Updated at: 14-01-2023 - By: Sienna Lewis

Cabbage, broccoli, beets, and other greens are some of the greatest vegetables to grow in Portland, Oregon. There are many beautiful waterfalls and hiking routes in the Portland, Oregon area. However, Portland is also recognized as a gardener’s paradise because of its abundance of green space. This is owing to the abundance of flora that thrives in the region.

Although the state of Oregon is known for its long-lasting cold periods, the weather is generally pleasant throughout the year. Growing your plants is affected by several additional elements in addition to temperature and irrigation.

Gardening activities, especially in the fall and winter, require careful consideration of the location. The microclimate and the local climate must be adapted by your plants if you want them to live.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can help you determine your region’s climate and hardiness zone. You may check what kinds of plants thrive best where you live, as well as the average low temperatures, on this map. Summers in Portland tend to be hot and dry, while the winters can be bitterly cold.

What Vegetables Grow Best in Spring?

The weather in the Pacific Northwest in the spring is consistently chilly and rainy, as is typical of the region. Tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-loving veggies are clearly out of season at this time of year. Other vegetables, on the other hand, benefit from the quantity of rain and cool temperatures. For the most part, root vegetables and leafy greens are perfect for the upcoming Spring season. If you enjoy salads, then the Spring is the time to enjoy them.

Arugula, Spinach, Lettuce, Kale, Chard, and Collard Greens are some of my favorite Leafy Greens to plant. Bok Choi, Mustard, and Mizuna, all Asian greens, are all excellent alternatives.

Radishes and turnips are spring favorites for root vegetables. There are radishes that can be harvested within a month after being planted from seed. While it takes longer for carrots and beets to mature, the chilly spring months are ideal for their growth.

Oregon Vegetable Planting Calendar: month-wise chart, guide, schedule for season, and zones

Peas (‘Sugar Snap’, ‘Snow’, and ‘Shelling’), Fava Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cilantro, and Parsley are some of the other vegetables that grow in Spring.

Should I grow from seeds or from starts?

If you want to cultivate root veggies, you’ll get the best results if you start them from seed and then transplant them into the garden. Seeds and nursery starts work well for salad greens, which are typically eaten raw. During the winter months, many seeds are difficult to germinate, therefore I prefer to plant the first succession of leafy vegetables from starters and then re-plant these vegetables from seeds in April.

When Can I Start Planting???

Around the 15th of March, I start planting the majority of these vegetables. Seeds of pea and fava bean can germinate even when the ground is cold. Do not hesitate to plant early if the weather in early March turns out to be unusually warm and bright. It is also possible to plant a week or two later if the weather is extremely chilly throughout the month of March.

Another advantage of planting early in the Spring is that the veggies can be collected in time to sow a second crop. It’s especially helpful if you have a small backyard.

Do you feel like you have a new lease on life? The time is now to get started on your spring veggie garden! Plant your spring vegetable garden this year by gathering seeds, preparing the soil, and planting them! The wealth of leafy greens and luscious roots will soon be yours to take home.

Greetings from the Garden of Eden!

Best Vegetables to Grow in Portland Oregon

As far as vegetables go, Portland, Oregon has some of the best ones:

Broccoli

In Portland, Oregon, it’s simple to grow broccoli. Broccoli thrives in milder climates and isn’t a lover of extreme temperatures. Starting with seedlings, you can cultivate it as a transplant. The problem is that broccolis require a lot of water to grow. During the growing season, the soil should be kept moist.

Pests like cabbage worms, root maggots, and aphids are drawn to broccoli, so keep an eye out for them.

Beets

Both beets and broccoli can only be grown in the cooler months of the year. They can even withstand temperatures as low as -35 degrees F. Two months after planting, you can begin harvesting beets from a well-prepared plot of land. Unlike other plants, cultivating beets means you’re not concerned with pests and diseases.

Greens

Portland’s chilly environment makes it difficult to grow greens, but it’s possible. Spinach, arugula, kale, and chard are just a few of the green leafy crops that thrive in Portland’s climate. Make sure your soil is rich in nitrogen if you’re growing greens primarily for their leaves. They will grow quickly if you remember to water them as well. The leaves of your plant may become rough if it develops slowly.

