i am growing food: Rancho Cordova Garden Club at the Library, Friday September 2nd, 2011

GETTING READY FOR FALL or HEDGING OUR BETS

1. What’s Next…

Remember we can plant all year long here and almost always be getting something out of the garden. In fact many of us find fall a much more pleasant time to garden than in the blistering heat of summer. Bear in mind this has been a very cool and wet summer in here in Sacramento and all bets are off as far as what to expect.

Quoted from the Bee:

Here are a few summer '11 weather facts:
• Only five 100 degree days so far. Normal is 23 times a year.

• If Sacramento fails to reach 100 again, it will be the fewest 100-degree days since 1982.

• 16 of the past 17 months have been cooler than normal. December 2010 was the exception.

(Source: Sacramento Bee)

Story Date: August 18, 2011

2. What to Plant…

Beets, Bok Choy, Pak Choi, Broccoli, Broccolini, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chard, Green Onions, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Spinich, Strawberries, Turnips, Rutabega, Lettuce, Mustard and other cool season greens.

A Hint from Redwood Barn in Davis:

Plant cover crops where you aren't going to have a garden this winter. These will suppress weeds and build the soil, and many will make nitrogen. Fava beans, bell beans, vetch, clovers, and annual ryegrass are all good cover crops.

Seeds should germinate well now in the soil as the ground is still warm. Make sure to keep seeds moist until they sprout and then gradually taper off watering as they get bigger eventually reaching a reasonable watering pattern.

3. Harvest the Rain.

Put in a rain garden

Google images

http://www.google.com/search?q=rain+garden&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=I_1fTqq9NazXiAKK0qmqDg&ved=0CDkQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=575

Your trees will love you.

4. Books

The $64 Tomato

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqI_e023dNY

Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart

http://vimeo.com/4805474

Weeds: In Defense of Natures Most Unloved Plants by Richard Mabey

Also Graham Davis

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/07/137550209/weeds-in-defense-of-botanys-cockroach

5. Armchair Garden Tours

Art of Bruno Torfs

Marysville wiped off the map – 700 homes –45 deaths of 173 total (or 35 people of the towns 500) – 14 of 400 building survived

http://www.brunosart.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv7koRVfpzE

Black Saturday Bushfires

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfires#Marysville_area_.28Murrindindi_Mill_fire.29

Swan Island Dahlias