SPRING PLANTING GUIDE 2005
by Rachel Foster

Asparagus
Cultivation: Plant 1- or 2-year-old crowns during March, spacing them 12 inches apart in trenches 8 inches deep. Hold off on harvesting spears during the first year for stronger plants the following year.
Soil/Sun: Loose, rich, well-drained soil with a high pH. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Mary Washington, Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight.


Beans
Cultivation: Sow seeds May-July, 1 inch deep, 3-4 inches apart, at the north end of the garden if possible. Space rows 12-24 inches. Thin pole beans to 8 inches; thin bush beans to 4-6 inches. Build trellis or pole support for pole beans before planting to avoid injuring roots. Do not soak or pre-sprout seeds. Treating seeds with a non-chemical legume inoculant will help plants add more nitrogen to the soil.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained soil, pH 6.0-6.8, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Bush -- Oregon Blue Lake, Tendercrop, Venture. Pole -- Cascade Giant, Kentucky Wonder, Romano, Blue Lake Pole. Shelling: Jackson Wonder Lima, Montezuma Red, Cannellini.

Beets
Cultivation: Sow seeds March-July 3/4 inch deep, 1 inch apart. Gradually thin to 5 inches by harvesting baby beets. Maintain consistent watering during dry weather.
Soil/Sun: Loose, well-drained soil, pH 6.5-7. Beets don't like acidic soil but will tolerate low fertility. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Globe: Early Wonder, Detroit Dark Red. Cylindrical: Cyndor. Greens: Lutz Green Leaf,

Broccoli
Cultivation: Plant transplants March-July, spaced 12-20 inches apart. Don't overuse nitrogen fertilizer. Needs plentiful, consistent watering.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.5, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Small Miracle, Shogun, Umpqua Dark Green.

Brussels Sprouts
Cultivation: Sow seeds for transplants 1/4 inch deep in 4-inch pots April 15 and plant out May 15, 18-24 inches apart. Needs plentiful, consistent watering.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.5, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Prince Marvel, Rubine, Vancouver.

Cabbage
Cultivation: Sow seeds for transplants 1/4 inch deep in 4-inch pots before April 15 and plant out May 15, 18-24 inches apart.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.5, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Derby Day, Ruby Ball, Early Jersey Wakefield.

Chinese Cabbage
Cultivation: Plant transplants after May 15, 12-18 inches. Closer spacings produce smaller, more flavorful heads.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.5, full sun to partial shade (shade may slow down bolting in summer crops).
Suggested Varieties: China Express.

Carrots
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, 1/4 inch apart, March-July 15. Thin to 2 inches. Do not use fresh manure or nitrogen fertilizer or you will get hairy roots. Keep soil moist during germination.
Soil/Sun: Carrots require rich, loose, deeply-worked soil that is free of stones, pH 6.0-6.8 (slightly acidic soil is okay). Full sun to light shade.
Suggested Varieties: Royal Chantenay (esp. for heavier soils), Scarlet Nantes, Nantes Bolero.

Cauliflower
Cultivation: Plant 6-week-old transplants 24 inches apart after April 15. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.5, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Early Dawn, Snowball, Fremont.

Celery
Cultivation: Plant transplants 6-12 inches apart, April 15-June. Requires plenty of water.
Soil/Sun: Rich soil, pH 6.0-7.0. Prefers full sun; will tolerate poorly-drained soil.
Suggested Varieties: Ventura, Golden Self-Blanching.

Corn
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1 inch deep, 4-6 inches apart, April-June. Thin to 8-12 inches. Plant at least 4 rows of the same variety in a block to ensure adequate pollination.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0-6.8, with full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Early Sunglo, Seneca Horizon, Jubilee.

Cucumbers
Cultivation: Sow seeds in June. Space seeds 2 inches apart in a row and thin to 12 inches, or plant 5-6 seeds in mounds spaced 3-5 feet apart and thin to 2 plants per mound. Grow on a trellis to save space. Provide consistent, plentiful moisture to prevent bitterness.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil with plenty of nitrogen, neutral pH, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Pickling: SMR 58. Slicing: Marketmore.

