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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

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

Blossom-end Rot of Tomatoes

Blossom-end rot appears as a large, gray to black spot at the blossom end of the tomato fruit, the end opposite the stem. This publication discusses the causes of blossom-end rot and suggests methods of prevention.

Iain C. MacSwan | Mar 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing Powdery Mildew in Greenhouse Tomato in Western Oregon

In the Pacific Northwest, tomatoes crucial for farm income face powdery mildew threats. Farmers combat with fungicides, posing challenges for organics. UV-C light offers promise in high tunnels, but research is needed for optimization and minimal impact on plant growth.

Kristine Buckland, Cynthia M. Ocamb, Ann Rasmussen, Lloyd Nackley | Jan 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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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

Extension research leads to change in the management of clover seed weevil

In collaboration with the Oregon Clover Commission, the Oregon State University weevil research team presented its results at four grower meetings and one OSU Extension-led workshop. Three Extension seed production reports were made available during 2020-2023.

Christy Tanner, Navneet Kaur | Apr 2024 | Impact story

OSU Extension supports small-scale and historically marginalized farmers

The Oregon Community Food Systems Network (OCFSN) has been an integral part of building and maintaining the institutional infrastructure essential for the network’s activities and topical working groups.

Lauren Gwin | May 2023 | Impact story

Developing Oregon’s winter vegetable market project fills need

The OSU Extension Small Farms Program has grown seven crops and 52 varieties for the winter vegetable project at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Aurora.

Alexandra Stone, Lane Selman, Nick Andrews | Apr 2023 | Impact story

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Upcoming Events

Apr 25

Entrenamiento sobre la prevención del suicidio de QPR para agricultores y ganaderos (en español)

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm PDT Online
Apr 26

QPR Suicide Prevention Training for the Agricultural Industry (in English)

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm PDT Online
May 4

Gardenfest Plant Sale

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Portland, OR
May 4

Benton County Master Gardener Association Annual Plant Sale and Clinic

9:00 am - 3:00 pm Corvallis, OR
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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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