A
Southern Willamette Valley Seeding Calendar
Including season-extension using propagation greenhouses
or hotframes
v. 2.12 February 8, 2008
January seeding in the
greenhouse is for the pros, with two possible exceptions: Alliums and salad
greens. Asian greens, mustards, arugula, bok choi, especially, are strong
germinators in cool soils, with no supplemental heat required. Plant out
by early March, harvest by early April. The fast, early crop. Wherever possible,
use freshly-saved seed - freshness lends significant impetus to seedling
vigor at this time of year.
February is the month
in which inexperienced gardeners tend to sow
too early. You will lose little and gain greatly by waiting. However,
with appropriate resources, commitment and incentive, February is the month
advanced gardeners get serious about season-extension in the greenhouse.
Check the Spring Seeding Guide for information
on how to stack the odds in your favor.
For direct seeding
without the assistance of a propagation greenhouse, the spring seeding
schedule takes the following course: there is pea and fava bean planting
time in the weeks around Valentine’s Day. Then it's time to direct-seed
cool-weather spring greens. Then corn, then squash, then beans. The pea/fava
planting time still has hard freezes and is mostly cold weather, but with
occasional cool periods. Peas and favas can grow when the temperature is
not much above freezing. The cool-weather greens can tolerate freezes, grow
well in cool weather, and have photoperiod requirements that fit this schedule.
The early corn-planting time can still have occasional light freezes - but
the weather then is still considerably warmer than earlier in the season.
Corn needs warmer weather to make good growth than peas or favas do, so
there is little point trying to get it in earlier than this. Squash and
beans are normally killed by frost, and thus are put in after most danger
of frost is past. Timings suggested in the seeding calendar below, include
the earlier sowing times for transplants
afforded by 'indoor' propagation aids, such as greenhouses or, for home
gardeners, hotframes or basements with supplemental light and heat.
To download a copy of
the (195 KB .XML document) seeding calendar spreadsheet and embedded notes,
click here. Feel free to copy,
repurpose and circulate. This calendar was assembled by gardeners and farmers
with the School Garden Project of Lane County and Food
For Lane County. Bookmark to check back for continuing updates.
Feedback, additions and corrections are encouraged. Please forward them to Nick Routledge, nursery manager, School Garden Project of Lane County greenhouse.
Key:
X marks highly recommended seeding times.
H marks use of supplementary heat.
Alliums | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Onions [1] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Leeks [2] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Scallions/Green Onions | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Shallots [3] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Garlic [4] | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Legumes | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Peas [5] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Green Beans [6] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dry Beans [7] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Favas [8] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Brassicas [9] | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Broccoli [10] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cabbage | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cauliflower [11] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Brussels sprouts | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Kale [12] | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Collards [13] | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Radish [14] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pac Choi [15] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Kohlrabi [16] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Turnips [17] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rutabagas/Swedes [18] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Arugula [19] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asian Greens and Musta[20] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Winter Brassicas [21] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cucurbits [22] | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Summer Squash [23] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Winter Squash [24] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cucumbers [25] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pumpkins [26] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Melons/Watermelons [27] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gourds [28] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Nightshades [29] | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Eggplants [30] | H | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Peppers [31] | H | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tomatoes [32] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Tomatillos | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Potatoes [33] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Umbels | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Carrots [34] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Parsley [35] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dill [36] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Celery [37] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Parsnip [38] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cilantro | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fennel | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Composites | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Artichoke | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lettuce [39] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Endive | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chicory | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chenopods | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Beets [40] | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Spinach [41] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chard [42] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Others | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||
Sweet corn [43] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Flour, dent & flint corns [44] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Basil [45] |