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Washington State University

Crops

Commercial agricultural producers can contact the WSU Thurston County Agriculture Extension Agent with any questions regarding plants, edible or ornamental, (360) 867-2161.

Those who are not commercial producers may call the Master Gardener Clinic, (360) 867-2163, or the Native Plant Salvage Project (360) 867-2164.

Recent Research

See this page for results of recent Western Washington fruit and vegetable research trials.

Long-term Agriculture Research and Education project starting 2022: Soil Health in Reduced Tillage and Animal-integrated Diversified Organic Cropping Systems. PI Douglas Collins

Watch the kick-off webinar.

Soil Testing: A Guide for Farms with Diverse Vegetable Crops (PDF)
Soil analysis can guide farmers and gardeners in making soil amendment and soil management decisions. Making soil sampling an annual event will allow for tracking management practices and influencing future soil amendment decisions. This fact sheet presents a comprehensive, yet affordable, procedure for implementing an annual soil-testing program for farms with diverse vegetable crops. The reader will learn when to sample, where to sample, how to take a sample, and finally how to use sample results to improve farm management. Washington State University, 2012. 

Portable Field Hoophouse (PDF)
Offers photos and construction plans for a portable, protective 10-by-42-foot “house” of plastic that protects early garden plantings from the cold. Washington State University, February 1997, Revised June 2009.

Maintaining Drip Irrigation Systems (PDF)
Drip irrigation systems are becoming more widely used for horti-cultural crop production, especially vegetable crops. The system must function efficiently during the entire growing season. Failure at a critical point in the crop production cycle can cause loss of the entire crop. System failures are often due to inadequate maintenance of the system especially if fertigation is being utilized to supply nutrients to the plant’s root zone. Maintenance of the drip irrigation system does take time and understanding; however, maintenance is critical for successful use of drip irrigation systems. This article should help one understand how to maintain drip irrigation systems. Penn State University, June 2012. 

Acidifying Soil for Crop Production West of the Cascade Mountains (PDF)
This publication discusses methods to acidify soils for acid-loving crops. Oregon State University Extension, February 2004.