Greens can be grown in Portland, but greenhouses are the best place for them to thrive. This protects your plants from rain and hail by keeping them dry and clean.

Lettuce

Portland, Oregon, is a great place to grow lettuce. You can directly plant the seeds in your garden, but it’s easier if you do it indoors first. Germination of lettuces does not necessitate exposure to direct sunshine. The seedlings are very easily transplanted.

lettuce, like other greens, has to be protected from strong rain and hail. To grow the best lettuce, your soil needs to be moist all the time and rich in nitrogen. Otherwise, the flavor will be sour.

Cabbage

Cabbage thrives in cool weather as well. If you grow them in a humid environment, you run the risk of their heads splitting before you can harvest them. As a result, the soil should be rich in nitrogen, and the cabbage should be watered frequently.

Carrots

Carrots prefer to be planted in loose, deep soil in the spring and fall, when temperatures are cool. If you plant your carrots in thick soil, they will take longer to mature, resulting in unappealing and tough roots. When planting carrots, the soil should be kept moist at all times so that the surface does not become crusted over. To keep the coconut fibers moist, sprinkle them over top.

Tomatoes

It is essential that tomatoes get at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day. It’s recommended to transplant these plants rather than sow them directly into the garden because they have a long growing season. Sweet tomatoes can only be grown with the correct amount of sunlight and heat. Grow tomatoes in greenhouses because Oregon’s climate is cooler, and you can better manage the temperature.

Cucumbers

Easy to grow, cucumbers are. As a rule, they want to be warm and need a little wind protection. Trellis them up to keep the fruit straight and tidy in the greenhouse. Starting seeds indoors at 75–80 degrees Fahrenheit is preferable to starting them in cold soil.

The description of the cucumber in the catalog should make it obvious that it will produce fruit without pollination.

The bitterness of previous types has been bred out through the process of cross-breeding. The best and easiest cucumbers to grow are seedless types with all-female flowers that do not necessitate pollination. They should be explicitly stated in the catalog description that they are self-pollinating. Sweet Success, Diva, and Cool Breeze are a few to keep an eye out for. In the greenhouse, English cucumbers do best; seed can be pricey, but it’s well worth it. Pepinex or Socrates hybrids and open-pollinated “Tall Telegraph” are good places to start your search for new plants..

Powdery mildew and 12-spot or striped cucumber beetles are two of the most common issues. Flea beetles are also fond of them.

Eggplant

More heat is required for this crop than for peppers or tomatoes.

Eggplants are a difficult plant to grow for many home gardeners in the area.

Few local gardeners have been able to succeed. If you do decide to try them, simply prepare them like you would a pepper. For the greatest results, stick to Asian cultivars that aren’t too large.

Garlic

Garlic is an easy crop to cultivate. Garlic is a clone, meaning it doesn’t blossom and doesn’t produce real seed.

It is possible to find garlic with a soft neck or a firm neck. There are multiple layers of little cloves on the delicate necks, and this is what you’ll find in the grocery store. Large bulbs with fewer and larger cloves are typically produced by hard necks. This kind has a strong stem in the middle. When these stalks have completed one curl, they should be discarded so that the energy can be used to create enormous bulbs. Stir-frying these sweet stalks brings out the best in their natural sweetness.

Garlic should be harvested after half of its leaves have turned yellow.

In order for garlic to thrive, it needs a lot of sunlight and prefers loose, well-limed soil and moderate nutrients. Plant in October on 5-inch centers for the next summer’s yield. Mulch the bed to keep weeds at bay. Don’t water after June 1st! When half of the leaves begin to turn yellow, remove them from the ground as soon as possible. Check for clove development in the bulb if in doubt.

Hang in a warm, dry spot for about a month with the leaves still attached. Trim the roots and tops of the plants. Store at 60 degrees Fahrenheit in a dry, dark area away from direct sunlight. An unobtrusive closet in the house is ideal. Refrigeration can help break dormancy and encourage development. For fall planting, save the largest cloves for seed.

