OSU Farm Forum

Last night got cold and the next 4 nights also look cold down to 26-27 degress F. Be sure if you have any water sources, protected, AND let a faucet drip to keep the pipe water moving. Tree leaves make a good insulator.

Gardening season is slowing down, kind off. Apples and grapes are still in their prime. I just harvest a 12 inch cauliflower and have a 6 inch one still growing. Strange - my winter peas I plant 3 months ago just came up. Kind of late for growing but will see.
I have a nice crop of basil in the cold frame due to warmer conditions. Tomatoes - slowing down with salad, roma and cherry tomatoes.
I have a noxious w**d called leafy spurge which is around Lane County and other places. It is perennial, growing May thru October. However, the leafy spurge just started to grow less than a month ago, so it suppose to be dying, not being in full swing and growing strong. A strange year this year.

More good weather for the next 10 days. Highs around 53F, and lows 37F. Off and on again rain. Soil has risen to 46 degree F. So not good for warm plants yet. To cold of nights.
Soil is still very wet, and if clay, slimy.

Peach, prunes - blooming. Pears - 3-4 days from bloom. Apples took off this week and are pushing green leaves.

Peas up 6 inches. Broc., cauli and cabbage a bit slow and taking off but also 6 inches. Over wintered spinach and chard growing almost uncontrolled.

Garlic liking the sunny weather. I keep expecting the asparagus to show up but not yet.

April 1st - time to fertilize the fruit trees. The easy method is 6 inches of compost around the edge or drip line of the tree. Also apply 16N-16P-16K which has all the needed nutrients.

As the weather has been milder than normal, around April 15 may be a good time for warm season veggies. Keep a close watch on the early AM temps until May 15. Remember we are stilling wearing coats and sweat shirts in the AM's.

Control all of winter w**ds in raised beds and then add 4-6 inches of new compost.

New seedlings of parsnips, tomatoes and epazote. Testing out old seeds. the lettuce which is from 2008 is growing fine.