Gardening in the Willamette Valley Jeff Choate OSU Extension – Lane County Source: http://oregonconservationstrategy.org/ecoregions/ Outline
• Soil • Climate • Vegetables • Tree Fruit • Berries • Ornamentals • Pests • Resources Source: Manual for judging Oregon soils. Oregon State University Extension Service. Missoula Floods Source: http://www.museumofthecity.org/project/the-great-missoula-floods/ Oregon Soils
6 Google Earth + SoilWeb Earth Soil Percolation Test
• Dig a hole 2 to 3 feet deep and 6” to 12” wide. • Scuff the sides if they were glazed by the digging tool. • Fill the hole with water, then let it drain. • Fill the hole a second time and measure how much water drains per hour for several hours. • A rate of about 2 ” per hour is ideal, and 1-3” generally is okay. • Less than 1” per hour or significantly more than 3” per hour is problematic for perennial crops. Source: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/more_reasons_for_soil_testing Soil Testing “Without a soil analysis, it’s nearly impossible to determine what a soil needs in order to be productive.” USDA zone map Sunset Western Garden Book
“The Sunset system bases each of its climate zones on a broad range of factors, such as cold, heat, humidity, wind, proximity to the Pacific Ocean, snow cover, and length of the growing season.” Temperature & Precipitation Probability of Freezing - Spring Probability of Freeze - Fall Freeze-Free Days 2009-2017 Cumulative Evapo-Transpiration for Eugene, Oregon 25.00
20.00
15.00 2017 2016 2015 2014 10.00 2013 2012
Evapo-Transpiration (inches) Evapo-Transpiration 2011 2010 5.00 2009
0.00 3-Jul 2-Oct 9-Oct 5-Jun 7-Aug 4-Sep 10-Jul 17-Jul 24-Jul 31-Jul 1-May 8-May 12-Jun 19-Jun 26-Jun 14-Aug 21-Aug 28-Aug 11-Sep 18-Sep 25-Sep 15-May 22-May 29-May
Tree Fruits Berries OSU Landscape Plants PNW Handbooks Resources
• https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu • https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/soilweb-apps • https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu • https://pnwhandbooks.org • Sunset Western Garden Book • The Pacific Northwest Gardener’s Book of Lists • Territorial Seed Company • Raintree Nursery • One Green World