Growing your own fruits and vegetables has grown in popularity the last few years, but interest exploded in 2020. Recommended New, Alternate or Underutilized Crops. K. Koch. Espaliered cherries are almost always grown on dwarf rootstocks as old-fashioned cherry trees can grow 40 feet tall. Targets moth larvae at this timing. It is possible to plant out some things earlier if they can be covered in the event of a frost. This species is used as an ornamental street tree in Oregon. This native of Brazil could survive in the warmest regions of Oregon. Mexican varieties are more cold hardy than Guatemalan varieties. Elliot aroniaberry, choke berry. This California native is the major rootstock for the English walnut because of resistance to oak root fungus. Gardeners in the Willamette Valley tend to have various types of clay soil they have to deal with. Root vegetables can be planted again during this time. The trees are hardy to -20°F. Useful as ornamentals. This species has ornamental characteristics. This tree may have difficulty setting fruit without ample available pear pollen. Average means that on April 20th there is still a 50% chance of frost. and Zucc. Green fruit worm, leafrollers, aphids, plant bugs, tentiform leafminer Tentiform leafminer is a concern only if it was a problem the previous season and low levels of parasitism were observed. 'Changsha' tangerine, Kahisi Papeda (C. litipes) may be hardy enough for sheltered areas in the Willamette Valley. Fall Rain and winter freezing are problems in Oregon. Parsnips in June/July, beets June-Aug, carrots and turnips July-Aug, radishes Aug-Sept. Mid-September-October:  Garlic, shallots, and bunching and overwintering onions. Here is a brief guide of when to plant and when to find the best selection. A good portion of apples, cherries, pears, plums, blackberries, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, and others are grown by nurseries in fields. Just got back from a jaunt from the Willamette Valley where we got to eat our way through Portland and hand select some of our favorite plants to share with you this season. Pendleton, Oregon has a growing season of 163 days. Castanea mollissima Blume. Japanese pears are complex hybrids involving this species. Willamette Valley Fruit Company was started in 1999 by the Gerald Roth family, who has been growing berries locally in Salem for three generations. A good portion of apples, cherries, pears, plums, blackberries, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, and others are grown by nurseries in fields. Subtropical fruit that can tolerate a light frost if protected from wind. Coastal region. I live in the Williamette Valley area 20 miles SE of Portland and I'm thinking about adding some dwarf fruit trees to our yard in addition to our vegetable garden. Columbia gorge and milder winter areas—150 to 180 days of growing season. We are a wholesale grower specializing in container, field grown B&B, and bare root shade, flowering, and coniferous evergreen trees. Good commercial possibility. Can survive in the warmest part of Oregon during most years. Prunus munsoniana Wight and Hedr. Musa basjoo Siebold & Zucc. Most cultivars are insufficiently cold hardy for Oregon climates. fruit trees will survive. Growers in these areas describe fruit production as follows: Apples: once every four to five years Pears: once every six years Sour Cherries: most years a partial crop, occasional failure Sweet Cherries: not recommended Peaches: occasional partial crop Wild plums: two out of three years Apricots: not recommended. Carya laciniosa (Michx. Juglans hindsii Jeps. Minimum temperature: can reach -30 to -40°F. The Willamette Valley and southern Oregon are noted for mild, uniform, and relatively humid weather. Plums do best in regions which lack rain and high humidity in summer, which have sufficient winter chilling, and which are not severely cold in winter. The fruits of this banana are not "eatable." Air currents, canyon walls and rock outcroppings can create warmer microclimates imitating zone 2. Diseases are a challenge for fruit growers in the cool, rainy Willamette Valley. Scab, mildew, brown rot of stone fruit can destroy fruit crops at any time. The trees thrive in hot valleys and desert regions. Zone 4. These fruits are good for the home garden but can't compete with persimmons grown in California. Area IV. ex. Iinuma banana. Zone 1. We tend to receive very little moisture July-September. F.) Loud. The best cherry varieties for … Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. The most widely adapted of all temperate zone fruit. Oregon. This variety