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Greens

Our chilly environment is ideal for a wide variety of greens. They are particularly useful in the cloche for spring and fall crops, where they are protected from rain and hail. The majority of people are able to be transplanted successfully.

Toughness, a strong flavor or bolting can occur if greens grow too slowly.

What you need to keep in mind is that you’re growing them for their leafy parts, so they’ll need a lot of nitrogen and water. Slow growth might lead to toughness, a strong flavor, or even a bolt. Because most greens mature quickly, they will bolt regardless of the weather. To ensure a constant supply, succession planting is required. Sow seeds every two weeks or so.

Slugs and flea beetles love them all.

Lettuce

Lettuce can be grown in cloches or outside in the summer in our location. It is possible to direct seed lettuce, but it is very simple to start it indoors. Bright light but no direct sunlight or heat is required for it to sprout. They may be easily transplanted, making them extremely difficult to kill. Protecting lettuce from heavy rain and hail is similar to protecting other sensitive greens. Without sufficient nitrogen and regular moisture, lettuce will bolt and become bitter.

Bolt resistance and heat tolerance are built into several of the newest lettuce cultivars.

A wide variety of lettuces are available, ranging from baby lettuce to full-sized heads in a variety of colors and textures. Some newer types have been bred to be more resistant to bolts and heat. Because lettuce doesn’t cross-pollinate, you can keep seeds of your favorite varieties. Set half of the seeds out, and save the other half to be planted a week or two later, to ensure a regular supply.

Slugs are the most troublesome pest; once they’ve crawled in, there’s no getting them out. After the lettuce is planted, set up a fish trap and keep an eye on it frequently.

Onions

Onions prefer light soil with plenty of organic content and need direct sunlight. For the largest onions, plant them on 6-inch centers. Seed-grown onions are better than sets for a number of reasons. Onion seedlings are more susceptible to illness and more likely to generate blossom stalks than other types of vegetables. A variety of sizes and shapes can be achieved with onions grown from seed. They’re simple to get going on, even for beginners. Plant in deep pots in March for strong, long roots.

Long-day and short-day onions are the two varieties of onion that exist. Long-day varieties are required at our latitude because day length affects bulbing. It is possible to create new day neutral varieties that are not affected by day duration and can grow to enormous sizes.

Keep your onion beds free of weeds, which will rob them of nutrients and water.

With shallow roots, onions can only take in an inch of water every week. Keep beds free of weeds, which will rob them of nutrients and water. Onions are generally trouble-free, but onion maggots may cause havoc. If the roots of the onions aren’t growing well, use insecticide and check the roots again.

Bend the rest of the onion tops over and leave for a few days in late summer when half of them have fallen over. An enzyme in the onion’s neck instructs it to go into dormancy. With care, remove the tops of the onions. Hang in a dry, warm location to dry out. Trim the roots and cut the tops to 1 inch. When it comes to how long onions may be stored, it depends on the type of onion. Cool, dry conditions are ideal for storing.

Peas

Peas can be planted just about everywhere in our region, although they do best when shielded from the wind. Shelling peas, sugar pod peas, and snap peas are all options. Oregon State University has created a slew of new types.

Damp two layers of paper towels in a tray and start pre-sprouting in the house when the soil is wet and cold Don’t drown them, but don’t let them dry out either. Place on top of a prepared bed and cover with compost or soil when the root is visible (after four–five days). Use an insecticide sprinkling before planting out at this time to safeguard the fragile seeds.

From the end of winter until the middle of summer, you can count on a steady supply of peas if you plant them every few weeks.

String and stakes are good options for pea supports, but whatever the peas can hold on to works. They will become easy prey for crawling insects, sickness, and dirt if they are left unsupported.

Despite the prevalence of powdery mildew, it can be prevented with adequate air circulation. Pea enation mosaic virus is propagated by aphids, which feed on peas. Aphids are still a problem, even with newer kinds that have a built-in resistance or tolerance to this disease.

