Visit master gardeners at the State Fair Farm, pet a live sturgeon
More than 70 different crops grow at the California State Fair Farm. Photo courtesy California State Fair
Of course, it’s hot! It’s time for the State Fair!
As much a Sacramento tradition as scorching summer days, the California State Fair returns Friday for its annual agricultural celebration of the Golden State.
From July 12 through 28, the fair will fill Cal Expo with such traditional favorites as nightly concerts, livestock exhibitions, horse racing and lots of food.
Also back this summer is the 3-1/2-acre California State Fair Farm, a growing display of California’s top crops.
Once again, the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Sacramento County will be stationed at a booth in the middle of The Farm to answer patrons’ questions. Make sure to drop by and say hi.
“(At The Farm), guests are able to get a Save Mart Passport and learn about more than 70 crops grown in California, learn all about pollinators and their importance in California agriculture, as well as pet a live sturgeon in the aquaculture display,” organizers note of The Farm. “Receive water saving tips during California’s drought by visiting the water-efficient gardens sponsored by the Department of Water Resources and get gardening tips from our Master Gardeners booth.”
Many of the Farm displays are kid-friendly, with plenty of wow factor. See how kiwi grows (on vines overhead) and pint-size fruit trees with harvest in easy reach. Say the organizers, “The California State Fair Farm is an essential part of mobilizing interest for young minds to pursue a career in agriculture and to further contribute to our bountiful state and sustain the industry.”
Sacramento’s triple-digit heat is supposed to subside (at least a little) during the State Fair’s run with most days topping out in the 90s. Just in case, cooling stations will be available at several sites throughout Cal Expo. Most exhibition buildings and parts of the grandstand are air conditioned.
Cal Expo is located at 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento. Fair hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. Online advance admission tickets are $16. Senior admission (age 62 and up) is $12; every Friday is Senior Day with $10 admission. Youth admission (ages 5-12) is $10. Children age 4 and younger admitted free. Parking: $15.
Details and advance admission tickets: https://calexpostatefair.com/.
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Garden Checklist for week of Feb. 16
Take advantage of this nice weather. There’s plenty to do as your garden starts to switch into high gear for spring growth.
* This is the last chance to spray fruit trees before their buds open. Treat peach and nectarine trees with copper-based fungicide. Spray apricot trees at bud swell to prevent brown rot. Apply horticultural oil to control scale, mites and aphids on fruit trees.
* Check soil moisture before resuming irrigation. Most likely, your soil is still pretty damp.
* Feed spring-blooming shrubs and fall-planted perennials with slow-release fertilizer. Feed mature trees and shrubs after spring growth starts.
* Transplant or direct-seed several flowers, including snapdragon, candytuft, lilies, astilbe, larkspur, Shasta and painted daisies, stocks, bleeding heart and coral bells.
* In the vegetable garden, plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers, and strawberry and rhubarb roots.
* Transplant cabbage and its close cousins – broccoli, kale and cauliflower – as well as lettuce (both loose leaf and head).
* Indoors, start peppers, tomatoes and eggplant from seed.
* Plant artichokes, asparagus and horseradish from root divisions.
* Plant potatoes from tubers and onions from sets (small bulbs). The onions will sprout quickly and can be used as green onions in March.
* From seed, plant beets, chard, lettuce, mustard, peas, radishes and turnips.
* Annuals are showing up in nurseries, but wait until the weather warms up a bit before planting. Instead, set out flowering perennials such as columbine and delphinium.
* Plant summer-flowering bulbs including cannas, calla lilies and gladiolus.
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