US: WSU researcher warns Columbia Basin growers against planting too early

While the calendar may be telling farmers it’s time to plant vegetables across the Columbia Basin, mother nature is telling one potato researcher otherwise. Washington State University commercial vegetable specialist Tim Waters says the wet winter in the Tri-Cities is presenting challenging soil conditions for farmers and they should delay their planting. In addition, one potato farmer in Pasco is already making adjustments. “We’re waiting for the soil temperatures to get up a little higher around 45 degrees and we want them to dry out just a little bit more before we plant so it is delaying our planting just a little bit, we’re delayed by a week I think at the moment,” Pasco potato farmer Derek Davenport said. More