Gardening tasks in October
Published 11:53 am, Friday, October 4, 2013
In the Bay Area, rain clouds begin arriving in October. So now, not spring, is the best time to plant California native plants as well as to plant trees and shrubs in general. California natives typically go dormant during our rainless summers. They wake up and start a growth spurt with the advent of rain. Native California plant societies hold their biggest sales this month.
- Before setting plants in place, do a general fall cleanup. Raking up garden debris is essential in preventing the spread of insects and diseases. Fallen fruit and rotting vegetables also should be cleared away. Pots should be stacked and anything that could shelter over-wintering snails should be put away.
- Shop for fall color in nursery plants. Set out large fall and winter blooming plants such as pansies, Iceland poppies, calendulas and chrysanthemums plus in the coastal areas cineraria and nemesia.
- Buy and plant spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus, looking for plump, healthy bulbs. Chill tulip and hyacinth bulbs in the refrigerator and wait until November to plant them. Although they will bloom without this special treatment, they will bloom bigger and sooner with chilling.
- Sow seeds of spring blooming annuals such as farewell-to-spring (Clarkia oena), larkspur, love-in-a-mist and sweet peas.
- For the winter vegetable garden, plant bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, Chinese cabbage, garlic, leek, lettuce and spinach from nursery-bought seedlings, and beets, carrots, onions, peas and radishes from seeds.
- Direct rainwater from drain spouts away from the house foundation, but avoid turning the planting area around trees and shrubs into a swamp.
Dig those native plants
The annual Native Plant Fair of the East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 12) and noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 13 at Native Here Nursery at 101 Golf Course Drive in Tilden Park, Berkeley (across the street from the Tilden Park Golf Course). For more information on the sale, go to www.ebcnps.org; for information on the nursery call (510) 549-0211 or go to www.nativeherenursery.org.
Learn how to remove your lawn without tearing it out in a free 90-minute sheet-mulching demonstration at 10 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 12) at Orchard Nursery, 4010 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. For more information, (510) 859-8026. www.bayfriendlycoalition.org.
Handy guide for seed savers
Agronomist Andrea Heistinger's guide, "The Manual of Seed Saving," ($39.95; Timber Press) lays out the pros of raising plants suited to your environment and the importance of seed saving on crop diversity. Entries covering more than 100 fruits, vegetables and herbs include easy-to-follow tips on selection, harvesting, storing and propagating.