pro-duces medium to large fruit with bright red skins. Upright, tree form; used as non-suckering rootstock for grafted hazelnuts. Not everything is available bareroot and not all garden centers choose to carry bareroot items. Cherries are generally more cold hardy than peaches but less so than plums, pears, or apples. Low summer temperatures and rain limit fruit grow-ing. Temperate tree from China. In the Willamette Valley later blooming varieties are preferred because they more often escape spring frosts. Used as rootstock for both sweet and sour cherries. Native to the Northern Andes. Can survive in the warmest part of the state at higher elevations. The flesh is yellow with red around the pit, and the pit is easily removed. Fruit Cultural Data from the California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. Zizyphus jujuba Mill. Native to China but ornamental selections came to the United States through Japan. Foliage of this tree provides food for silkworms. Bareroot plants are usually less expensive but are only available for a short time. Rain at harvest time can cause fruit cracking. This species has a selection that has survived temperatures as low as -20°F. Japanese flowering cherry, Used as a dwarfing rootstock for peach and other Prunus species. The store is open April through October. Of 100 or more cultivars, Renquist recommends three figs: ‘White Kadota,’ ‘Desert King’ and ‘Lattarula,’ which he prefers for fresh eating. This species is one of the hardiest Juglans species. Grows best in a Mediterranean climate with mild winters. Northern California black walnut. Cherry Pest Management Guide for the Willamette Valley - The best cherry pest management guide based upon orchard, variety, tree size and density, pests, etc. Here are some of the native trees the Willamette Valley is known for. Bears smaller fruit than P. americana but is resistant to brown rot. These trees are natives to Tropical America. Trees are adapted to hot valleys and desert regions. Early blooming limits apricots to areas where late spring frosts do not occur. Orchards tend to be located above the valley floors to avoid frosts, which are a frequent hazard at lower elevations. After maturity, the fruit continues to hang on the tree. Many cultivars of this species have been selected for their ornamental value because they have showy white flowers in spring and small red or yellow fruit in fall. Native to eastern Canada and the northeastern mountains of the United States. Large deciduous tree 100 feet tall, 80 feet wide Easy to grow Yellow flowers in early spring; large leaves are up to 10-inches wide Acer macrophyllum Bigleaf maple Large deciduous tree 80 feet tall, 30-40 feet wide Easy to grow Brownish catkins in early … Freezing temperatures could occur any month of the year. Carya ovata (Mill.) Juglans sieboldiana Maxim. D. A. Webb Synonym = Prunus amygdalus Batsch. These pears bloom and grow very early and are subject to early spring frosts, although their maximum mid-winter cold hardiness is greater than that of European pears. Popular European pome fruit that grows well in the Willamette Valley. Small immature nuts are also frost sensitive. One of the tree’s unique features is that its pine cones smell of vanilla. Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Hardy to at least -14°F. Our average last frost date is April 20th. . It is very cold hardy and has been used to breed cold hardy apples. The Orchard Crops Extension Program is based out of the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, OR. Citrus reticulata Blanco tangerine, mandarin. Chestnuts or hazelnuts are recommended instead. Willamette Living is published every two months and is available for free at hundreds of locations in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. We also grow several deciduous ornamental seedlings and cuttings which include maple, oak, beech, Planetree and serviceberry Late January-February: Bareroot fruit trees, fruiting vines and berries. Brazil nut, Castanea crenata Sieb. Also, plant in a location with plenty of room as these trees get large. Brenda Powell is a regular contributor to Willamette Living, and is a co-owner of Garland Nursery in Corvallis.To learn more about Garland, or to contact Brenda, visit: https://www.garlandnursery.com/, NEW Sauvie Island Cidery, Peak Light Cider. 