From grape pruning to worm composting, hands-on 'mini-talks' provide wealth of information -- all free!
Master gardener Vivian Sellers checks over the lemon verbena she is pruning at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center. She and Maria Schiffler will present a mini talk on "Beyond Basil: Kitchen Herbs" (including lemon verbena) at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. Kathy Morrison
Harvest Day is all about garden education (while having fun). That’s why the Sacramento County master gardeners started this event in 1998 – to help people become better, more informed gardeners.
Set for Saturday, Aug. 3, Harvest Day 2024 offers a wealth of garden knowledge, shared by these local experts. And best of all – it’s free!
No advance registration is necessary. Just show up at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center in Fair Oaks Park between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to take advantage of this event, Sacramento’s largest free garden gathering of its kind.
How big? An estimated 3,000 patrons showed up for Harvest Day 2013. Depending on the weather (how hot and how soon), this Saturday’s turnout likely will top 2,000.
In addition to featured speakers, vendors and educational tables, Harvest Day offers several “mini-talks” by master gardeners. These 30-minute presentations are held in the demonstration gardens to provide real-life examples and hands-on experiences. As always, the master gardeners are available to answer questions, too.
The hardest part? Deciding which mini-talks to attend. Fortunately, the presentations are split between only two locations, but each one has competition from another wonderful talk (in addition to the three featured speakers – Kevin Marini, Ed Laivo and Greg Gayton – at the main Speakers Tent. https://sacdigsgardening.californialocal.com/article/190071-harvest-day-2024/)
Here’s the full schedule of mini-talks (with locations):
8:45 a.m. – Tips for Successful Grape Growing.
Presented next to the Kiwi/Grape Arbor
8:45 a.m. – Beyond Basil: Kitchen Herbs
Meet at the Lower Arbor
9:30 a.m. – Why and How to Press Plants
Kiwi/Grape Arbor
9:30 a.m. – Cane Berry Pruning
Lower Arbor
10:15 a.m. – Wonderful World of Succulents
Kiwi/Grape Arbor
10:15 a.m. – Controlling Codling Moths
Lower Arbor
11 a.m. – Grapevine Propagation
Kiwi/Grape Arbor
11 a.m. – Espalier Trees
Lower Arbor
Noon – Composting with Worms
Kiwi/Grape Arbor
Noon – Amending Soil pH for Blueberries
Lower Arbor
The Fair Oaks Horticulture Center is located at 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, in Fair Oak Park, just south of Madison Avenue.
For more on Harvest Day: https://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Harvest_Day/.
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Food in My Back Yard Series
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Garden Checklist for week of March 16
Make the most of dry breaks between showers. Your garden is in high-growth mode.
* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.
* Prepare 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 (but avoid piling it up around the trunk). This serves as both fertilizer and mulch, retaining moisture while cutting down on weeds.
* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.
* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and cole family plants, such as cauliflower, broccoli, collards and kale.
* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground. (To speed germination, soak beet seeds overnight in room-temperature water before planting.)
* Before the mercury starts inching upward, this is your last chance to plant such annuals as pansies, violas and primroses.
* 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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