From the end of winter until the middle of summer, you can count on a steady supply of peas if you plant them every few weeks.

Peppers, sweet or hot

The optimal growing conditions for peppers are in full sun and a warm climate. Even if you have a strong cover, growing them near the coast may not be a good idea. However, if you’re looking for a quick and easy method of growing hot peppers, you may want to look elsewhere.

They are heavy feeders and require a balanced diet as well as regular watering. Selecting a sweet variety should be based on whether or not it is suitable for a chilly environment.

Allowing peppers to mature to their maximum color and ripeness yields the sweetest peppers.

A little tomato cage works perfectly for providing support to plants. However, any red pepper variety can be used to cultivate green peppers. Allowing peppers to mature to their maximum color and ripeness yields the sweetest peppers.

Slugs and aphids both enjoy the peppers and leaves. Peppers, like tomatoes, are susceptible to the same illnesses.

Potatoes

Anywhere in our region, potatoes thrive in our coastal climate. They’re easy to grow and thrive in sandy soil, requiring only a little amount of fertilizer and water to thrive. Skin and meat come in a wide variety of hues and shades; yellow-tinged varieties appear buttery. There are several varieties, from tiny fingerlings to enormous lunkers, with a wide range of textures and flavors. Some are great at baking or mush, while others have a waxy or solid texture.

Keep the soil acidic in the area where you wish to grow potatoes to prevent the spread of scab disease. Potatoes with scabs are edible, despite their unappetizing appearance.

As long as the ground isn’t frozen, potatoes can regrow.

Planting potatoes can begin as early as mid-March. Despite the fact that they are not tolerant of frost, they will regrow if they are. Potatoes that receive too much water and fertilizer will grow too quickly and develop a condition known as hollow heart. You can tell if someone has a hollow heart by looking at their chest.

flea beetles and wireworms are potato pests. A light coating of insecticide on the leaves will help reduce flea beetles, which feed on the pinholes in the leaves and lay eggs that, when hatched, will burrow into the potato. The larvae of click beetles, known as wire worms, can similarly eat flesh and damage it. Make sure you know what these creatures look like and eliminate them as soon as they appear.

Pumpkins and winter squash

Small, early pumpkins are best when grown near the seashore with some wind shelter. To produce sweet flesh, winter squash must be produced in a farm in the interior of the country. Big fruits can be produced if the soil is rich and the water supply is enough. Some of the more recent hybrids have a wonderful flavor.. Beautiful heirlooms can be found from all around the world.

You’ll get a jump on the extended growing season by starting your pumpkins and squash indoors.

Direct seeding is an option for pumpkins and squash, but beginning them indoors will allow you to take advantage of the long growing season. If treated correctly, they can readily be transplanted.

Our climate is plagued by powdery mildew, which prevents plants from converting sunlight into sugar. It must be prevented so that the squash or pumpkin can grow to its full size and ripen to its full flavor.

Pollination is required for all squash varieties. The absence of bees or the presence of a single plant can cause difficulties in pollination. If you have a larger number of plants, your chances of seeing a male and a female blossom open on the same day are higher. Use a brush to move ripe pollen from the male blossom to the female blossom about noon. Unlike the male blossom, the female blossom bears a little fruit.

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Before the first frost, harvest and store your produce in a cool, dry place. Depending on the variety, it could take as long as a month for the squash to reach its peak sweetness.

Summer squash

Almost any type of summer squash can be grown near the coast as long as the wind is kept at a minimum. When it comes to squash, solid nutrition and plenty of water are essential. Squash grows quickly, so picking them regularly is essential if you want to ensure a steady supply.

Having just one squash plant to pollinate is the most difficult part.

Summer squash cross-pollination is common. Pollination is the most difficult task if you are only growing one type of plant. To ensure that both the male and female flowers open simultaneously, plant at least two or three plants. Plant a few more varieties if you don’t want to grow all zucchinis; there are numerous colors and varieties to select from. Crosses made from saved seeds will be particularly interesting.