'Illinois everbearing' has been very reliable in the Willamette valley, producing over a long season. Now grown as a farm or homestead tree. And Zucc. Zone 2. Research and Extension. Most cannot survive frost and must be protected from wind. May survive in the warmest part of Oregon. Detecting and Controlling Eastern Filbert Blight - This publication covers the symptoms, cycle, susceptibility, and control of the EFB fugal disease. February-May: Container grown fruits including all of the above listed fruits plus blueberries, elderberries, figs, kiwi and more. Requires "bletting" prior to being eaten. Although things are changing slowly, the nursery industry is still geared to a seasonal approach to plant availability. These plums probably originated in Southwest Asia but have escaped from cultivation and are now found wild throughout Europe. In Zones 1 and 2, where there is plentiful summer heat, the winter temperatures would kill the tree. Fruit quality is better when temperatures are not too hot. Ideal garden tree. What began in 1999 as a small cannery-style operation in a backyard warehouse has quickly turned into WVFC being one of the Northwest’s leading processors of high-quality berry products. The valley’s climate is relatively mild all year long, […] Apples and pears grow well, but almonds and apricots are difficult to grow where spring frosts are frequent or where cold air settles in low valleys. Chinese jujube. Quince, persimmon, peaches, nectarines, sour cherries, and apricots tend to self-pollinate just fine, and can be planted solo. So come on out to get first peek! There are good resources to give more detail and cover varieties of vegetables not mentioned here: OSU Extension monthly garden calendars, OSU Extension “Growing Your Own” online publication, and Territorial Seed Company fall growing guide. There are a few things to know about our area. This is a source of edible pinon nuts. Disease problems are especially severe. Cherries grow well in the Willamette Valley but can be more difficult to manage as espaliered fruit than apples or pears. Native on the east coasts of the U. S. from Maine to Delaware. Zone 3. Almonds are the earliest blooming of all deciduous fruit or nut trees and might be grown where no frosts occur during the bloom period. Some of the late blooming almonds, such as 'Roy' (which blooms with the Japanese plums) set. Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia) (pictured above) Drainage is important to prevent crown rot oFruit trees. Some selections have potentially valuable nuts that are thin shelled with sweet kernels, but the trees are slow growing. Corn in the second part of the month. So even if we are pretty sure we will not have another frost, the soil temperature may be too cool for something like beans or cucumbers to really start growing. This species is known for floriferous ornamental cultivars. They tolerate a light frost and are hardy to 30°F. Apples and pears can reach perfection here. Early selections do quite well and could be commercial for processing into a pulp for fruit leather or dairy flavorings. Some new selections are as large as D. kaki. loquat. Adapted to most of Oregon but does not do well in low deserts. feijoa, pineapple guava. Prunus serrulata Lindl. Some large fruited selections perform well. Astringent fruited pears used for the production of an alcoholic beverage called "perry.". Willamette Valley is producing some of the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the world… Wine Spectator recently rated a Chardonnay produced by Domaine Serene in Willamette’s Northern sub-region of Dundee Hills as the #2 Chardonnay in the world. An option is to cut it down and plant several dwarf fruit trees. Citrus:  Lemons, limes, and oranges are not hardy outside here. The Leed Gold Certified Allison Inn and Spa is the ultimate in luxury retreats in the Willamette Valley with huge 500-square-foot rooms and a restaurant that reflects the bounty of the region. Intergeneric hybrid of pear and mountain ash. These plums are more cold hardy, but have smaller more compact trees, smaller leaves, more slender branches, with more clustered infloresences, smaller flowers and smaller fruit than that of P. domestica. Some selections have sweet kernels but have thicker shells than do shagbark hickories. They need to be immediately covered with sawdust or soil to keep the roots moist until they are planted into the ground. This species is the pignolia nut of southern Europe. The fruits are. Prepared by Kim E. Hummer, Research Leader and Curator, USDA ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, 33447 Peoria Road, Corvallis, Oregon 97333-2521, hummerk@bcc.orst.edu © 2000. X Sorbopyrus auricularis (Knoop) Schneider sorbopear. Can be grown as a shrub or grafted onto Sorbus to make a tree-rose type standard. Chinese chestnut, Most resistant to chestnut blight; most cold hardy; being planted