[Seedgeeks] lets try the calendar again

[kris dicus]

            GARDENING CALENDAR FOR THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY
                                            January
This is a pretty relaxed time for gardeners.  The ground is wet and cold - not very inviting for young seedlings.  If you have a greenhouse or cold frame, however, you can get a head start.  Plant cool weather varieties of lettuce, spinach and mustards. Enjoy the downtime by planning and mapping.  Start looking for new garden catalogs!
                                            February
More rain.  If you have space indoors you can start sowing broccoli and cauliflower for spring transplanting.  This is also a good time to separate and transplant asparagus roots to a permanent bed.  After the 15th of the month you can sow peas, fava beans and spinach.
                                              March
Indoor space is probably becoming harder to come by, but if you have room you can start peppers, eggplants and tomatoes in a sunny window.  For the entire month you can direct sow peas, fava beans, lettuce, spinach, salad greens, asparagus seed, mustard and related Oriental greens, kale, radish, parsley, bunching and bulb onions, scallions and short variety carrots.  After the 15th start transplanting the broccoli and cauliflower from February sowings.  Also any lettuce, spinach or mustard that you may have started in cold frames or greenhouses can be transplanted out now.  The 17th of March (St. Patrick’s Day) is the traditional day to get your first round of potatoes in the ground.  Longer days are a welcome addition to the rain.  Spring is right around the corner.
                                                April
The days are getting longer and sunnier!  This is when things in the garden really start to show signs of life!  Be on the look out for slugs and snails - they love those tender greens as much as we do.  Giving your garden a spring boost with some rich compost will really make a difference this month.  Work in a handful or two around your transplants and give your perennials a top dressing.  This is the time to really get started on some of the summer varieties.  You can continue direct sowing peas, scallions, spinach (summer varieties), beets, turnips, radish, bunching onions, kohlrabi, chard, lettuce, salad mixes, broccoli, cabbage, kale, parsley, sorrel, cauliflower, more potatoes, radishes and leeks.  The first two weeks of the month are a good time to transplant cauliflower and broccoli seedlings from February sowing and to start some basil seedlings indoors.  You can also start the first of the quick season tomatoes outside.  After the 15th of the month start transplant
 ing onion seedlings, early leeks and tomatoes from March sowing.  Sow celery, celeriac and bulb onions in place outdoors.
                                                   May
May is when I really start to feel summer coming.  Expect lots of rain and hope for lots of sun.  It is usually a nice combination of both.   This is the month to start some “real” summer crops like flowers and the varieties from the cucurbit family.  Outdoors you can sow cauliflower, cabbage, beets, radishes, chard, kale, more salad, carrots, lettuce, broccoli, winter leeks, beets, scallions, potatoes and spinach.  The first of the month is a good time to start most of your flower and herb seeds (snapdragon, nasturtium, sunflower, cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, lupine, calendula, echinacea, elecampane, oregano, mugwort, thyme and spilanthes).  The third and fourth weeks of May you should be planting snap and dry beans, summer and winter squash, sweet corn, basil, dill.  Transplant any tomatoes that are left in pots, celery and celeriac.  You should also be starting cucumbers, melons and pumpkins indoors or in a greenhouse.  Hooray for May!
                                                June
This is a busy month.  The weeds are growing as fast or faster than the vegetables and flowers.  Keeping up with weeding is a must this time of year when competition for garden space is at a premium.  Make sure that you have some mulch to lay down  - this will keep weeds at bay and moisture in the soil.  You can use grass clippings, leaves or straw (not hay as it contains seed heads).  Make sure that your soil is sufficiently moist when you put your mulch down.  Mulch can be a harbor for some insects and fungi, so try to leave just a little space around the stems of the plants.  The entire month of June can be devoted to plantings of cucumbers, summer squash, melons, snap beans, beets, chard, carrots, lettuce, salad mixes, brussels sprouts, scallions, fall broccoli and fall and winter cabbage and cauliflower.  In the first 10-14 days of June plant late-season corn, basil and a final round of potatoes for fall harvest.  After the 15th, you can transplant out your peppers and e
 ggplants.  It is starting to get hot and most of the early spring greens will start bolting (going to seed) about now.  This is a great time to learn about seed saving and Suzanne Ashworth has written a wonderful book on the subject called Seed to Seed (which we do offer).  
                                                July
July is hot (for me!) and dry with average high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80’s and rainfall  down to a meager .5 to .75 inches.  If you have areas that get partial shade you can plant some warm weather lettuce, kale, chard and mustard.  Transplant your winter leeks into their final growing destination.  During the first two weeks in July you can plant parsnips, carrots, kohlrabi, bush snap beans, scallions, winter beets and overwintering cauliflower.  The third and fourth weeks, sow rutabaga, kale, spinach, overwintering broccoli.  Watering in July should be done consciously - remember: duration, not frequency.  This will force the roots to dig deep to find water instead of growing laterally and drying up too quickly.  Mulch, mulch, mulch!!
                                                August
August is usually too hot to do much sowing or planting.  Weeds will probably be growing the fastest in your garden.  Keep on top of them.  A few things that should be planted include endive, arugula and looseleaf winter lettuce.  After the 15th you can plant chard, broccoli, fast growing spinach and overwintering bulb onions.  Watch for ripe tomatoes and start making room in your freezer for basil pesto and blanched vegetables.  It’s hard to believe that fall is just around the corner again....
                                             September
September brings some cooler days and a little more moisture.  Its time to start thinking about some fall greens and cover crops.  Fava beans can be sown all month.  These will be turned into the soil in the early spring to add a boost of nitrogen to the young sprouts when they need it the most.  During the 1st thru the 15th, sow baby salad greens (mesclun mixes), endive, arugula, corn salad, walla walla onions, shallots and of course garlic and more garlic.  Remember though, garlic won’t be ready to harvest until next midsummer so make sure that you don’t grow it in areas where you plan on having spring sowings.  This is also a good time to build up your compost piles.  Use all that green foliage from tomatoes, peppers, squash etc...  We have successfully “cooked” compost through the winter (in cold, high desert temperatures) using bales of straw as insulation.  For a small garden 4 bales square stacked 2 high should be sufficient.  Cover the pile with a tarp or an old windo
 w and frame to trap heat and moisture.
                                             October
This is the best time for planting “green manures.”  These are nitrogen fixing crops grown solely to be worked into the soil in the spring.  Not only do these plantings protect the soil from being compacted by winter rains, they will also add organic matter and nutrients to the soil once they are turned into the garden beds.  Some of the best green manures to grow are fava beans, crimson clover, field peas and vetch.  You can still plant your garlic if you didn’t get it in in September. 

----------------
Sign up for our BACKPACKER.com's FREE newsletter and learn about new hiking getaways, gear, and outdoor skills. Go to: http://www.backpacker.com/newsletter