Gardening
After Gardening in Moscow since 2020, I am not yet a Palouse expert, but I’ve learned a few things about growing veggies in Zone 6. A little background – I’ve been gardening by choice (without my mother’s coercion) since 1995, and for seven years we ran a one-acre CSA in Battle Ground, WA (~Zone 7) which supplied veggies, fruit, herbs, and flowers to about 20 families, May-October.
ZONE 6: If you live outside of the town's shelter, you may experience Zone 4-5. Even in town, factors like an east/north slope create colder pockets. So, it’s important to observe YOUR microclimate: get a thermometer, and note sun, shade and wind patterns. You can create microclimates with fences, cover cloth, and by using your house strategically as windbreak or sun reflection. And don’t bank on recommended frost dates.
FROST PROTECTION: Floating row cover cloth is light-weight, allows light and water through while providing warmth or coolness, and insect protection. A must. Keep little piles of rocks around the garden to hold down the edges.
PLANT VARIETIES: Look for short season (+/-75 days if possible) tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Siberian tomatoes and most cherry tomatoes are early producers, and I’ve had success with Health Kick and Saucy Roma varieties.
BUILDING SOIL: Clay soil requires amending to create a friendly vegetable habitat. We purchase several loads of compost and sand each year from MBS, and dig it generously (2 parts C/1 part S) into our semi raised beds. Loamy soil is 40% sand. It provides drainage and air pockets for happy roots, and keeps the soil friable. Eventually, you can stop adding sand when soil texture is right, but compost must be added each year. I also use an organic granular vegetable fertilizer.
TOOLS: A good sharp shovel, wheelbarrow, garden rake, narrow trowel, 5-gallon bucket, hose with shower head. Keep it simple - a shovel and wheelbarrow are prime work-out gear, and it gets a little easier every year.
WATER: I hand water. Automated watering feels like leaving my kids at daycare all week.
COMPOST: Reserve a corner of your garden for a compost pile. You always need it, it’s free, and you’ll have more room in your trash can. Also, you never know what might sprout from it!
SEED COMPANIES: Nichols Garden Nursery, Territorial Seeds, Peaceful Valley. These are some favorites for heirloom varieties, but always check the description for season length. Store seeds in the fridge in airtight bag and use for years.
RESOURCES: Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades, Square Foot Gardening, The Zone Garden 5-6-7 or 3-4-5. I know we aren’t situated West of the Cascades, but think principles of gardening.
LAST WORDS: Start Small. Don’t Cut Corners. Plan to Weed. Patiently Plod. Year 3 is Magic.
-Larissa Vanderploeg
I live in Moscow with my husband Jim, of nearly 34 years, and our youngest of six girls. We have four married daughters, with grandbaby #12 on the way. I like gardening in the sun, long walks (in the sun), children's books (and some grown-up books), and painting our old house, if it's sunny.