Christmas is upon us and it's the season for gardening opportunities. It's the perfect time to appreciate the remaining fall colors, sit in front of a crackling fire, and enjoy this month's festivities.
Summer baseball players take time off to have fun, so gardeners should take advantage of this time. No sowing, fertilizing or weeding, no worries. Right? Forgive me when you are beautiful.
Here's what you can do in the garden this month to help your mental development.
Start building those new flower beds. Planting them now gives the soil time to settle and prepare for spring planting.
Swim in the garden on a lounger. Consult plant and seed catalogs for ideas.
Don't forget the partridge in the tree, the pigeons and all those birds chirping. There are many birds you can eat. Therefore, clean bird feeders, insecticides and seed and hair feeders.
Our hummingbird friends need a constant supply of nectar in their feeders. Note. Nectar prices have doubled, so if you really want a new car, try attracting butterflies.
Different bulbs to plant: bulbs, anemones, crocuses, daffodils, freesias, gladioli, hyacinths, irises, daffodils, white paper, poppies, snowdrops and tulips.
Amaryllis, Christmas cacti, cyclamens, hyacinths, kalanchoes and poinsettias create beautiful Christmas colors. According to Bellevue University, “amaryllis plants can live up to 75 years with proper care. I planted mine when I was... Oh no, I don't... You don't know how old I am. This means I was born very young.
Imagine a living Christmas tree in a pot. This will save you money compared to cutting down all the trees at once. It is eco-friendly and with a little care it can be moved inside next December.
This month, consider giving gifts of fruit and potted plants from your garden to friends and gardeners. This is not only a sign of good neighborliness, but also a way to protect yourself from annoying aphids, insects and smelly leaves.
As a bonus, offer them an aged rum cake that has been transformed countless times. Ho Ho Ho
The summer harvest is over, it's time to harvest apples, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, grapes, cabbage, coriander, leeks, lettuce, parsley, spinach and turnips.
Powdery mildew is present in our region year-round and thrives in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees. This fungal disease causes white spots on the leaves of tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini. A garden affected by powdery mildew can still be productive. Use neem oil, sulfur, non-toxic vegetable oil or organic fungicide. It's like giving those pesky fungi a taste of their own medicine.
Due to the decrease in sunlight in summer, indoor plants are less common. Check them regularly for scale insects, mites, thrips, whiteflies and larvae. Houseplants like cool temperatures between 65 and 75℉.
According to Grangetto Farm & Garden Supply: "As the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter, return your water meter to water more often." It is not necessary to change the number of minutes during which the system waters each time, just change the frequency.
Mow the grass so it stays about two inches tall. If your lawn needs attention, plant annual rice seeds for new growth. Apply a light layer of soil conditioner and water well.
Look for insects, fungi or weeds before spraying. According to SouthernLiving.com, “You can kill natural enemies without knowing what the pest is by spraying.” Or you could use the wrong product and kill the plant. When in doubt, take a sample to a nursery or the Cooperative Extension Service and ask them to identify it for you. It's better to ask stupid questions than to correct stupid mistakes.
Some annuals to plant: bachelor buttons, begonias, marigolds, celosia, chrysanthemums, cosmos, larkspur, marigolds, nasturtiums, pansies, petunias, primroses, snapdragons, stasis, sauerkraut, sweet peas and zinnias.
Tulips, crocuses and hyacinths should be refrigerated for six to eight weeks before planting.
Some vegetables to plant: chard, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cabbage, lettuce, radishes and turnips.
Some herbs to plant include: basil, fennel, coriander, fennel, lavender, mint, parsley, rosemary, and thyme.
Some perennials to plant: allium, Asiatic lily, aster, astilbe, clematis, echinacea, daisies, daylily, forget-me-not, geranium, rose, hydrangea, lavender and roses.
Store azaleas, bougainvillea, dahlias, fuchsias, hibiscus, plumerias, poinsettias and rhododendrons in old sheets or large cardboard boxes. If you use a plastic sheet, make sure it doesn't touch the leaves.
Winter plums are used by fruit trees, vines, aloes, holly (only the female bears red berries), Japanese maples, roses, sage and wisteria.
Most bare trees require a certain number of "chill hours" to bear fruit the following season. Make sure your region meets this requirement.
Seedlings are harvested from new bare-root shrubs and trees around the second week of December.
A soil moisture meter is a useful tool that allows you to test your soil to ensure you are providing the right amount of moisture for your plants to grow. No experience is required, and you don't even have to be smarter than a fifth grader to use it.
If necessary, azaleas, marigolds, camellias, cyclamens, delphiniums, carnations, foxgloves, pansies, peonies, poppies, snapdragons and violets can be replaced. You can also plant asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, grapes, rhubarb and strawberries.
Plan what you want to grow next spring and add it to your holiday list. Added to this are the essentials such as tools, gloves and, of course, an air-conditioned four-wheel John Deere tractor.
Think back to last year's gardening successes. If you have difficult failures, don't worry, be happy. Imagine how happy these 10 gentlemen are every year.
Every failure is an opportunity to grow. Either you collect or you study. Turn your green thumb brown.
On average, gardeners have an IQ 30 points higher than the average person. Okay, I made that up. But for now it made me feel better, which is what gardening is supposed to be about.
Happy holiday.
Schmidt is a Poway resident with more than 40 years of gardening experience.
