The Planting Schedule in Willamette Valley

A Productive Place

• The Willamette Valley is a very productive region, capable of growing nearly all annual vegetables and herbs at some point during its long growing season. Its produce goes straight to market fresh in many cases, but it is also used in making preserved or processed foods. The valley is also nationally known for its seed production.

Spring Planting

• Planting in the Willamette Valley begins as early as February for the seeding of spring crops. Many cool-season vegetables, such as broccoli (Brassica oleracea) are planted in February through April, then discontinued, as cool-season vegetables don’t develop well during summer. Often times spring veggies are replanted in mid- to late-summer for a fall crop, however. Some vegetables typically associated with summer, such as tomatoes, are planted from February through April in the Willamette Valley.

Summer Planting

• Summer planting usually involves short-season veggies for summer picking, such as zucchini (Cucurbita pepo), or else longer-growing produce commonly associated with harvest time, such as pumpkins, gourds and other types of winter squash, which are also members of the Cucurbita pepo species. All squashes are planted in May or June in the Willamette Valley. Others summer vegetables like Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) are planted beginning in March or so, and continue to be seeded all the way through July.

Fall Planting

• Fall planting is generally restricted to vegetables that grow on a short-term basis for a later fall harvest. This includes veggies like peas (Pisum sativum) and radishes (Raphanus sativus), both of which are planted in September and October (though radishes may be started in August) and harvested only a month or two after planting. This is also the season to plant garlic (Allium sativum), which also goes into the ground in September and October, to be picked the following late spring and summer.