Gardening

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Husum is typically USDA Zone 7b–8a, with last frost around mid-April and first frost around late October–November, giving a long growing season but still with cool springs. (Gardenia)

🌱 Husum, WA Monthly Gardening Guide

January

Vegetables

  • Plan garden layout

  • Order seeds

  • Start indoors (late January):

    • Onions

    • Leeks

    • Shallots

Flowers

  • Order seeds

  • Start slow growers:

    • Lavender

    • Perennials

Tasks

  • Prune fruit trees

  • Clean tools

  • Check stored vegetables

February

Start Indoors

  • Broccoli

  • Cabbage

  • Cauliflower

  • Lettuce

  • Spinach

  • Tomatoes (late Feb)

Flowers

  • Snapdragons

  • Pansies

  • Petunias

  • Delphinium

Tasks

  • Prepare soil if workable

  • Add compost

March

Direct Sow Outside (weather dependent)

  • Peas

  • Radishes

  • Spinach

  • Arugula

  • Carrots

  • Beets

Start Indoors

  • Tomatoes

  • Peppers

  • Eggplant

Flowers

  • Sweet peas

  • Calendula

  • Poppies

  • Bachelor buttons

Tasks

  • Watch for frost

  • Cover seedlings

April (Big Planting Month)

Direct Sow

  • Lettuce

  • Kale

  • Chard

  • Potatoes

  • Onions

  • Turnips

Transplant

  • Broccoli

  • Cabbage

  • Cauliflower

Flowers

  • Sunflowers

  • Cosmos

  • Zinnias (late April)

Tasks

  • Slug protection (very important in Gorge)

  • Start hardening off plants

May

Plant Warm Crops (after frost mid-May)

  • Tomatoes

  • Peppers

  • Cucumbers

  • Squash

  • Beans

  • Corn

Flowers

  • Marigolds

  • Zinnias

  • Nasturtiums

  • Cosmos

  • Dahlias (tubers)

Tasks

  • Mulch

  • Install irrigation

June

Plant

  • Beans (succession planting)

  • Cucumbers

  • Summer squash

  • Basil

Flowers

  • Sunflowers

  • Zinnias

  • Cosmos

Tasks

  • Water deeply

  • Stake tomatoes

July

Plant for Fall

  • Carrots

  • Beets

  • Kale

  • Broccoli (start indoors)

Flowers

  • Late sunflowers

  • Fall annuals

Tasks

  • Harvest frequently

  • Watch for heat stress

August

Plant Fall Garden

  • Lettuce

  • Spinach

  • Arugula

  • Kale

  • Radishes

Flowers

  • Plant fall mums

  • Sow cool-season flowers

Tasks

  • Preserve vegetables

  • Reduce watering slightly

September

Plant

  • Garlic (late Sept–Oct)

  • Spinach

  • Lettuce

  • Cover crops

Flowers

  • Plant bulbs:

    • Tulips

    • Daffodils

    • Crocus

Tasks

  • Clean up spent plants

  • Compost

October

Plant

  • Garlic (best time)

  • Cover crops

Flowers

  • Continue bulb planting

Tasks

  • Protect from frost

  • Mulch heavily

November

Plant

  • Garlic (early November)

  • Cover crops

Tasks

  • Clean beds

  • Protect perennials

December

Tasks

  • Plan next year's garden

  • Review notes

  • Order seeds

🌼 Best Vegetables for Husum

Because you're in the Columbia Gorge, these do especially well:

Easy

  • Kale

  • Lettuce

  • Peas

  • Beans

  • Zucchini

  • Potatoes

Good Gorge Crops

  • Tomatoes (cherry especially)

  • Cucumbers

  • Peppers (short-season varieties)

  • Carrots

  • Beets

🌸 Best Flowers for Husum

Very reliable

  • Zinnias

  • Cosmos

  • Sunflowers

  • Marigolds

  • Nasturtiums

Perennials

  • Lavender

  • Coneflower

  • Black-eyed Susan

  • Yarrow

  • Salvia

Since you live in Husum specifically, you also have:

  • Wind exposure

  • Cooler nights

  • Microclimates near river

So raised beds and wind protection help a lot.


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