Experience Roseburg
How Our Gardens Do Grow The Umpqua Valley boasts one of the state’s best climates for growing a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables.
For Kathy Young, here with grandchildren, growing a garden has many similarities to growing a family.
Story by Brittany Arnold
W
— grow well here.
hether you’re driving around the rolling hills of the Umpqua Valley, shopping the year-round farmers’ market or wine tasting at a vineyard, it’s quickly obvious that things — all manner of them
With its mild and forgiving climate, the valley is arguably one of the best gardening regions in Oregon. You won’t have to argue that point with horticulture extension agent Steve Renquist. In 2000, Renquist left a job with a multinational agricultural company to move to Roseburg and join the Oregon State Extension service. In the two decades since, he’s watched the local agriculture economy and gardening scene grow tremendously, a fact in attributes in part to a slight warming trend that has nurtured an ideal growing climate.
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because we have very few frosts, and we can mature the grapes nicely because there’s no worry about mildew.” Along with an optimal climate, Douglas County has one of the most diverse soil profile maps in Oregon. With around 230 soil profiles, it’s a prime location for those with specific agricultural interests, such as wine growers. Abacela Winery owners Hilda and Earl Jones landed in Douglas County after a thorough search for a region that could accommodate the production of Spain’s signature tempranillo wine, made from a grape that requires a growing season characterized by a cool spring and a hot, moderately dry summer cut short by a cool, truncated autumn.
Today, Renquist says, “Douglas County really has the best climate for gardening in Oregon. We really don’t have any limitations for growing any kind of vegetables or crop.”
The Joneses eliminated spots in Idaho and Washington, as well as Eastern Oregon and the Willamette Valley, before discovering that Oregon’s southwest valley offered a climate almost identical to that in Spain’s Rioja and Ribera regions. They were soon making some of the most highly rated Spanish varietals anywhere.
Over the last 10 to 15 years, Douglas County has experienced a state-best 210-day frost-free period. In addition, Douglas County has a significant geographic advantage. Being in the southern part of the state keeps it warmer, while the absence of a large mountain range between here and the coast helps keep winters mild.
While the Umpqua Valley holds the distinction of being the first region in Oregon to grow wine grapes, it has only been during the last 20 years that the local industry has grown significantly. According to Renquist, there are now close to 4,000 acres of grapes in Douglas County.
“We’ve got about a 200-day growing season here so you can get multiple crops off,” Renquist says. “If you want to grow a longseason apple variety, it works. Our wine grapes do beautifully here
“A lot of California producers are buying land here because they can expand their growing to cool-season varieties, something they couldn’t do in California,” he says.
UV SPRING 2021
