The Digging Fork
A Davis Garden Newsletter
September - October 2007
September
Planting Cool season annuals:
annual chrysanthemum
Perennials: everything
except frost tender plants,
snapdraggons, stock,
primroses, Iceland
poppies, pansies, etc.
Cool season vegetables:
Good idea to shade transplants
artichokes, broccoli,
cabbage, cauliflower,
see leeks, elephant garlic,
lettuce, bulbing onions
Plant notes
strawberries, alpine
strawberries
Cool season annuals
Seeding
directly Cool season vegetables:
into the Good idea to shade seedlings
arugula, beets, broccoli,
garden
carrots, Florence fennel,
kale, leeks, lettuce, dill,
green onions, parsnip,
see peas, radish, Swiss
Plant notes chard, turnips
Fertilize Lawns and roses as
needed
Fertilizing in early
September will help plants
grow through the winter.
Fertilize young fruit trees
Tomato hornworms – pick off
Pest & Snails, slugs and earwigs
Disease damage –use baits or traps
Aphids and whiteflies -can
Control spray off with water
Tasks Garden clean-up and
mulching begins -- find
space for new plants
Weed control continues
Divide hardy perennials
Order perennial plants for
see
fall planting. Order hardy
annual seeds for direct
Plant notes
seeding.
Plant, plant, plant!!!
Water Continue watering as
needed. Make sure new
plantings have the water
they need.
Calendar layout thanks to Lyle Wilen
CA native farewell-to-spring
October
Cool season annuals:
Annual chrysanthemum
Cool season bulbs
Perennials: everything
except frost tender plants
(see September)
Cool season vegetables:
artichokes, broccoli,
bulbing onions, cabbage,
garlic, shallots, leeks,
elephant garlic, lettuce,
strawberries, alpine
strawberries
Cool season annuals
Cool season vegetables:
arugula, broccoli, beets,
carrots, cauliflower, fava
beans, leeks, lettuce,
miner’s lettuce, green
onions, parsnip, peas,
radish, spinach, dill
Swiss chard, turnips,
cilantro
Cool season lawns as
needed
If you haven’t already, now
is the time to add soil sulfur
to citrus and other acid
loving plants and those
showing iron deficiencies.
(will lower the pH of soil making
iron more available to plants. Mix
soil sulfur with top 6” of soil and
water well)
See September.
Continue garden clean-up
and mulching, finding
space for new plants
Weed control continues
Divide hardy perennials
Planting continues!
Same as September
Ammi majus
cabbage knotweed
Planting Cool Season Annuals and
Biennials --Flowers and Vegetables
Growing annuals is not as easy as growing
perennials. Perennials are planted once and grow for
many years, usually only requiring some cutting back
or pruning each year. Annual flowers, herbs and
vegetables only live for one season and must be
replanted or reseeded each year. Some plants readily
disperse large quantities of seed in the garden that
germinate at the proper time. Unfortunately, the
seedlings often come up where they aren’t wanted
and/or in much greater quantities than needed. This
requires thinning. Annual flowers that self-sow give
the garden a more natural look as plants appear in
drifts and pop up in unexpected places.
Some annuals do not transplant well!! These often
have a tap root that is damaged when transplanting.
Direct seeding into the garden proves to be much more
successful and this is why nurseries don’t sell plants of
some of the annuals we want to grow. Some examples
of plants that are best direct seeded are carrots and
beets, poppies, cornflowers, sweet peas and our native
farewell-to-spring.
Many plants we treat as annuals in Davis are really
perennial plants in their native climate. Many of these
perennials are from tropical areas. Nurseries start
plants in greenhouses from cuttings or seeds so they
can then be transplanted into the garden in spring when
danger of frost has passed. Plants and seeds labeled as
a tender perennial (TP) or tender annual (TA) must be
grown here during the warm season as they are killed
by a frost. Don’t plant these now -- the best time to
direct seed and transplant is mid-April through May.
Because Davis usually has a mild winter with few
hard frosts, many annuals are grown in the cool season.