Eggplant
Cultivation: Plant transplants 18-24 inches apart in raised beds in June after nighttime temps remain above 45F (eggplants require warm days). Use a black plastic mulch to warm the soil.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic soil, full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Dusky, Bambino.

Endive, Chicory, Escarole
Cultivation: Sow the seeds of these cool-season European greens 1/4 inch deep, 2 inches apart, April-August. Thin to 8-12 inches. Keep well-watered and shaded during warm weather to avoid bolting.
Soil/Sun: Well-worked seedbed. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Arugula, Radicchio.

Garlic
Cultivation: Best planted in fall or February. Place cloves 2 inches deep, point up, 4-6 inches apart. Keep well-weeded. Don't use supermarket cloves. Big cloves produce big bulbs, so don't plant the skinny, small cloves -- save them for cooking.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil (raised bed ideal) with full sun. Tolerates wide range of soil but prefers pH 6.2-6.8.
Suggested Varieties: Oregon Blue, Spanish Roja, Purple Italian, Elephant.

Kale
Cultivation: Plant seeds or transplants May-July. Seeds should be 1/4-1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart. Final spacing should be 12-18 inches. Drought-tolerant, but flavor suffers without plenty of watering. Flavor improves after a frost.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.5. Full sun to light shade.
Suggested Varieties: Tuscan, Redbor, Dwarf Siberian, Winterbor, Winter Red.

Kohlrabi
Cultivation: Plant seeds or transplants during April and early May. (Late May plantings will mature in hot weather, producing dry, woody bulbs.) Seeds should be planted 1/2 inch deep, 1/4 inch apart. Final spacing should be 6-10 inches. Needs plenty of water; consistent moisture greatly improves germination.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.5, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Superschmelz, Kongo, Grand Duke.

Leeks
Cultivation: Sow seeds in March or plant transplants in April. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart. Final spacing should be 4-6 inches. Plant leeks in trenches 8 inches deep and fill in soil as they grow to "blanch" the stems. Leeks require consistent watering for good yields.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Giant Musselburg, King Richard.

Lettuce
Cultivation: Plant seeds or transplants April-August. Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep, 1 inch apart. Final spacing should be 12 inches for head lettuce, 6 inches for leaf lettuce.
Soil/Sun: Prefers loose, well-drained, cool soil, but will tolerate a wide range. Sensitive to acidity; prefers pH 6.2-6.8. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Butterhead: Buttercrunch, Continuity, Optima. Leaf: Red Sails, Fire Mountain, Revolution. Crisphead, Summertime. Romaine: Cimarron, Valmaine.

Okra
Cultivation: Sow seeds or plant transplants mid-May to mid-June. Soak seeds in warm water for 6-12 hours to improve germination, then sow 1/4-1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart. Final spacing should be 12 inches.
Soil/Sun: Rich, well-drained soil. Full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Cajun Delight, Burgundy, Annie Oakley.

Onions
Cultivation: Plant seeds or transplants April-June. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, 1/2 inch apart. Final spacing should be 4 inches for larger bulbs, 2 inches for smaller bulbs (and higher yields). Onions require consistent, even watering for good yields.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.2-6.8. Full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Sweet Spanish, Walla Walla Sweet, Yellow Ebenezer, Red Burgermaster, Redwing.

Parsley
Cultivation: Plant seeds or transplants March-June. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 2-3 seeds per inch. Final spacing should be 8-10 inches.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Giant Italian, Curled Dwarf.

Parsnips
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart, April-July. Thin to 3-4 inches. Using fresh manure or high-nitrogen fertilizer will produce hairy roots. Hardy parsnips develop their best flavor after overwintering through many frosts.
Soil/Sun: Loose, well-drained, fertile soil free of stones. Heavy clay soil can cause crooked or cracked roots. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Gladiator, All American.

Peas
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1 inch deep, 1 inch apart in a 3-inch-wide band; space these rows 18 inches apart. Support with a trellis. Don't use high-nitrogen fertilizer.
Soil/Sun: Well-drained soil, pH 6.0-7.0. Full sun to light shade.
Suggested Varieties: Snow Peas: Oregon Sugar Pod, Oregon Giant. Sugar Snap Peas: Cascadia, Sugar Snap.

