What to plant this week in Salem, OR
In Salem's mild 8b climate, the threat of hard frost has long passed since late February, allowing you to focus on harvesting your summer crops like zucchini and sweet corn. This week marks a critical window for sowing fast-growing radishes and ornamental alliums while enjoying an abundance of harvestable produce from squash, beans, and melons.
The next 7 days
Salem, ORGrowing in Salem right now
- Utilize Salem's naturally deep, often clay-heavy Willamette Valley soils by adding generous amounts of compost to improve drainage before planting new seedlings this week.
- Take advantage of the city's moderate rainfall patterns by installing drip irrigation or soaker hoses now to conserve water during hot summer stretches.
- Plant cover crops like Daikon radish immediately after pulling your last crop of winter squash to prevent soil erosion and suppress weeds in Salem gardens.
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
- Monitor for aphids on the abundant bean varieties (Bush, Pole, Scarlet Runner) which thrive in Salem's current humidity levels.
- Check tomato vines and cucurbits early this morning for slugs, as damp soils are common in our local microclimate during cooler nights.
- Inspect Zinnias and Cosmos for spider mites if you notice webbing or stippling on leaves after several days of dry heat.
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.
Salem gardening questions
3Can I transplant any of my tender crops now, or should I stick to sowing directly?
While most seedlings are already established by this time in Salem's zone 8b climate, you can still direct sow Daikon radish and ornamental alliums for best results. Focus your energy on harvesting the extensive list of summer vegetables rather than transplanting new ones.
My squash plants look healthy but I'm not getting enough fruit; what am I missing?
Ensure your Acorn, Butternut, Delicata, and other squash varieties are pollinated by leaving bees undisturbed during peak bloom hours. Also, check that the soil isn't too compacted around the roots, which can stress plants in our local clay soils.
How should I handle the long list of crops ready for harvest this week?
Prioritize picking Zucchini and Summer Squash daily before they become tough or bitter, as Salem's warm nights encourage rapid growth. Rotate your harvesting schedule to include beans, corn, and melons so you don't overburden any single plant.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Salem garden in SproutGuide →