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Saturday's the day: Celebrate gardening (virtually)

Harvest Day also marks the release of 2022 Gardening Guide and Calendar

Green and purple grapes
Gorgeous grapes grace the cover of the 2022 Gardening Guide
and Calendar, which goes on sale Saturday.

When the UCCE Sacramento County master gardeners decided last winter that the 2021 Harvest Day would be virtual, just as it was in 2020, it seemed like an overabundance of caution. But with the recent revival of mask mandates and other coronavirus protocols, Harvest Day fortunately can be celebrated safely this Saturday, from the comfort of our homes or gardens.

Get a jump on events by watching master gardener Teri VanAirsdale in the 5-minute 2021 Welcome video ; she covers the full schedule.

The three keynote speakers' presentations also are online already, on the Sac County master gardeners' YouTube channel. Plus, speakers Fred Hoffman, Greg Gayton and Bill Krycia will answer gardeners' questions during a live session online Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

Then three webinars are scheduled, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring these master gardeners:

* Quentyn Young explores growing new and unusual edibles.

* Lori Ann Asmus provides inspiration for greening the indoor environment with houseplants.

* Ruth Ostroff shares her know-how and enthusiasm for the hardy, drought-tolerant bearded iris.

To receive the link to participate in these online events, register for free here: sacmg.ucanr.edu

All of these online events will be recorded for viewing later, as well.

Saturday also marks the release of the 2022 Sacramento Gardening Guide and Calendar, a popular fundraiser each year for the master gardeners. It's still bargain-priced at $10, including sales tax. It can be ordered online here starting Saturday . (Postage is extra if you order it mailed.) Local retailers typically carry it, too, in the fall. And in-person master gardener events, including the Sept. 11 Open Garden, will have it for sale.

Cherries on a calendar page
Each month includes information on the featured fruit, plus
garden tips for the month, and a suggested less-common fruit
to grow.
The theme for this year is "Fruit: Something Old, Something New," and each calendar month features a beautiful fruit photograph. This is more than just a calendar, though: It's packed with garden advice and planting charts, plus information specific to growing fruit as common as strawberries and as exotic as cherimoya.

Master gardeners Pat Turner and Angela Parker filmed a short preview of the Gardening Guide; view it here . (Full disclosure: In my other identity as a master gardener, I helped with the preparation of this year's Gardening Guide. Fun!)


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Dig In: Garden Checklist

For week of March 24:

In between cloud bursts, try to catch up with early spring chores. 

* Attack weeds now! Get them before they flower and go to seed. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout. Aim for 1 inch below the soil line.

* Start preparing vegetable beds. Spade in compost and other amendments.

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.

* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.

* Feed citrus trees, which are now in bloom and setting fruit. To prevent sunburn and borer problems on young trees, paint the exposed portion of the trunk with diluted white latex (water-based) interior paint. Dilute the paint with an equal amount of cold water before application.

* Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in that product).

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and trees after they bloom. Try using well-composted manure, spread 1-inch thick under the tree. This serves as both fertilizer and mulch, retaining moisture while cutting down on weeds.

* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.

* Seed and renovate the lawn (if you still have one). Feed cool-season grasses such as bent, blue, rye and fescue with a slow-release fertilizer. Check the irrigation system and perform maintenance. Make sure sprinkler heads are turned toward the lawn, not the sidewalk.

* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and cole family plants, such as cabbage, broccoli, collards and kale.

* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground.

* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.

* Shop for perennials. Many varieties are available in local nurseries and at plant events. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.

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