Regional guide

Washington West of the Cascades Vegetable Garden

WSU Extension guide for western Washington gardens where cool springs, rainfall, and mild winter microclimates shape vegetable planning.

Climate signals

• WSU says climate planning should consider growing-season length, first and last frost dates, and in-season temperatures.
• Warm-season crops often need a longer or warmer season than is available west of the Cascade Mountains.
• Where temperature limits warm-season crops, row covers and plastic tunnels can help.
• Many cool-season crops can grow through winter west of the Cascades, depending on microclimate.
• Cool springs in western Washington can make germination difficult for crops that prefer warm soils.

Planning notes

• Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sun and fertile, well-drained soil; drainage is especially important where rainfall is heavy.
• Transplants can produce earlier harvests; root crops such as carrots, beets, and radishes are exceptions that do not transplant readily.
• Harden vegetable transplants for 4-7 days before garden planting.
• Warm-season transplants such as tomato, pepper, and eggplant prefer 70-75F day and 55-60F night temperatures while developing.
• Cool-season transplants such as broccoli, lettuce, and cabbage do well with 65-75F day and 50-55F night temperatures.
• Succession planting is source-backed for crops maturing in 40-60 days and harvested once, including turnips, beets, radishes, lettuce, and kohlrabi.
• Leaf crops can also support staged harvests, including lettuce, arugula, kale, mustard, beets, bok choy, turnip, and collards.
• Rotate crops by family where possible; WSU recommends 5-7 years before planting the same family in the same bed or row.
• Use these priority catalog links as crop-level examples for WSU crop groups, not WSU cultivar recommendations.

Catalog crop examples

These catalog entries match crops covered by the regional timing source; variety-specific details remain tied to each seed entry's own source.

• Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce Vegetable · Cool · 45 days
• Bloomsdale Spinach Vegetable · Cool · 42 days
• Lacinato Kale Vegetable · Cool · 60 days
• Astro Arugula Vegetable · Cool · 35 days
• Southern Giant Curled Mustard Vegetable · Cool · 45 days
• Georgia Southern Collards Vegetable · Cool · 65 days
• White Stem Bok Choy Vegetable · Cool · 45 days
• Waltham 29 Broccoli Vegetable · Cool · 74 days
• Golden Acre Cabbage Vegetable · Cool · 64 days
• Snowball Y Cauliflower Vegetable · Cool · 70 days
• Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts Vegetable · Cool · 100 days
• Early White Vienna Kohlrabi Vegetable · Cool · 55 days
• Detroit Dark Red Beet Vegetable · Cool · 58 days
• Danvers 126 Carrot Vegetable · Shoulder · 70 days
• French Breakfast Radish Vegetable · Cool · 28 days
• Purple Top White Globe Turnip Vegetable · Cool · 55 days
• American Purple Top Rutabaga Vegetable · Cool · 90 days
• Sugar Snap Pea Vegetable · Cool · 62 days
• Evergreen Bunching Onion Vegetable · Shoulder · 65 days
• American Flag Leek Vegetable · Cool · 120 days
• Italian Flat Leaf Parsley Herb · Shoulder · 75 days
• Hollow Crown Parsnip Vegetable · Cool · 120 days
• Common Chives Herb · Cool · 80 days

Related regional guides

• Walla Walla Inland Northwest Vegetable Garden WSU Walla Walla County guide for Inland Northwest frost-free timing, microclimates, soils, sun, temperature, and watering.

Source: WSU Extension Home Vegetable Gardening in Washington