Peppers
Cultivation: Plant transplants May-June, 12-18 inches apart. Black plastic mulch will speed early growth and help warm the soil.
Soil/Sun: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Sweet Bell: California Wonder, Gypsy. Hot: Anaheim, Jalapeno, Ancho.

Potatoes
Cultivation: Plant spuds starting on St. Patrick's Day through June. Space 10-12 inches in rows 2 feet apart. Hill up soil over the growing foliage or mulch with straw to increase yields.
Soil/Sun: Potatoes prefer loose, well-drained, acidic soil (pH 4.8-5.5) and full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Yukon Gold, White Rose, Yellow Finn, Purple Peruvian, Red Pontiac.

Pumpkins
Cultivation: Plant transplants late May-early June in hills 4 feet apart. Water generously. Black plastic mulch can speed growth.
Soil/Sun: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil, pH 5.8-6.8, with full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Frosty, Small Sugar, Spirit, Cinderella.

Radish
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 1/2 inch apart, March-August. Thin to 1-1 1/2 inches. Radishes require plentiful, consistent watering.
Soil/Sun: Fertile, well-drained soil free of stones, pH 5.8-6.8. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Cherry Belle, Altaglobe, French Breakfast.

Rutabaga
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 2 inches apart, June-July 15. Thin to 6 inches. Flavor improves after frost.
Soil/Sun: Loose, well-drained soil, pH above 6.0. Tolerates low fertility. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Marian, Laurentian.

Spinach
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart, March-August. Thin to 6-12 inches by harvesting baby greens. Water generously; dry soil and heat encourage bolting.
Soil/Sun: Rich, well-drained soil. Sensitive to acidic soils; pH 6.5-7.5. Full to partial sun.
Suggested Varieties: Olympia, Bloomsdale, Tyee, Skookum.

Summer Squash, Zucchini
Cultivation: Plant seeds or transplants May 15-June 15. Sow seeds 1/2-1 inch deep in hills, 4-5 seeds per hill. Space hills 3-4 feet; thin seedlings to 2 per hill. Requires consistent watering for good fruit set. Black plastic mulch speeds growth. Seeds will rot in cold, wet ground.
Soil/Sun: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil, pH 5.8-6.8, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Squash: Yellow Crookneck, Sunburst, Butterstick. Zucchini: Gold Rush, Spacemiser.

Winter Squash
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1/2-1 inch deep in hills, 4-5 seeds per hill, May 15-June 15. Space hills 4-6 feet; thin seedlings to 2 per hill.
Soil/Sun: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil, pH 5.8-6.8, full sun.
Suggested Varieties: Gold Nugget, Acorn, Zenith Butternut, Waltham Butternut, Spaghetti.

Swiss Chard
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1/2-1 inch deep, 2-6 inches apart, April-July. Thin to 6-12 inches. Harvest leaves throughout the season to encourage new growth.
Soil/Sun: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil, pH 6.0-7.0. Full sun to partial shade.
Suggested Varieties: Rhubarb, Fordhook Giant, Bright Lights.

Tomatoes
Cultivation: Plant transplants May-June. Space determinate varieties 18-24 inches; space indeterminate varieties 20-30 inches. Place transplants with the lower leaf set just above soil level. Tomatoes should be staked or supported by a trellis.
Soil/Sun: Fertile, well-drained soil with full sun. Clays and loams produce higher yields, but loose soil warms faster and provides an earlier harvest. Prefers pH 6.0-6.8 but will tolerate acidic soils.
Suggested Varieties: Early: Oregon Spring, Willamette VF, Medford, Big Beef, Early Cascade. Sauce: Oregon Star, Principe Borghese. Cherry: Gold Nugget, Sun Gold, Isis Candy.

Turnips
Cultivation: Sow seeds 1/4-1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart, April-September. Thin to 4-6 inches. Flavor best if harvested during cool weather.
Soil/Sun: Fertile, loose, well-drained soil, pH 6.0-7.5. Full sun to partial shade.

Suggested Varieties: Purple Top White Globe, Scarlet Ball, Shogoin (greens).