Debbie Arrington among speakers at event this Saturday at Orangevale Library
A treasure trove of seeds awaits at the free "seed libraries" hosted at Sacramento public libraries, including the one in Orangevale Courtesy Sacramento Public Libraries
Ever checked out seeds from a seed library? They're free, and at the Sacramento libraries that offer them, they don't even require a library card.
But then -- what to do with these little treasures? How does the gardener achieve success when growing edible and ornamental plants?
Those questions are the focus of Grow Orangevale, a free event 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 22. It is hosted, not surprisingly, by the Orangevale branch of the Sacramento Public Library, which is one of 17 libraries in Sacramento County with seed libraries.
"We hold this program every year to help promote our Heirloom Seed Library," says Bruce Barber, branch supervisor of the Orangevale Library. The goal is to "provide our community with as much information as possible to produce a successful garden."
Most of the event Saturday will be Q&A sessions with local gardening experts. Sacramento Digs Gardening's Debbie Arrington will appear at 11 a.m. to talk about avoiding common gardening pitfalls.
Also on the agenda: A representative from the Xerces Society will talk about pollinators for the garden, and a member of the Orangevale Garden Club will discuss gardening resources available in the community.
The library is at 8820 Greenback Lane, Suite L, Orangevale; the event will be held in the library's Jane Wise Meeting Room.
To find locations and other information about the seed libraries, go here.
Comments
0 comments have been posted.Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Food in My Back Yard Series
March 11: Ways to win the fight against weeds
March 4: Potatoes from the garden
Feb. 25: Plant a fruit tree now -- for later
Feb. 18: How to squeeze more food into less space
Feb. 11: When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants
Feb. 4: Starting in seed starting
Local News
Thanks to Our Sponsor!
Sites We Like
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.
Powered by California Local
