Placer County master gardeners host Open Garden, veggie workshop at Loomis Library
Dream of growing your own bell peppers -- or other summer veggies? The Placer master gardeners have a free workshop for that, Saturday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m. in Loomis. Kathy Morrison
Sacramento County master gardeners have their Open Garden days; Placer County master gardeners have theirs, too – thanks to their new demonstration garden at Loomis Library.
Saturday morning, March 8, the Placer County master gardeners will be out in force for their monthly Open Garden Day at the Loomis Demonstration Garden. From 10 a.m. to noon, these local experts will be outdoors tending the garden’s flowers, vegetables and native plants while answering questions from the public.
Got a pest or other issue? Bring photos or samples (in a zipped plastic bag). These folks have answers. Admission and parking are free; just drop on by.
Also on Saturday morning, the master gardeners will host a free one-hour workshop, “Starting Your Summer Vegetable Garden.” No registration is required.
Yes, it’s still winter but time to think about summer, says the master gardeners.
“Nothing says ‘Summer’ like growing a vegetable garden,” they note. “This workshop will cover the basics of getting your garden off to a good start. Some of the topics that will be included are planning and layout, soil, what to plant, tips for growing from seed and more. This is a great workshop for both beginning gardeners and those who are experienced.”
That workshop will be held inside the library, located at 6050 Library Drive, Loomis.
The demonstration garden -- which marks its first anniversary this month -- also is open for viewing during regular library hours: Tuesdays 1 to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Details and directions: https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/.
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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
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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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