According to the USDA Zone map, the Willamette Valley is considered Zone 8, or more specifically 8b (due to average low temps). Here where I live though, our last frost dates are usually around Mother’s Day (which is more like zone 7!). Warm summer crops need soil temps in the 60’s – 70’s, which we are hard pressed to have until late May/early June really. In the Autumn, we’ve had frosts happen mid October so I use that as the guidelines on the other end of things.
Additionally, I found this website which actually puts us in Zone 6 here (their table stating last frost date as May 15, and first frost date as Oct 15, which is more what we are). I swear no site can agree on anything, and then throw in microclimates haha. I also like to follow the Oregon State University Extension Monthly Garden Calendar for ideas as well. Portland Nursery has a great resource for when to plant and I used it to also fill in this chart (especially with the best ways to plant and the less great ways, but they can still be done).
Now we will throw in Moon Phase gardening. Plant leafy vegetables and grasses (including broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach etc) during the early waxing moon (New moon through First Quarter moon). Plant annuals with seeds in the fruit (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squashes, melons, corn etc) during the later waxing moon (First Quarter moon through the Full moon). Plant root crops (onions, garlic, beets, carrots, etc), bulbs, tubers, perennials, trees, shrubs (and prune plants) during a early waning moon (Full moon through the Last Quarter moon). Do weeding, mulching, maintenance, etc during the later waning moon (Last Quarter moon through the New moon).
Now you can take it another step further if you’re into astrology and add in the zodiac sign the moon is in along with it’s phase. That’s just more complicated than I want to get, however, so I just use the phases and what time I have available. Good enough!
(If you see BOLD, that means it’s the best time to plant it. If you see ITALICS, that means it’s not the most ideal time to plant that item, but it can be done.)
| Month | Best Moon Phase Dates to Plant | What to Plant |
| Jan | After 2:04pm Jan 3rd to before 7:49pm Jan 9th | Start indoors: onion seeds, leeks, scallions Outdoors: radishes |
| After 7:49pm Jan 10th to before 11:53pm Jan 17th | Let the garden rest, mulch if needed | |
| After 11:53pm Jan 18th to before 8:48am Jan 25th | Start indoors: Arugula, endive, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach | |
| After 8:48am Jan 26th to before 2:08am Feb 1st | Indoors: Dwarf annual flowers (coleus, impatiens and seedling geraniums, etc) as houseplants Start indoors: Fava beans, peas | |
| Feb | After 2:08am Feb 2nd to before 4:44pm Feb 8th | Start indoors: leeks, onion seeds Transplant: garlic seed, scallions, onion seed Outdoors: asparagus, scallions, garlic cloves, onion seeds, onion sets, onion bunches, chives, parsley, sage, oregano, rosemary, Bare-root trees & shrubs (especially fruit trees, roses and other deciduous shrubs). Prune grapes, trailing blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, fruit trees, roses, vining ornamentals. |
| After 4:44pm Feb 9th to before 4:02pm Feb 16th | Let the garden rest, mulch & weed if needed | |
| After 4:02pm Feb 17th to before 4:28pm Feb 23rd | Start Indoors: cauliflower, broccoli, celery, Swiss chard, endive, kale, lettuce | |
| After 4:28pm Feb 24th to before 3:36pm Mar 2nd | Start Indoors: eggplant, peppers, tomatoes Outdoors: peas, sweet peas, fava beans Transplant: peas | |
| Mar | After 3:36pm Mar 3rd to before 2:39pm Mar 10th | Start indoors: leeks, scallions Transplant: green onions Outdoors: scallions, garlic cloves, asparagus, rhubarb, Berry crops (strawberries, currants, gooseberry, blueberry, cane berries, etc), chives, parsley, sage, oregano, rosemary Prune fall-bearing raspberries, gooseberries, currants. |