Zones 2, 3, and 4, Corylus americana Marsh American hazelnut. The apple tree is screaming to be pruned! Rain at bloom time can interfere with pollination. Apples are more cold hardy than any other fruit tree. Medium to large tree native to Northeast Asia. We grow both clonal and seedling, virus free fruit tree rootstock for apple, cherry, pear, plum, and peach. Rocky mountain nut pine. Pomegranates require long, hot, dry summers to mature sweet fruits. Lack of pollinators could be a problem for fruit set. Temperate fruit native to the Eastern United States. Heat accumulation increases the sweetness of the fruit.The very earliest low acid types may have possibilities, especially in sheltered areas, such as near buildings. Evergreen trees keep their leaves or needles during winter. This is a simplified list but hopefully helpful to those that are new to the area or new to gardening. Many vegetables can be planted from seed directly into the ground or started indoors to transplant at the appropriate time. Foliage of the Mexican type may survive 24°F. Aspinwall’s Produce and Nursery - For more than 50 years, Aspinwall’s Produce and Nursery has provided the Salem area with farm-fresh, seasonal produce. Has special culture requirements but the fruits of some selections are excellent, even fresh. Susceptible to pseudomonas, especially after winter injury. Castanea dentata Borkh. almond. Pinyon pine. Also, bareroot vegetable starts like asparagus, horseradish, rhubarb. Roseburg and the Willamette Valley are recognized as one of the West's best growing areas, and many fruit trees and plants thrive in this region, which has a long, mild growing season and wet weather in the spring. This native of Australia is hardy to 25°F. Figs could be grown by homeowners where temperatures do not drop below 15°F. If you decide to plant the Willamette Valley ponderosa pine, keep in mind that it will need plenty of room to grow. Willamette Valley. Fruit ripens much later (two months) in Oregon than it does in the East. Native to the Mississippi valley. Hot summers can cause "double" fruit in the subsequent year. February-April: Cool season vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, greens and mustard, kale, peas, spinach, Swiss chard and more can be planted outside beginning in mid-February through April. This allows plant to escape dear browsing and makes picking easier. We can't wait to show you some of them! The Willamette Valley and its foothills produce hazelnuts, cherries, and many other fruit crops and ornamental trees. Hardy to at least -14°F. However, a few hobbyists have had limited success. Please feel free to send us submissions for our event calendar, notices of special events at your business for our Facebook feed, or press releases for items of interest to our Willamette Valley readers. The tree is hardy to 0°F but the fruit needs such a long season, it must be grown in a pot to be taken indoors to finish ripening. Peaches. Juglans regia L. Persian or English walnut. Broad–leaf evergreens are trees such as Madrone or Southern Magnolia that keep their leaves year round but don’t have needles. These fruits also require long hot summers for fruits to mature. Subtropical fruit. Though walnuts survive throughout Oregon the present climate indicates that Oregon is unsuitable for regular commercial production. Fruit plentiful on selected clones grown in the Willamette Valley. Summers are fairly dry with moderate temperatures. This tree can be grown in the warmest areas of the state. We have a large selection of products to chose from; which can be viewed in our availability list or if you come in to our Brooks, OR location. Temperate tree from China. You can plant beans through July. They are dug in the winter and shipped without soil, hence the term bareroot. Diseases are a problem when grown in rainy climates such as that of the Willamette Valley. Japanese apricot. With so many trees lost to urban development in the last century, it’s important to reintroduce native plants, helping to mend our ecosystems. Western Oregon receives most of its rainfall from October-March. This climate is a land of sunshine having twice the amount of total heat units per year as compared to that in the valley west of the Cascades. Excellent dual purpose for landscape. Green fruit is damaged at about 28°F. Could be planted; chestnut blight is not present in Oregon. However, not all plants are available to purchase in the fall. Needs long, hot, dry summer to mature the nuts and sufficient cold winters to break dormancy. Altacor 35WDG chlorantraniliprole 2.5–4.5 oz Group 28 insecticide. Towns