What to plant this week in Eugene, OR
With last frost averaging March 1st in Eugene, this week marks the final push for cold-sensitive crops like basil and okra, while your early summer harvests of beans and melons are ready to pull. The typical cool-to-moderate temperatures near 50°F mean you must watch out for late chill snaps that can stall growth before the heat arrives.
The next 7 days
Eugene, ORGrowing in Eugene right now
- Eugene's notoriously heavy rainfall often turns sandy loam into mud; cover open beds with row covers or plastic to prevent soil erosion and fungal splash.
- The city sits in a rain shadow creating cool nights, so prioritize warm-weather transplants like zucchini and yellow summer squash now for better fruit set.
- Avoid overwatering container gardens during the wet season by ensuring pots have excellent drainage holes to prevent root rot on sensitive herbs like Thai basil.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- 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 pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest through summer.
- Thin out dense seedlings of zucchini and yellow summer squash to prevent overcrowding.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established crops to retain soil moisture as summer heat builds.
Pest & disease watch
- Slugs and snails remain active in the damp weather, targeting tender leaves of nasturtiums and young zucchini plants overnight.
- Early aphid colonies are forming on bean varieties (Bush Bean, Pole Bean) as they emerge from cool soil temperatures.
- Powdery mildew can quickly develop on squash and cucumbers if humidity stays high without adequate air circulation.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning to keep foliage dry and reduce disease risk during hot days.
Harvest watermelons when they produce a hollow sound upon tapping, indicating full ripeness.
Eugene gardening questions
3Can I finally plant my tomato seedlings outdoors in Eugene?
While the average last frost is March 1st, many local gardeners still wait until mid-to-late April to ensure soil warms enough for tomatoes to thrive. Since no plants are listed as transplantable this week, it is safer to keep them under cover or in containers.
My basil and okra are growing slowly despite the zone 8b rating; should I fertilize?
Yes, Eugene's often acidic soil can lock up nutrients during cooler weeks, so a light application of balanced fertilizer will help these heat-loving plants recover. Ensure you aren't overwatering, as excess moisture in our local clay-loam mix can also stunt growth.
Is it too early to plant watermelon seeds directly in the ground now?
Not yet; although watermelon is on your harvest list soon, direct sowing waits until soil temperatures consistently hit 70°F, usually late April. Start them indoors or buy young transplants from a local nursery for an earlier harvest.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Eugene garden in SproutGuide →