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Vegetables and specialty seeds

Photo Credit: Alyson Yates (Cropped from original)

Winter Vegetable Production on Small Farms and Gardens West of the Cascades

By Nick Andrews Heather Stoven Heidi Noordijk Lane Selman Kelly Streit Brooke Edmunds Neil Bell and Victoria Binning

The mild climate west of the Cascades allows farmers and gardeners to grow many winter-hardy crops in the field for winter and spring harvest. A wide range of alliums, leafy greens, brassicas and root crops do well. For farmers, winter vegetable production can provide cash flow outside the normal summer cropping season, more consistent work for employees and year-round relationships with direct-market customers.

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Photo Credit: Alyson Yates (Cropped from original)

Latest Resources

2024 Green Pea Variety Trial Report

This report summarizes the results of the 2024 Green Pea Variety Trial conducted near Milton-Freewater, OR.

Cody Copp | Sep 2024 | Publication

Management Guidelines for the Clover Seed Weevil in Oregon White Clover Seed Production

Clover seed weevils feed on developing white clover seed, damaging the crop. This pest has become resistant to certain pesticides. Learn alternate management strategies.

Navneet Kaur, Grace Tiwari, Nicole Anderson, Dani Lightle, Christy Tanner, Seth Dorman | Jul 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Coastal small farms resources

The climate of the Oregon Coast creates unique growing conditions and challenges for small farmers. Check out these resources applicable to farmers on the coast.

Shannon Rauter, Evie Smith | Apr 2024 | Collection

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Seed Resources

  • Specialty Seed Production: A list of resources for specialty seed producers (i.e., not grass or wheat) focused on the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Some common specialty seeds we work with are beets and brassicas.
  • Vegetable and Specialty Seed IPM: About Oregon Vegetables and the Vegetable Cropping Systems Program.
  • Organic Seed Alliance: Organic Seed Alliance advances the ethical development and stewardship of the genetic resources of agricultural seed. We accomplish our mission through collaborative research, education, and advocacy programs that closely engage organic farmers and other seed professionals.

Featured Resources

Low Tunnels for Season Extension in Oregon: Design, Construction and Costs

Low tunnels are temporary structures designed to cover a single row of plants. They are made of plastic sheeting draped over hoops. Low tunnels protect crops from rain and extend the growing season. Learn how to build and install a low tunnel for your crops.

Javier Fernandez-Salvador, Erica Chernoh, Avery Pheil, Ken Poblador, Tessa Barker | Oct 2021 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Vegetable Degree-day Models: An Introduction for Farmers and Gardeners

Degree-days measure the amount of heat accumulated over time. Researchers have used years of this data to develop models that help farmers and gardeners predict harvest dates and other important events in select ...

Nick Andrews, Leonard Coop, Heather Stoven, Heidi Noordijk, Aaron Heinrich | Jan 2021 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Good Field Practices for Agricultural Workers

Luisa Santamaria and Maria Marlin

The Pacific Northwest is known for its high-quality produce. To preserve this reputation, all people involved in farm activities should be thoroughly trained in practices that promote health and hygiene. Farmworkers, growers, farm owners and trainers can use this bilingual manual to teach the importance of reducing the risk of food contamination by human pathogens.

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Latest News

Oregon researchers part of first-of-its-kind national research partnership in organic seed production

A coalition that includes three Oregon State University Extension Service researchers was awarded a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve organic seed production, both in the Pacific Northwest and nationally.

Henry Carnell | Oct 17, 2024 | News story

Oregon growers: This might be the droid you are looking for

Meet FarmDroid, an innovative solar-powered Danish agricultural technology introduced to Oregon farmers in a recent demonstration by Kristie Buckland, an OSU vegetable and specialty seed crop specialist and Pete Berry, an OSU weed ...

Henry Carnell | Oct 2, 2024 | News story

OSU engages with onion growers to demonstrate an alternative method for plastic waste reduction

Drip tape irrigation produces two million pounds of plastic waste each year in Malheur County. Luckily, two OSU Chemical Engineering faculty have been working on a process that could turn drip tape plastic into diesel fuel for growers’ tractors.

Henry Carnell | Aug 27, 2024 | News story

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Meet Our Experts

Photo of Nick in a vegetable field
Nick Andrews
Organic Vegetable Extension
Joe Battilega
Joe Battilega
Bio Science Research Tech , Vegetable, Specialty Seed Crops, & Farm Crew
Aaron Becerra-Alvarez
Assistant Professor

Weed science in vegetables and specialty seed crops

Kristine Buckland
Vegetable and Speciality Seed Crop Specialist
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Laws for u-pick and farm stands?

Q: I have a lavender farm in Clackamas county and I am wanting to open up to u-pick for the summer. We are zoned Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) I have not been able to get a clear understanding from the county on whether ...

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