Columns
GV Gardening: October is the month for planting
By Mary Kidnocker
If you like puttering in the garden, this is your month. All year long, we hear that October is the best month for planting. It’s here, and with planning out of the way, it’s time to start digging holes and installing your selections.
Always looking first at native and desert-adapted plants, among favored perennials are Baja fairy duster, Chihuahuan sage, blackfoot daisy, Mount Lemmon marigold, many varieties of salvias, moss verbena, and chuparosa.
Accent plants and small shrubs include desert spoon, jojoba, creosote, a number of agaves, and Santa Rita prickly pear.
If you need a larger shrub, consider Arizona rosewood, hopbush, Texas mountain laurel, various saltbushes, yellow bells, aloysia, or the cassias. Trees that are not frost-tender may be planted now. Good choices might be sweet acacia, Texas ebony, palo blanco, desert willow, canyon hackberry, or Chinese pistache.
Why is October the recommended month to plant? Planting now allows time for development of a sturdy root system before the plants’ first summer. With cooler temperatures in autumn, they escape the drying, hot winds, while recovering from transplant. The average date for first frost in this area is in late November, so there is also time to become established before cold weather may appear.
Nearly all types of hardy ground covers, shrubs, trees, and vines develop strong roots and thrive when planted this month. However, do not plant palms from now until May. They do not accept cool soils, may fail to establish a healthy root system, and either languish or die. In general, it is also not recommended to fertilize or prune any trees in October.
This is the perfect time to add an herb collection to the garden or containers for the patio.
Set out transplants of chives, Mexican tarragon, oregano, and thyme. Seeds of cilantro, parsley, or dill may be sown. “From the garden to the kitchen” is a good cool season crop theme.
It is time to start spreading wildflower seed. Choose a sunny spot; scratch up the soil lightly; broadcast seeds; and cover with a thin layer of soil. Then keep the area moist until seeds germinate. A daily light sprinkling will do. Packets of mixed wildflowers especially chosen for this area are available.
If you prefer one particular plant such as Arizona lupines, California poppy, penstemon, or desert marigold, these seeds are also sold in nurseries and garden centers.
Certain vegetables can be container grown or tucked into pots with your ornamentals. Toss in a few seeds of arugula, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes, or any of the various lettuces. This can act as a filler for containers, add a background of softness ... and is another example of “from the garden to the kitchen.”
There is still time this month to set out transplants of cool weather vegetables. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, garlic, shallots, and onion sets are generally available. If you are a seasoned vegetable gardener, your tomatoes are already showing off! More of the “garden to kitchen” theme.
For winter color, it is time to start setting out transplants of your favorite annuals, such as pansy, petunia, snapdragon, sweet alyssum, poppy, calendula, and stock. There are many colorful, lively hybrids available for choosing. Most of these plants survive, or even thrive, with little or no protection during our mild desert winters.
Keep in mind that as temperatures cool, the frequency of watering should be reduced. However, the duration of each watering should remain the same throughout the year. Adding a layer of mulch around your plants will help conserve moisture, insulate roots, and discourage winter weeds. A 4-inch layer of organic material is ideal, but gravel or decomposed granite will also help.
Have we now established that October is the month for planting? It is also a month of cool morning freshness, clean blue skies, soft dry breezes, and crystal clear nights. Whether in the garden or not, enjoy autumn in the Santa Cruz Valley ... without the thoughts of ordering the firewood, raking mountains of leaves, or anticipating the coming snow and ice events!
Mary Kidnocker is a Master Gardener who writes frequently about the subject from a local perspective. Her columns are featured each Sunday. She is currently President of the Green Valley Gardeners.
Always looking first at native and desert-adapted plants, among favored perennials are Baja fairy duster, Chihuahuan sage, blackfoot daisy, Mount Lemmon marigold, many varieties of salvias, moss verbena, and chuparosa.
Accent plants and small shrubs include desert spoon, jojoba, creosote, a number of agaves, and Santa Rita prickly pear.
If you need a larger shrub, consider Arizona rosewood, hopbush, Texas mountain laurel, various saltbushes, yellow bells, aloysia, or the cassias. Trees that are not frost-tender may be planted now. Good choices might be sweet acacia, Texas ebony, palo blanco, desert willow, canyon hackberry, or Chinese pistache.
Why is October the recommended month to plant? Planting now allows time for development of a sturdy root system before the plants’ first summer. With cooler temperatures in autumn, they escape the drying, hot winds, while recovering from transplant. The average date for first frost in this area is in late November, so there is also time to become established before cold weather may appear.
Nearly all types of hardy ground covers, shrubs, trees, and vines develop strong roots and thrive when planted this month. However, do not plant palms from now until May. They do not accept cool soils, may fail to establish a healthy root system, and either languish or die. In general, it is also not recommended to fertilize or prune any trees in October.
This is the perfect time to add an herb collection to the garden or containers for the patio.
Set out transplants of chives, Mexican tarragon, oregano, and thyme. Seeds of cilantro, parsley, or dill may be sown. “From the garden to the kitchen” is a good cool season crop theme.
It is time to start spreading wildflower seed. Choose a sunny spot; scratch up the soil lightly; broadcast seeds; and cover with a thin layer of soil. Then keep the area moist until seeds germinate. A daily light sprinkling will do. Packets of mixed wildflowers especially chosen for this area are available.
If you prefer one particular plant such as Arizona lupines, California poppy, penstemon, or desert marigold, these seeds are also sold in nurseries and garden centers.
Certain vegetables can be container grown or tucked into pots with your ornamentals. Toss in a few seeds of arugula, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes, or any of the various lettuces. This can act as a filler for containers, add a background of softness ... and is another example of “from the garden to the kitchen.”
There is still time this month to set out transplants of cool weather vegetables. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, garlic, shallots, and onion sets are generally available. If you are a seasoned vegetable gardener, your tomatoes are already showing off! More of the “garden to kitchen” theme.
For winter color, it is time to start setting out transplants of your favorite annuals, such as pansy, petunia, snapdragon, sweet alyssum, poppy, calendula, and stock. There are many colorful, lively hybrids available for choosing. Most of these plants survive, or even thrive, with little or no protection during our mild desert winters.
Keep in mind that as temperatures cool, the frequency of watering should be reduced. However, the duration of each watering should remain the same throughout the year. Adding a layer of mulch around your plants will help conserve moisture, insulate roots, and discourage winter weeds. A 4-inch layer of organic material is ideal, but gravel or decomposed granite will also help.
Have we now established that October is the month for planting? It is also a month of cool morning freshness, clean blue skies, soft dry breezes, and crystal clear nights. Whether in the garden or not, enjoy autumn in the Santa Cruz Valley ... without the thoughts of ordering the firewood, raking mountains of leaves, or anticipating the coming snow and ice events!
Mary Kidnocker is a Master Gardener who writes frequently about the subject from a local perspective. Her columns are featured each Sunday. She is currently President of the Green Valley Gardeners.
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