View full sizeKale stands up well to cold, wet weather, not to mention feline inspection. Summer in the Portland area has a bittersweet tinge -- so beautiful but so short. It's sad to see the end looming just ahead. But here's a good way to rise above that: Plant salad greens that you'll enjoy when the rain starts falling and the cold closes in. Seeds planted in August or early September will put greens on the table throughout fall and even during the winter in warmer areas of Oregon, the OSU Extension says.
Crops that take a long time to reach maturity, such as kale, should be planted as early as possible, while those that shoot up fast, such as arugula, can be planted into September.
OSU vegetable breeder Jim Myers notes that lettuce is susceptible to cold weather, but other greens readily take its place in a salad.
He also recommends using a cold frame or cloche to protect the plants from rain, and if that sounds expensive, the extension service has a
your own.
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-- Homes & Gardens staff
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