How to Grow Vegetables in Washington

Tomatoes and radishes grow well in Washington.

Washington state spans a huge range of terrains and climates. The west is covered in rain forests, leading to high central mountain ranges and drier plains in the east. This means that vegetable gardeners face different challenges depending on their location within the state.

Things You'll Need

• Vegetable seeds
• Spade
• Rake
• Seed pots
• Watering can or hose
• Compost or manure
• Soil pH kit
• Garden lime (optional)
• General fertilizer

Instructions

1. Map out your vegetable plot. Work out how much space you have to grow vegetables. Use these dimensions when checking seed packs for spacing instructions. For example, if you want to grow Brussels sprouts, you'll need spacing of at least a foot between plants and 2 feet between rows.

2. Investigate your soil conditions. Vegetables generally prefer soil with good drainage, plenty of organic matter and a neutral or slightly acidic pH. Test pH with a home test kit, or send a sample to Oregon State University. Aim for soil pH of between 5.5 and 7.0, according to the University of Florida vegetable growing guide.

3. Add garden lime to acidic soil. Coastal soils in Washington tend to be acidic. Eastern regions tend to be more neutral.

4. Add organic matter such as compost and manure to your vegetable patch. Dig out all weeds and rocks, and fold the compost into the soil.

5. Look for a range of seed types. Check the back of the packets for sowing and harvest dates. Plan your vegetable sowing to ensure that you have a consistent yield of crops throughout the year, rather than one sudden glut in midsummer.

6. Note your local seasons and last frost dates. In some eastern Washington regions, the average last frost may be as late as June 1. Avoid planting sensitive plants before this date. Instead, propagate seedlings indoors in small trays, then transfer them to your vegetable patch.

7. Water your vegetables frequently, but don't cause the soil to get boggy and wet. Washington state rainfall varies across regions, but the state gets a large average annual rainfall. During summer, water whenever the top few inches of soil dries out.

8. Add fertilizer every few weeks in the growing season. Washington soils require fertilizers with potash, phosphate and, most importantly, nitrogen.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your ground for lumpy, claylike soil before sowing seeds. Ideal germination conditions are in fine, free-running soil.

• Dig holes for transplanted vegetables with a trowel. Gently insert young plants and firm up the soil around the base.

• Harden off indoor propogated vegetables for a week or two before planting them. Leave them outside overnight in pots to acclimatise them to the Washington weather.

References

• Washington State University: Home Gardens
• Washington State University: Vegetable Gardening
• University of Florida: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide