CHICO — Even as temperatures drop and daylight hours diminish each day, there's no reason for gardeners to forget about the plot until spring.
Quite the contrary, said horticulturist Alton Wright during his Saturday seminar, "It's Rap," at Patrick's Ranch south of Chico. As the main growing season of 2023 draws to a close, it's time to start planning and thinking about next year's garden now. It’s also helpful to take advantage of lessons learned from gardening this year.
“A garden is a continuous experience, isn’t it? "" Wright asked nearly two dozen people in attendance. He said he recommends "asking and answering the tough questions" about planting and gardening decisions this year "and using that information to make gardening and purchasing decisions next year."
Wright's tip: Take photos and keep lots of notes and sketches. Keeping a notebook with notes for each season will provide insight into the weather and how different crops are performing.
Wright said he's noticed that his daffodils, for example, are blooming a little earlier each year, another sign of the effects of climate change.
His 90-minute presentation was full of tips, information and advice for gardeners as winter approaches. As an example, he suggests using the “photo test” to determine if pumpkins and squash are ready to pick. By digging his thumbnail into the shell, he could see if there was any mark left on it; When that happens, “it’s usually not ready,” he said.
“The hard bark is mature and will last well through the winter,” he said.
Wright, who will earn a horticulture certificate from the University of California in 2022, lives south of Forbestown in Butte County, although Wright says he lives closer to the Yuba County line. The elevation is about 2,800 feet, which is important because being so far from the bottom of the Sacramento Valley affects the growth of young trees.
Another interesting fact he shared is that “cold weather does more damage when the soil is dry.” Rain can make things wet, but it may not return for several weeks, risking freezing plants. Washing your hands can help prevent this, Wright said.
Lots of advice
Wright covered a wide range of topics during his presentation, but never “summarized” any of them. He was happy to answer questions at any time, after which he chatted with some of the participants.
He discusses everything from composting to differentiating between "safe" varieties and disease-causing ones (throw the latter in the trash); plant a winter garden (for example, consider planting onions, garlic, spinach, peas and cabbage); and collect seeds for transplanting and trading.
Kay Perkins is one of only two survivors from the original class of 10 who received the title of master gardener in the area in 1975. In 2015, he raised funds for two years to cover the cost of establishing 'a demonstration garden at Patrick's Ranch, which is still in operation and now covers 1.5 hectares.
“It’s better than a classroom,” he said. “Patrick Ranch is a big fan of what we do. We do not charge any fees for the training we provide. We have fundraising tools, like plant sales, to pay for it.
Perkins described the Master Gardener program that got its start statewide in the 1960s. "They connect area programs with the university," he said, adding that Riverside is the first program in this guy in California; The other is in Sacramento.
After becoming a master gardener, a person earning the designation must volunteer 50 hours the first year and 25 hours each year thereafter. Wright's volunteer hours include weekend workshops. There is a continuing education component.
For more information about the Master Gardener program, visit ucanr.edu/sites/bcmg or call 530-552-5812 Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can also send questions to mgbutte@ucanr.edu.