| After 2:39pm Mar 11th to before 6:24am Mar 18th | Let the garden rest. Fertilize cane berries, evergreens if needed, azaleas/rhodies/camellias if needed. Spread compost over garden and landscape areas. Weed if needed. | |
| After 6:24am Mar 19th to before 12:18am Mar 25th | Start indoors: cabbage, Swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, lettuce Transplant: broccoli, kale, arugula, Asian greens, Swiss chard, lettuce, mustard greens, salad greens, spinach Outdoors: arugula, Swiss chard, spinach, mustard greens, Asian greens, kale | |
| After 12:18am Mar 26th to before 7:11am Apr 1st | Outdoors: garden peas, Sweet Peas, alyssum, phacelia, coriander, candytuft, sunflower, yarrow, dill, fava beans Transplant: peas | |
| Apr | After 7:11am Apr 2nd to before 9:52am Apr 9th | Outdoors: carrots, turnips, beets, rhubarb, gladiolus, chives, parsley, sage, oregano, rosemary, potato tubers, radishes Transplant: leeks, beets, carrots, scallions Cut back ornamental grasses. Prune and shape or thin spring-blooming shrubs and trees after blossoms fade (ex. Forsythia, ornamental Cherry, etc). |
| After 9:52am Apr 10th to before 4:52pm Apr 16th | Let the garden rest, compost around perennial veggies. Weed if needed. | |
| After 4:52pm Apr 17th to before 7:32am Apr 23rd | Outdoors: endive, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, celery, Swiss chard, arugula, Asian greens, Brussels sprouts, dill, kale, mustard greens Transplant: broccoli, cauliflower, celery, kale, endive, lettuce, early cabbage, arugula, Asian greens, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, lettuce, mustard greens, salad greens, spinach | |
| After 7:32am Apr 24th to before 10:22pm Apr 30th | Start indoors: cucumbers, melons, summer squash, winter squash, dill Outdoors: Hardy Alyssum, Phlox, Marigolds, sunflowers | |
| May | After 10:22pm May 1st to before 2:11am May 9th | Outdoors: carrots, leeks, radishes, scallions, turnips, chives, parsnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chrystanthemums for fall color. Prune lilacs, rhododendrons and azaleas after bloom. |
| After 2:11am May 10th to before 1:02am May 16th | Let the garden rest, prepare irrigation systems for summer. Mulch perennial beds to preserve water. | |
| After 1:02am May 17th to before 4:12pm May 22nd | Start indoors: basil Outdoors: Brussels sprouts, spinach, arugula, Asian greens, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, salad greens, dill Transplant: basil, arugula, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, Swiss chard, dill, kale, lettuce, salad greens, spinach | |
| After 4:12pm May 23rd to before 1:45pm May 30th | Indoors: cucumbers, melons Outdoors: beans, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squash Transplant: eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, squash, beans, corn (protect eggplant, peppers, tomatoes) | |
| Jun | After 1:45pm May 31st to before 3:01pm Jun 7th | Outdoors: beets, scallions, turnips, chives, dahlias, gladioli, tuberous begonias, Transplant: leeks Prune lilacs, forsythia, rhododendrons and azaleas after bloom. |
| After 3:01pm Jun 8th to before 7:55am Jun 14th | Mulch perennial beds to preserve water if not done earlier in month. | |
| After 7:55am Jun 15th to before 2:56am Jun 21st | Outdoors: Brussels sprouts, late cabbage, basil, dill, arugula, Asian greens, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, endive, kale, lettuce Transplant: Brussels sprouts, basil, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, Swiss chard | |
| After 2:56am June 22nd to before 4:58am Jun 29th | Outdoors: corn Transplant: eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, corn, beans, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins | |
