Carol Savonen

Special to the Statesman Journal

Question: How do you decide what to grow in your vegetable garden each year? I have gotten several catalogs, and I am overwhelmed with all the choices. Any strategies you have would be appreciated! Thanks.

Answer: How I choose what to grow in my vegetable garden each year is based upon:

Past results. I have learned that some things just don’t work for me in my Coast Range microclimate, which is cooler and wetter and less sunny than the Willamette Valley floor. For example, eggplant has never panned out, no matter how I’ve tried with cloches and black plastic mulch. So I get eggplants from my friend who lives on a south-facing slope in Corvallis. Whereas, she can’t grow potatoes, brassicas or fennel in her warm garden, but I sure can in my cooler garden.

I have learned that some things just don’t work for me in my Coast Range microclimate, which is cooler and wetter and less sunny than the Willamette Valley floor. For example, eggplant has never panned out, no matter how I’ve tried with cloches and black plastic mulch. So I get eggplants from my friend who lives on a south-facing slope in Corvallis. Whereas, she can’t grow potatoes, brassicas or fennel in her warm garden, but I sure can in my cooler garden. Future possibilities. Each year, I read Pacific Northwest-based seed catalogs and websites to see what new varieties they have introduced. Most companies test varieties for at least a year before they release a new variety. There are many fun new varieties introduced over the past few years by local companies. Favorites include: colored carrots, fancy colored lettuces and roasting peppers.

Each year, I read Pacific Northwest-based seed catalogs and websites to see what new varieties they have introduced. Most companies test varieties for at least a year before they release a new variety. There are many fun new varieties introduced over the past few years by local companies. Favorites include: colored carrots, fancy colored lettuces and roasting peppers. Local seed companies. I usually stick with local companies because they are growing and breeding varieties conditions similar to mine. Our dry summers, wet winters, clay soils and cool night temperatures are unique to this part of the continent. My favorites include: Territorial Seed Company, Adaptive Seed Company and Wild Garden Seed. I also like Johnny’s Seed Company, even though they are in Maine. Johnny’s purchases many varieties of its seed that they sell from Oregon producers.

Potatoes and tomatoes grow together in one plant

Self-sowing volunteers. Some vegetables plant themselves from year to year. I go with it. Chard, kale, arugula and lettuce do this well for me.

Some vegetables plant themselves from year to year. I go with it. Chard, kale, arugula and lettuce do this well for me. Friends’ help. Two friends and I share the decision making, seed starting and growing. I have learned that it is way more fun to divvy up a huge seed order and the subsequent growing out of starts with my gardening friends. The three of us get together and order seeds each January. We each make a list of what we want to grow again from last year. We check our respective seed inventories. Some seeds remain viable for a few years like squash, tomatoes and peppers. Others, like onions and parsnips, don’t fare so well after a year, so we order fresh seed. Then we all decide what we want to grow that’s new and order those. Usually we order from five or six companies. We split up responsibilities for ordering. When the orders come in, we meet and divvy up seeds and varieties. Each of us specializes in starting different things, then share our starts with each other. For example, I start the alliums and brassicas from seed.

Two friends and I share the decision making, seed starting and growing. I have learned that it is way more fun to divvy up a huge seed order and the subsequent growing out of starts with my gardening friends. The three of us get together and order seeds each January. We each make a list of what we want to grow again from last year. We check our respective seed inventories. Some seeds remain viable for a few years like squash, tomatoes and peppers. Others, like onions and parsnips, don’t fare so well after a year, so we order fresh seed. Then we all decide what we want to grow that’s new and order those. Usually we order from five or six companies. We split up responsibilities for ordering. When the orders come in, we meet and divvy up seeds and varieties. Each of us specializes in starting different things, then share our starts with each other. For example, I start the alliums and brassicas from seed. Sharing the bounty. I may not be successful at growing heat-loving eggplants or sweet potatoes, but I trade some of my surplus squash, potatoes, broccoli and lettuce for heat-loving veggies.

More:3 tomato varieties on one plant?

That all said, each and every year has been different in terms of weather, diseases, pests, soil conditions and how much I’m able to be there and work my butt off in the garden. This year will be a challenge as I broke my leg severely and have 12 pieces of hardware below my right knee. I haven’t set foot out in the yard since early October. It is a mess. But, like life, gardening is a constant learning experience. Even after 22 years growing food and flowers on the same ground, I still look forward to the coming growing season by this time each year.

Carol Savonen is a naturalist and writer. She is an associate professor emeritus at OSU and tends a large garden in the Coast Range Hills west of Philomath with her husband and dogs. She can be reached at Carol.Savonen@oregonstate.edu or c/o: EESC, 422 Kerr Admin. Bldg., OSU, Corvallis, OR 97331.

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