs in the 50/60s and lows in the 40s/30s.
For optimal planting conditions not only do day temperatures need to rise, the soil needs to warm, and dry out some. In wet cold soil potato tubers will rot, seeds won’t germinate and transplants will struggle to grow. As March proceeds into April we generally have more ideal planting conditions.
In March think cool season crops. It is way to early for summer heat lovers like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, basil, etc--you will plant these crops after May 15th.
Working in wet gardens causes soil compaction that impacts plant health. I’ve had my raised beds "lasagna mulched," planted with crimson clover, and covered with a frost blanket that is keeping the soil warm and drier through the rainy season. Sometime soon I will prepare my raised beds by removing the frost blanket, hoeing the fall-planted crimson clover cover crop, leaving greens on soil, sprinkling on an organic granular fertilizer, adding a fresh layer of compost, and then replacing the frost blankets. By mid-end of March when I assess the weather the raised beds will be prepped and ready for planting.
Cool Season Crops to Plant in March:
Asparagus-from crowns
Garlic-from cloves
Horseradish-from roots
Jerusalem Artichokes/Sunchokes-from tubers
Potatoes-from seed potato tubers
Onions-from bulbs or bunches
Shallots-from cloves
Direct seed in the garden with protection of a frost blanket, cloche, cold frame or plant transplants directly into the garden
Arugula
Asian Greens
Escarole & Endive
Florence Fennel
Kale
Lettuce
Leeks-transplants are best
Mache
Mesclun Mix
Mustard Greens
Peas
Radicchio
Radish-direct seed is best
Scallions
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnips-direct seed is best
I would wait a little later in March to see how the weather goes for planting: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. Or if you want to plant these now from transplants into the garden be sure to keep a warming frost blanket handy or use some other kind of protection from a cloche, cold frame or low tunnel. I would also hold off until late March into April for direct-seeding beets and carrots. Make sure the soil has warmed up or their seeds won't germinate!
March is a great time to get started with your herb garden. Cool-loving annual herbs like chervil and cilantro should be planted now from seed or transplants. Biennial parsley can be planted now. Additionally perennial herbs like chives, lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme can all be planted from transplants in March. This month is an ideal time to divide and transplant perennial herbs grown in containers like chives, lemon balm, lovage, and mint.
Late winter into early spring is the ideal time to plant small fruit and fruit trees in your garden. This time of year you will also get the best selection at nurseries. Consider planting a dwarf or columnar fruit tree such as apple, Asian pear, pear, cherry, or plum which all grow excellent in Portland. Fruiting shrubs, canes, and vines include:
Blackberries
Blueberries
Currants
Grapes
Hops
Kiwi
Raspberries
And don’t forget the strawberries!
Spring is right around the corner. Please email me to schedule and in-person or email edible gardening consultation. Happy Planting!
Jolie
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