Planting at the optimal or best time for each variety increases your success rate and bounty. My Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), also known as Flor de Jamaica is sown in the spring (mid-April when the soil has warmed) to give the plants the benefit of all of the warm weather to grow. Pictured are the beginning flower buds and the plants are about 4.5 feet tall now. I should have a great harvest of the gorgeous cranberry colored and flavored calyx in late October/November. By the way, while waiting for the flowers, the delicious leaves can be used in salads or pickled.
I know the seasons are starting to change now - it was a low of 65 yesterday morning and right now I am drinking my first hot cup of morning coffee in 3 months (I switch to iced coffee when the weather heats up).
So, thyme for my monthly planting tips.
Remember you can have all my tips in one location with my 2017 Month-By-Month planting calendar. Now in 3 versions to suit your needs.
October PLANTING:
Spring!!! in the Desert - Heavy planting/sowing possibilities:
Anise
Bay, Greek (Sweet)
Beans, Fava
Beets
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cabbage, Ornamental
Caraway
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chervil
Chrysanthemum, Shungiku
Cilantro
Dill
Endive (and Chicory)
Fennel, Leaf
Fruit Trees
Garlic
Greens
Kale, Ornamental
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lavender
Lemon Grass
Lemon Verbena
Lettuce (arugula, leaf lettuce etc.)
Marjoram
Mints
Mustard
Myrtle
Onions, Green
Onions
Oregano, Greek
Oregano, Mexican
Parsley
Parsnip
Peas
Potato seeds (not seed potatoes - use seeds) ("seed potatoes" or cut pieces of potato should be planted Nov 1-Jan 1)
Radishes
Rosemary
Sage
Savory
Spinach
Tarragon, Mexican
Tarragon, French
Thyme
Turnips
EDIBLE FLOWERS TO PLANT:
Calendula
Carnation (Dianthus)
Cornflower (Bachelor Buttons)
English Daisy
Evening Primrose (Oenothera Berlandieri)
Hollyhock
Jasmine Sambac (Arabian)
Johnny-Jump Up
Marigolds, including Tangerine Scented (Tagetes Lemonii), Citrus Scented (Tagetes Nelsonii)
Nasturtiums
Pansies
Primrose
Scented Geraniums
Shungiku Chrysanthemum
Snapdragons
Stocks (Matthiola)
Sweet William (Dianthus)
Sweet Alyssum
Violet
GARDEN TIPS for October
"Spring in the Desert" - we call fall our spring because this is when we do most of 'heavy' garden work, trees, shrubs and cool weather edibles all go in now.
The beginning of primary perennial planting season is now through February.
Cool weather annuals and biennials can be sown every 2-4 weeks (beginning in August) through end of November for a continuous crop through next spring.
Garlic: Plant garlic cloves no later than October 31st to ensure full maturity of garlic heads in the spring. Plant extra if you want ‘green garlic’ (used like scallions) through the cool months. The ‘green garlic’ can be harvested when the clove below the soil swells slightly.
This is the beginning of bare-root planting season. Asparagus, raspberry, blackberry, grape, and strawberries may start showing up in your favorite garden nursery.
If you have ever-bearing berry vines, cut them down to the ground after the fruit is finished. (This is easier than trying to keep track of which are the oldest canes — commercial growers use this practice.)
Aphids are a major problem with cabbage family - forestall infestations. Add a fingertip of Dawn to 1 quart of water. Shake, pour 1/4 cup down center of each plant once a week
Make and use a safe soap spray on aphids on other plants (the aphids like our cool nights too!). 1 teaspoon each of dawn and vegetable oil to 1 quart of water. Spray every 5 days for a minimum of 3 repeats to keep them under control. Neem spray is a good alternative.
FREE Seed Share - September 30th
FREE Lecture - October 1st
Have a great time in the fall garden!
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
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1 comment:
RE: Aphids. Yes White Flies are a form of aphid and can be a serious pest in the garden. The like our cooling nights just as much as we do. You can use homemade safe soap spray or neem spray to control, but you must follow a routine to get and keep them under control. Hard hose the plants off first. Then spray in the late afternoon after the sun is off the plants. Then spray again in 5 days and again 5 days after that and monitor the plant. Try to avoid beneficial insects like bees, lady bugs etc. because the spray can kill them also. The initial spray kills the bulk of them, the 2nd spray gets the missed ones and the 3rd spray kills the new hatchlings (some aphids are live bearing so the follow up sprays are doubly important). Safe sofa spray: 1 quart of water to which you add 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent and 1 teaspoon of any vegetable oil (I save my good oils which are too old to cook with for this purpose). Thank you for commenting. It helps others too.
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