| Jul | After 4:58am Jun 30th to before 12:30am Jul 7th | Outdoors: beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips, radishes, scallions Transplant: carrots, leeks |
| After 12:30am Jul 8th to before 7:55am Jul 14th | Mulch perennial vegetables to preserve water and fertilize. | |
| After 7:55am Jul 15th to before 4:06pm Jul 20th | Outdoors: Asian greens, kale, early cabbage, Swiss chard, spinach, arugula, basil, Brussels sprouts, lettuce Transplant: Brussels sprouts, early cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce | |
| After 4:06pm Jul 21st to before 7:38pm Jul 28th | Outdoors: beans, peas Transplant: cucumbers | |
| Aug | After 7:38pm Jul 29th to before 7:22am Aug 5th | Outdoors: beets, radishes, turnips Transplant: carrots, leeks, scallions Prune caneberries after harvest, prune cherry trees. |
| After 7:22am Aug 6th to before 10:37pm Aug 11th | Mulch perennial vegetables to preserve water and fertilize. | |
| After 10:37pm Aug 12th to before 7:47am Aug 19th | Outdoors: cover crops in open garden spaces, Arugula, lettuce, basil, Brussels sprouts, spinach, raab broccoli, Transplant: mustard greens, spinach, kale, Asian greens, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, dill, salad greens, basil, cabbage | |
| After 7:47am Aug 20th to before 9:21am Aug 27th | Outdoors: peas | |
| Sep | After 9:21am Aug 28th to before 12:52pm Sep 3rd | Outdoors: beets, radishes, spring-flowering bulbs (such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses) Plant or transplant woody ornamentals and mature herbaceous perennials |
| After 12:52pm Sep 4th to before 8:28am Sep 10th | Mulch root crops for winter harvesting. | |
| After 8:28am Sep 11th to before 1:44am Sep 18th | Outdoors: cover crops in open garden spaces, Arugula, Asian Greens, early cabbage, lettuce, salad greens, kale Transplant: kale, lettuce, salad greens | |
| After 1:44am Sep 19th to before 9:52pm Sep 25th | Outdoors: Fava beans | |
| Oct | After 9:52pm Sep 26th to before 6:26pm Oct 2nd | Outdoors: garlic cloves, shallot bulb, onion sets, spring-flowering bulbs (such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses), groundcovers, trees & shrubs |
| After 6:26pm Oct 3rd to before 8:51pm Oct 9th | Mulch trees, shrubs and perennial beds for winter | |
| After 8:51pm Oct 10th to before 9:13pm Oct 17th | Outdoors: cover crops in open garden spaces Transplant: cabbage, lettuce, salad greens | |
| After 9:13pm Oct 18th to before 9:15am Oct 25th | Outdoors: Fava beans | |
| After 9:15am Oct 26th to before 12:29am Nov 1st | Outdoors: garlic cloves, shallot bulb, onion sets, spring-flowering bulbs (such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses) Prune rose bushes, except climbers and ramblers. | |
| Nov | After 12:29am Nov 2nd to before 11:03am Nov 8th | Deep mulch rhubarb & asparagus with straw and composted manure. Mulch around berries for winter protection. If not planting covercrops, mulch with leaves in garden beds. |
| After 11:03am Nov 9th to before 3:49pm Nov 16th | Outdoors: covercrops in open garden spaces. | |
| After 3:49pm Nov 17th to before 6:56pm Nov 23rd | Outdoors: Fava beans | |
| After 6:56pm Nov 24th to before 10:09am Nov 30th | Outdoors: trees & shrubs Prune Chrystanthemums after blooms spent | |
| Dec | After 10:09am Dec 1st to before 4:53am Dec 8th | Let the garden rest, mulch if needed |
| After 4:53am Dec 9th to before 9:43am Dec 16th | N/A | |
| After 9:43am Dec 17th to before 5:29am Dec 23rd | Indoors: Dwarf annual flowers as houseplants | |
| After 5:29am Dec 24th to before 11:00pm Dec 29th | Outdoors: landscape trees & shrubs | |
| Jan | After 11:00pm Dec 30th to before 12:25am Jan 7th | Let the garden rest, mulch if needed |
Don’t forget to go to the Plant Compatibility Table for companion planting info as well.
Hollow Hills Ranch 