Tuesday's rain gets new water year off to good start
Make the most of bountiful harvests with these favorite recipes – all in one place
Final event of the year focuses on fall planting, composting and more
But it's only good enough for second place as Minnesota mega-gourd breaks world record at championship weigh-off
Fall brings shorter days, but still hints of summer. Celebrate with more than 60 seasonal recipes
Recipe: Chilies, cumin flavor a double-duty sauce
Much cooler temperatures coming soon; plant now!
ARS conference in Sacramento features huge rose show; plus hear Debbie talk roses and horses
From Woodland to Placerville, plenty of possibilities -- and a propagation workshop, too
Annual festival celebrates humongous gourds and family fun
Free community party features food, music, shopping and family fun
More than 30 clubs and vendors will offer wide range of plants, crafts, garden stuff and more.
Recipe: Fresh apple muffins with vanilla yogurt.
Light rain, cool temperatures and warm soil create great conditions for planting fall garden.
Patches are now open at local nurseries with thousands of possibilities; what to look for when pumpkin shopping.
Yolo master gardeners also to present garden talk, plant sale soon
Pumpkin contests, workshops and games are part of garden fun for the whole family
Get water-wise favorites and California natives in time for fall planting.
Sacramento show highlights floral freedom of expression
Spiced coffee cake an ideal treat for early-fall breakfast
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
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Garden Checklist for week of Oct. 20
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the planting hole, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioli, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest apples and pears. Pick up fallen fruit.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.