What to plant this week in Salem, OR
Salem gardeners are in full swing this week with average lows holding steady at 15°F, well past the March 1st frost date. It is prime time to harvest your early crops like bush beans and basil while simultaneously sowing warm-season giants such as watermelon and okra directly into the soil.
The next 7 days
Salem, ORGrowing in Salem right now
- The Willamette Valley's clay-loam soils hold moisture well but can become compacted; be sure to till in compost before sowing heavy seeds like sweet corn or winter squash.
- While Salem is known for mild winters, sudden cool down-drafts from the Columbia River Gorge can still chill tender seedlings, so use row covers if temps dip unexpectedly near the 50°F threshold.
- This week's rainfall pattern often brings steady drizzle rather than thunderstorms; water deeply in the morning to encourage root growth without washing away freshly sown seeds.
Sow this week
30 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
39 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for continuous harvests.
- Mulch around young summer squash and watermelons to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of zinnias and cosmos to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are becoming active on Shiso and Malabar spinach as humidity fluctuates, checking leaves for webbing is essential this week.
- Aphids frequently target newly emerging Zinnia blooms and Cosmos flowers; a strong blast of water or insecticidal soap can manage populations before they bloom.
- Slugs thrive in Salem's damp spring conditions and will target low-growing nasturtiums and lettuce if planted nearby, requiring hand-picking or bait stations.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated and reduce evaporation during hot afternoons.
Harvest bush beans when pods are tender but before they begin to flower or turn woody.
Salem gardening questions
3Can I plant my okra seeds outside now in Salem?
Yes, with the last frost historically occurring on March 1st, your soil is warm enough to sow okra directly. Okra thrives in this zone's long summer and will produce well before the first frost in December.
My basil is growing fast but the leaves look a bit tough; should I harvest more?
Go ahead and harvest your basil now, as it is listed for both sowing and immediate harvesting this week. Pinch off stems just above a leaf node to encourage bushier growth rather than letting it flower and turn bitter.
I want to grow sweet corn; how far apart should the rows be in Salem soil?
Plant your sweet corn rows 36 inches apart to allow for good air circulation in our valley climate. Ensure you plant multiple ears per row so that pollen from different varieties can cross-pollinate effectively.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Salem garden in SproutGuide →