Gardening in Portland area? (Medford, Cottage Grove: apartment, rent, landscaping)

[Letterhead]

Hi, I'd like to hear from vegetable and herb gardeners in this thread.

What plants grow best in the climate?

Are you able to successfully grow long-season items like eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, squash, onions, etc?

How do early cool-weather crops like broccoli, peas, spinach, etc. do?

Are there any restrictions on gardening, land use, water use, etc.?

Are there community gardens?

If you rent an apartment in someone's house, is it common to have use of part of the yard for gardening?

Is it temperate enough during the winter to grow some cool-weather items like kale year-round?

I probably have a bunch more questions but I'll save them for now

thanks!

[StealthRabbit]

You have lots of good questions. Portland is really a gardener's dream (except in the case of a long wet spring, l which can drown your stars) Summer requires irrigation for our 70 day dry spell.

there are promlems with leaf mold and slugs, and sometimes moles.

Check with the county extension service or "Master Gardeners", they will have all the details.

There are community gardens in Vancouver and Portland and suburbs. Some places allow (or even encourage) you to garden. That will really be dependent on landlord and thier previous results.

Container, and rooftop gardening is pretty popular.

[jread]

Great topic! I was also interested in this as well.

My wife and I love gardening but Austin is a very bad place for this. It's too hot for northern plants and too cold for tropical plants.... also, it doesn't rain enough. The soil is very, shallow, rocky and alkaline.

We're hoping that Portland's climate will lend to better plant selections and easier upkeep.

[PNW-type-gal]

For those of you not in the area yet, search on "Territorial Seed Company" and you'll get a garden company that's nationally famous, but Oregon/Willamette Valley centric (they're down in Cottage Grove). Just about everything in their catalog is for Northwest and Maritime Northwest gardeners, and you'll get a good idea about what plants grow here and what the planting seasons are. They tend to be vegetable/fruit oriented, but there is a lot of info on ornamental flowering plants as well. "Ed Hume" is another NW-centered company, and his catalog is good browsing material.

[Letterhead]

Thanks, good info. Anyone else have something to contribute?

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by Letterhead

Hi, I'd like to hear from vegetable and herb gardeners in this thread.

What plants grow best in the climate?

Are you able to successfully grow long-season items like eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, squash, onions, etc?

How do early cool-weather crops like broccoli, peas, spinach, etc. do?

Are there any restrictions on gardening, land use, water use, etc.?

Are there community gardens?

If you rent an apartment in someone's house, is it common to have use of part of the yard for gardening?

Is it temperate enough during the winter to grow some cool-weather items like kale year-round?

I probably have a bunch more questions but I'll save them for now

thanks!

You need to look up the Rainy Side Gardeners on Google

Its rare to see water restrictions, and its usually for lawns when it happens.

My life is landscaping and gardening - that's why I'm scramming from Medford, Oregon, back near Portland. Resources are scarce down here.

[fairweathergolfer]

How very lovely. I am the same (not professionally) and am contemplating a move to Portland from Los Angeles and was wondering about my gardening fetish or hobby or complete and utter love.

I once lived in Portland when I was very young and very naive (late teens)--LOL, but do remember the lovely roses and greenery. I like how it integrates both formal and natural styles so nicely. One of my favorites. So there are avid gardeners there as well?
Yipeee!!

Originally Posted by mdvaden

You need to look up the Rainy Side Gardeners on Google

Its rare to see water restrictions, and its usually for lawns when it happens.

My life is landscaping and gardening - that's why I'm scramming from Medford, Oregon, back near Portland. Resources are scarce down here.