in Central Oregon have very Short growing seasons ranging from about 100 days in Madras, 90 days in Redmond, and Prineville, and 80 days in Bend and Tumalo-Sisters. Willamette Valley and Coastal areas—210 to 240 days of growing season. These temperatures can range from -2 to -14°F. This makes it more difficult to establish plants in our hot, dry summers. On May 11th, there is a 10% chance. Every year and every garden are just a little bit different. Trees do not come into bearing for 10 to 15 years. If the temperature reaches 28°F during bloom, flowers will drop off and will not produce fruit. Walnuts may be damaged at high elevations. This is a source of edible pinon nuts. Soil temperature plays an important part in when to plant warm season vegetables. Most fruits and nuts produce well although late spring frosts may damage the early blooming or leafing crops. Chinese pears are complex hybrids involving this species. Oregon has about 9,000 acres of European pear production including the summer cultivar 'Bartlett', and the winter pears, 'Bosc', 'Comice', and 'Anjou'. A large, old apple tree can take hours to prune. The Kieffer hard pear tree is slow in ripening and the aromatic scent of the pears and the persimmons from the American persimmon tree will attract that trophy deer in the fall and winter when food supplies are scanty. The earliest of the northern types should be well adapted and will fill. Some selections may have commercial potential for source of food color for anthocyanin content. Can be propagated by seed best to take root cuttings of desirable trees in autumn. Malpighia glabra L. acerola, Barbados cherry. Slightly less cold hardy than European pears. More varieties, such as the northern types from China, may do well in the Willamette Valley. Our research is focused on developing best management practices for growing hazelnut and fruit tree in the Willamette Valley, and educating growers in the areas of orchard management, production, and pest control. Ripening period of different clones range from August through January. Fall planting once the rains start reduces the amount of water needed and makes it easier for the plant to get established. Lindl. Bananas are native to tropical Asia. The fruit is small but makes good preserves. They can grow outside from May-September but must be brought into a greenhouse or very bright light area in your house. After all, you what can be fresher than produce harvested from your own back yard. May survive in the warmest part of Oregon. Citrus plants are available through much of the year but give thought to whether you have enough bright indoor light before purchasing in the late fall/winter. April: You may be able to plant tomatoes provided you are able to protect them if necessary and the soil temperature is warm enough. Olives are such an important crop to the Mediterranean region that the tree is mentioned throughout literature from the region that ranges from Ancient Greek legends to the Bible. This climate has a definite winter season with hot summers. Pinus monophylla Torr. Edible fruits approach golfball size. Almonds are not recommended for Oregon, commercial production or for the home gardener. It has fine quality cabinet-type wood and has good nuts. Japanese plums are less cold hardy than European plums. flowering crab apple. Summers are generally dry although heat units may be insufficient to mature some types of tree fruit crops. Resistant to spring frosts and the mature fruit is resistant to brown rot. Apples are adapted to almost all climatic regions of the western states. I've never dealt with transplanting fruit trees before and am very hesitant on how to go about this. Conifers are evergreen trees with needles or scales for leaves. shagbark hickory. Cannot survive temperatures below 12°F. Sorbus acuparia L. F. edulus edible fruited mountain ash. Oriental persimmon trees are hardy to 0°F; Rarely fruits in desert climates. This tree makes an attractive addition to your landscaping, but has the added benefit of filling your yard with its sweet aroma. Frequently, fruit do not completely ripen because of insufficient summer heat units. The tree will survive temperatures of 20°F. Pecans may grow above 1500 ft. elevation but the nuts may not fill completely. The ideal conditions to plant fruit trees is rich, well-drained soil, with the water table about 4’ deep. In the Willamette Valley, we are fortunate to be able to grow and plant almost year-round. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A key crop throughout the Willamette Valley, peach trees thrive in the area's mild winters and wet springs.