Slugs and beetles pose a threat to young plants. Most pests won’t bother plants until they’ve grown large. Squash is plagued by powdery mildew in our climate, which must be treated to ensure continued harvests. Mildew resemblances on the leaves of some cultivars are unintentional, though.

Tomato Growth Type

The type of growth of a tomato variety is the most essential consideration when making a selection.

A few types of determinate varieties are dwarfs that don’t require much maintenance. A single crop of fruit is produced by this variety. If you live near the coast or in a cloche, you should grow determinate tomatoes.

Until killed by frost, indeterminate cultivars continue to grow taller and produce more blooms and fruit. Pruning is also necessary to keep them in check. They can quickly outgrow a cloche or other container. The majority of “heirloom” tomatoes are indeterminate, which means they may develop enormous plants and may take a long time to ripen.

Both space and fruit ripeness are important considerations when growing a 6- or 7-foot plant. You might choose to cultivate a determinate variety if you live near the ocean because it will produce more fruit. In November, you don’t require a massive plant with an abundance of green fruit.

There should be some sort of support for each tomato so it doesn’t fall to the ground. For an uncertain variety, be prepared to provide the necessary infrastructure support. In order to prevent the cage from falling over when they are planted outside, you will need to use at least two robust stakes to hold the cage in place.

Tomato Diseases

Several illnesses can affect tomatoes. As a result, they’re difficult to recognize and not widespread in our region. When the weather is exactly right, a destructive fungus known as late blight can appear, usually at the end of the growing season. It all begins with a single gray spot on a leaf, but it soon spreads. The leaves become scorched, and the fruits begin to rot and die as a result. There is no way to reverse the disease.

Taking preventative measures is the best way to go! Using both organic and conventional sprays on a regular basis can help maintain plants healthy and strong. There are other types that are resistant to some diseases, but not to this one.

If you have recently smoked, do not smoke around or handle plants. Cigarettes can carry the tobacco mosaic virus, which infects tomatoes. Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves by not irrigating from above.

Dispose of or burn any sick plant components that you find. Composting tomato and potato trimmings from the supermarket is not recommended. You should avoid composting any tomato or potato portions because they are both susceptible to the same infections. Rotate your crops as often as possible.

Blossom end rot is an ailment, not a disease, according to the CDC. It’s a calcium deficit brought on by water that’s either not consistent or is too little. You can see it on the blossom end as a dry, leathery brown rash. The tomato is unaffected by the blemish.

Growing Crops in a Greenhouse

Greenhouses allow you to manage the temperature inside the greenhouse, regardless of the present weather conditions outside the greenhouse. Your garden may now thrive with a wide variety of plants that would otherwise not be able to thrive in your location. Customizing your greenhouse can be done with a heating and cooling system, lighting and shading, and ventilation.

You may create climate zones in larger greenhouses by dividing them. You may cultivate a wide variety of plants in the same structure this way.

If it’s going to be cold, many plants won’t make it, so be careful to get your harvest as soon as you can. Baskets, burlap, blankets, and canvas sacks can all be used to keep immature fruits safe from light frost. Pests and diseases are more likely to attack your leafy plants in Oregon because of the state’s rainy climate.

Slugs and leaf diseases thrive in moist soil, which is a problem when it rains a lot. Using greenhouses will keep your garden free of harmful pests, rain, wind, and hail.

The following are some additional benefits of growing plants in a greenhouse:

  • more time to harvest.
  • establish an environment that is conducive to growth
  • without the use of harmful pesticides
  • conserve power

Check Out Greenhouses from Krostrade

The weather of Portland, Oregon, makes it difficult to grow the best veggies in the city. Your plants’ growth might be slowed by low temperatures, wind, and rain. Portland’s hot summers, on the other hand, have the potential to burn your tender crops. To ensure a good harvest despite the chilly weather, it is essential to adapt your plants to the temperature.

Consider a year-round greenhouse if you want to raise the best produce in Portland, Oregon. Affordable and high-quality greenhouses from Krostrade are available to home and garden enthusiasts alike. Because they are built of galvanized steel, our greenhouses can survive even the most extreme weather conditions. Call or email us if you have any questions about the things we sell.