Possible varieties matched up with mislabeled jalapeños and purple bells; listen to podcast with Farmer Fred
Registration required for free event Aug. 6
Learn how to make your own 'garden gold'
Cycle and soak method is the best way to irrigate lawns in summer, especially in clay soil
Start seeds for fall, winter favorites for transplanting after Labor Day
Recipe: Cocktail features just-squeezed tomato juice
After record heat, some cool relief is on its way
Several vegetables and flowers can be planted in late July (just remember to water)
Plant talks, vendors, food and fun during annual gardening celebration
Cool spring challenged seedling growth, no matter the pepper variety
Easy irrigation method: Use a bucket with a hole in it
Stay hydrated and give your plants a morning shower
Recipe: Peaches and cookies chill in a cool treat
Intense heat will challenge midsummer garden
Sign up now for Green Acres workshops at all locations
Free UC webinar on 'Natural Enemies & Beneficial Bugs'
Emphasis will be on food with return of festival; visit master gardeners at The Farm
Tips to help keep gardeners, gardens more comfortable in triple-digit weather
Bearded irises are a perfect addition to water-wise Sacramento gardens.
Recipe: Spinach-mushroom-pancetta frittata for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Garden Checklist for week of Dec. 22
* Between showers this week, check on your garden’s welfare. Clean up fallen branches and other debris. Don’t let water pool near foundations.
* When working (or just walking) in the garden, be careful of soggy ground; it can compact easily. Soggy soil also will rot newly planted bulbs. Wait until the soil is moist but not dripping wet.
* Rake leaves away from storm drains and gutters. Recycle those leaves as mulch or add to compost.
* Brighten the holidays with winter bloomers such as poinsettias, amaryllis and cyclamen indoors, and Iceland poppies, calendulas, pansies and primroses outdoors.
* Keep poinsettias in a sunny, warm location; bring them inside at night or if there’s rain. (They don’t like cold, wet weather.)
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while they’re dormant.
* Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing for the winter.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.
* Seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Once soil dries out a little, trees and shrubs can be planted now, especially bare-root varieties such as fruit trees or rose bushes. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from winter rains.
* Plant bare-root berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.