Recipe: Easy fig compote with orange and vanilla
Our yo-yo weather continues; watch out for signs of plant stress
Popular podcast host shares keynote speaker duties at Harvest Day
'Habitat Gardening' is the theme for the latest publication
Sunflowers can be planted in late summer for autumn blooms
Select local vendors, clubs and organizations bring wide range of specialties
Weather roller-coaster continues; triple-digit temperatures return this weekend
Recipe: Chunky or smooth, it's the fresh flavor of summer
Last days of July seem normal before 'cool' start to August
Possible varieties matched up with mislabeled jalapeños and purple bells; listen to podcast with Farmer Fred
Registration required for free event Aug. 6
Learn how to make your own 'garden gold'
Cycle and soak method is the best way to irrigate lawns in summer, especially in clay soil
Start seeds for fall, winter favorites for transplanting after Labor Day
Recipe: Cocktail features just-squeezed tomato juice
After record heat, some cool relief is on its way
Several vegetables and flowers can be planted in late July (just remember to water)
Plant talks, vendors, food and fun during annual gardening celebration
Cool spring challenged seedling growth, no matter the pepper variety
Easy irrigation method: Use a bucket with a hole in it
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
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