What to plant this week in Eugene, OR
Eugene gardeners are currently in the thick of summer harvest season, with a massive array of squash, beans, and melons ready to pull from your beds. While you can still sow hardy Daikon radishes or ornamental alliums now for fall color, your primary focus should be maximizing yields before the first frost on December 1.
The next 7 days
Eugene, ORGrowing in Eugene right now
- Soil in Eugene's Willamette Valley often stays cool and wet late into July; ensure drainage is excellent when planting heavy harvesters like acorn and butternut squash to prevent rot.
- Take advantage of our mild winters by planting garlic now, as the cloves need a chilling period over winter to develop strong heads for next summer.
- With frequent afternoon storms common in Summerland, use shade cloth or row covers on delicate crops like basil and bush beans during heavy rain events.
- Be mindful that our high humidity promotes fungal issues; space your zucchini and pumpkin plants widely to improve air circulation.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and cowpeas every two weeks for a continuous harvest through late summer.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like corn, squash, and melons to retain moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil and borage regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for squash vine borers attacking your acorn, butternut, and winter squash vines as they mature.
- Spider mites can become a nuisance on ornamental alliums and nasturtiums during our dry summer spells after heavy rains.
- Aphids frequently infest the new growth of sunflowers and cosmos; inspect stems regularly and spray with insecticidal soap if populations spike.
Watering this week
Provide deep, consistent watering at the base of plants every 2-3 days to prevent blossom drop on squash and melons.
Harvest acorn and butternut squash when they have fully ripened and developed a hard rind for best winter storage.
Eugene gardening questions
3When should I plant my garlic for next year's harvest?
This is the critical time to sow your garlic cloves, ideally in late September or early October when soil temperatures drop but before hard freezes. Properly planted now will establish roots over winter and send up strong shoots as soon as our March frost date passes.
My zucchini plants are producing huge vines but no fruit; what is wrong?
This often happens in Eugene due to poor pollination during cloudy, rainy days or if there aren't enough bees active in the damp air. Hand-pollinate by transferring male flower pollen to female blossoms, or ensure your plants have adequate spacing for airflow.
Can I plant Daikon radishes now instead of waiting until fall?
Yes, Eugene's mild climate allows you to sow Daikon radishes right now in the ground, as they tolerate cooler soils better than many other crops. These will mature quickly and can even be left in the soil over winter if the ground doesn't freeze solid.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Eugene garden in SproutGuide →