Behind the beauty of the High Desert, lie many factors that create challenges for Central Oregon gardeners. Learn how to work with cold weather, short seasons, dry summers and other elements that can affect your gardening success.
Unusually wet springs can lead to more plant disease and fungal growth in our gardens than is typically seen. However, not all wet-spring plant issues are diseases although they may look like them.
Nicole Sanchez |
Jun 2019 |
Article
Photo: Oregon State University (Cropped from original)
From the myth of collapsing root balls to the myth of compost tea - learn the facts about a range of tips you may have heard through the years about healthy soil, pretty mulch, and more.
Choose the right containers, soil and plants to keep your flowerpots blooming all season long. When choosing plants for container gardening, go for "thrillers," "fillers" and "spillers."
Seed packets have helpful information that assists vegetable gardeners in making the best choices for particular situations whether the goal is increased production, disease resistance, seed saving or quick maturity.
In areas with short growing seasons like the Klamath Basin, home vegetable gardeners should choose varieties that mature quickly. But even getting those plants to maturity may require some protection from the cold.
Red wigglers are the wonder worms of composting. In areas where naturally formed compost takes forever to develop, inviting actual worms into your home via vermicomposting may be worthwhile.
The best options for late-season plantings in areas with short growing seasons are vegetables that mature quickly or tolerate frost once mature. Many of the appropriate choices fall into the category of “leafy greens.”
When winter hits, the growing season may be over but work in the garden goes on. Here's how to winterize your garden and position it for a successful growing season.
Home gardeners can sometimes be too eager to get plants in the ground and that can spell failure. There are methods, however, to extend the growing season by providing plants with the protection they need from the cold.