OSU Extension's Amy Garrett: Dry Farming Success in Oregon
By Claire L. Phillips
TL;DR: Growing vegetables without irrigation by leveraging residual soil moisture can produce comparable or even higher yields and more flavorful produce.
- Dry farming uses residual soil moisture to grow crops.
- Early, deep planting and wider plant spacing are key.
- Some dry-farmed crops yield similarly to irrigated ones.
- Dry farming enhances flavor by concentrating sugars.
- It helps conserve water and is suited for specialty markets.
Why it matters: This approach offers a practical solution for farmers facing water scarcity, allowing them to maintain productivity and cultivate specialty crops with enhanced flavor profiles.
Do this next: Research and select crop varieties specifically tested and recommended for dry farming in your region.
Recommended for: Farmers and gardeners in temperate climates looking to reduce water use, enhance crop flavor, and explore sustainable growing practices.
This case study details the Dry Farming initiative led by Amy Garrett, an Assistant Professor with OSU Extension’s small farms programs in Corvallis, Oregon. It explores growing vegetables without irrigation by leveraging residual soil moisture from the rainy season. Key practices include seed selection of varieties tested for dry farming, deeper and earlier planting to access available water, and greater plant spacing to minimize competition. At a demonstration site at OSU, crops such as melons, tomatoes, potatoes, dry beans, and squash were harvested successfully without supplemental irrigation. Two varieties per crop were tested from early May to end of August, with yield evaluations at harvest. Results showed reduced- and no-irrigation plots performing remarkably well, remaining green and productive. Some crops achieved similar or higher yields compared to full irrigation. Sensory evaluations at a field day on August 9th ranked dry-farmed tomatoes against irrigated ones for color, texture, and sweetness; varieties 'Early Girl' and 'Big Beef' were comparable, while 'Jory' was preferred without irrigation. Dry farming offers benefits like more flavorful produce due to lower water content concentrating sugars, ideal for farmers with limited water rights or those targeting specialty markets. The approach integrates multiple practices: soil preparation, precise planting timing, and crop variety selection. Note that treatments were single plots without replication. This method supports water conservation in the Willamette Valley, providing a viable option amid unreliable water access. Producers report flavorful, marketable vegetables despite potentially lower yields. The study highlights practical implementation for small-scale farmers, emphasizing field-tested techniques over theory.