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Mon, Oct 09, 2023

Citrus Heights giant pumpkin sets new state record

But it's only good enough for second place as Minnesota mega-gourd breaks world record at championship weigh-off

Mon, Oct 09, 2023

Taste Fall!

Fall brings shorter days, but still hints of summer. Celebrate with more than 60 seasonal recipes

Sun, Oct 08, 2023

A little yogurt magic for grilled chicken, vegetables

Recipe: Chilies, cumin flavor a double-duty sauce

Sat, Oct 07, 2023

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Oct. 8

Much cooler temperatures coming soon; plant now!

Fri, Oct 06, 2023

See (and smell) the best roses from four states

ARS conference in Sacramento features huge rose show; plus hear Debbie talk roses and horses

Thu, Oct 05, 2023

Fall plant sales galore this weekend

From Woodland to Placerville, plenty of possibilities -- and a propagation workshop, too

Wed, Oct 04, 2023

Giant pumpkins coming to Elk Grove

Annual festival celebrates humongous gourds and family fun

Tue, Oct 03, 2023

Loomis celebrates 36th annual Eggplant Festival

Free community party features food, music, shopping and family fun

Mon, Oct 02, 2023

Shepard Center hosts annual Fall Sale

More than 30 clubs and vendors will offer wide range of plants, crafts, garden stuff and more.

Sun, Oct 01, 2023

Apple-packed muffins for fall on the go

Recipe: Fresh apple muffins with vanilla yogurt.

Sat, Sep 30, 2023

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Oct. 1

Light rain, cool temperatures and warm soil create great conditions for planting fall garden.

Fri, Sep 29, 2023

How to pick a perfect pumpkin

Patches are now open at local nurseries with thousands of possibilities; what to look for when pumpkin shopping.

Thu, Sep 28, 2023

Cactus, succulents focus of free class Sunday

Yolo master gardeners also to present garden talk, plant sale soon

Wed, Sep 27, 2023

Green Acres hosts free Fall Festival at all seven locations

Pumpkin contests, workshops and games are part of garden fun for the whole family

Tue, Sep 26, 2023

UC Davis Arboretum hosts big plant sale

Get water-wise favorites and California natives in time for fall planting.

Mon, Sep 25, 2023

Sogetsu Ikebana pushes boundaries of flower arranging

Sacramento show highlights floral freedom of expression

Sun, Sep 24, 2023

Bake with apples, blackberries to bridge the seasonal shift

Spiced coffee cake an ideal treat for early-fall breakfast

Sat, Sep 23, 2023

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Sept. 24

Autumn starts on cool side – with a chance of rain coming soon

Fri, Sep 22, 2023

Oriental fruit flies found near Rancho Cordova

Eradication efforts underway to stop the spread of this highly destructive pest

Thu, Sep 21, 2023

On latest Farmer Fred podcast, hear master gardeners' tips for fall

Advice for the vegetable garden, orchard, roses -- and late-summer produce

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Taste Fall! E-cookbook

Muffins and pumpkin

Find our fall recipes here!

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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 24

In between rainy episodes this week:

* Keep your gutters and storm drains cleared. Watch out for leaning trees or weakened branches; if you spot trouble, call an arborist.

* Remember to turn off the sprinklers or other irrigation. Be careful walking on or working with wet soil; it can compact easily.

* On rainy days, do some indoor gardening. Tend to houseplants. Sort seed packets. Start seed indoors for cool-season veggies and flowers.

* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.

* Rake and compost leaves, but leave at least some healthy leaves in planting beds for nesting insects and foraging birds. But dispose of any diseased plant material. For eample, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.

* If you decide to use a living Christmas tree this year, keep it outside in a sunny location until Christmas week. This reduces stress on the young tree.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* After they bloom, chrysanthemums should be trimmed to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. If in pots, keep the mums in their containers until next spring. Then they can be planted in the ground, if desired, or repotted.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers such as California poppies and plant spring bloomers such as as sweet peas, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.

* Plant garlic and onions.

Taste Spring! E-cookbook

Strawberries

Find our spring recipes here!

Taste Summer! E-cookbook

square-tomatoes-plate.jpg

Find our summer recipes here!

Taste Winter! E-cookbook

Lemon coconut pancakes

Find our winter recipes here!