Plants and seeds labeled as hardy annuals (HA) will
take quite a bit of cold and are rarely killed in our mild
winters. These plants are best seeded or planted in the
fall. Another option is to seed or plant very early in
the spring, usually late January to early February, so
the plants still have plenty of cool weather for growth.
Most of these hardy annuals bloom in the spring to
early summer, but some, like knotweed will bloom all Marlene & Patricia’s Garden Workshops
summer until a frost. Workshops are held in Patricia’s one acre country garden in
Half-hardy annuals (HHA) can also be seeded in Davis. There is time to explore and ask lots of questions.
the fall, but unless we have a very mild winter there is Cost of workshop $25. If you bring a friend or spouse the
a good chance the plants will be lost. It is much safer cost is $20 per person. Class size is limited.
to plant or seed these in March. A couple examples are
Vegetables for Cool Season
cosmos and bells of Ireland. Sunday, September 23 12:30 to 4 pm
Biennials are plants that require two growing Fall Garden Cleanup and Planting
seasons to flower. They grow foliage the first year Sunday, October 7 12:30 to 4 pm
and must go through a cold period, or vernalization, (rain date October 14 12:30 to 4 pm)
before they will flower and set seed. After the seed is For more information or to register for workshops:
dispersed, the plant usually dies. Some biennials do Call Patricia (530) 753-0607 or Marlene at (530) 574-5680
live a year or two more, however. or email TheDiggingFork@gmail.com
Many of the vegetables grown in Davis during the
winter are biennials. The timing of planting is the most More local classes and workshops
important factor for success when growing vegetables. Landscaping with California Native Plants
Carrots are biennials. When planted in the fall they Classes and field trips are in Sacramento
will go through a cold period, and if not eaten, will bolt Classes: September 5 and Sept. 11 7 to 9 pm
and go to flower in the spring. When this happens, the Field trip: September 16 10 am to noon
For information www.sacsplash.org/nature/landscaping.htm
roots become woody and are no longer good to eat.
Master Gardener’s Autumn Gardening Festival
Carrots planted in the early spring will not bolt until Held at Woodland Community College
the following spring after the winter cold. It is Saturday, September 29 Registration begins at 8 am.
possible to eat these carrots into the summer. Parsley http://ceyolo.ucdavis.edu/Gardening_and_Master_Gardening/
is another biennial example. When transplanted into
the garden in the fall, they usually bolt, set seed and die
in the spring. Transplants added in the spring will
grow a whole year before bolting.
So now is the time to start thinking about
transplanting or direct seeding hardy annual and
biennial flowers and vegetables. Transplants will Iceland poppy breadseed poppy California poppy
start appearing in nurseries soon.
When direct seeding into the garden, the tender Plant sales and events
seedlings are choice food for birds, snails and slugs -- Plant Sale and Garden Snoop
so control will be necessary. And don’t forget to thin Sunday, September 30 11 am to 3 pm
seedlings! If plants are too crowed, they compete for Patricia Carpenter’s garden --36951 Russell Blvd., Davis
water, nutrients, sunlight, etc. Frances Andrews and Patricia have been propagating plants for
fall planting. Plant list will be sent to subscribers mid Sept.
Type of plant Code When to plant
Hardy annual HA Grow in the cool season in Davis. UCD Arboretum Plant Sale
Best planted/seeded in fall, also October 6 --the biggest sale of the year
late Jan. to early Feb. is possible. Preview tour Sept. 29 11am
Half-hardy annual HHA Some like cool conditions and Lots of great talks and tours coming up!!
some like warm. Best seeded or For information www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu
transplanted in March. California Native Plant Society Plant Sale
Tender annual TA Grow in the warm season. Seed September 22 9 am – 3 pm in Sacramento
Tender perennial TP or plant mid-April through May For information www.SacValleyCNPS.org
often treated as annual when the ground is warm and Fall Plant Sales at The Gifted Gardener
there is no danger of frost. September 15, October 6 and October 21 10 am to 3 pm
18th and J Streets, Sacramento. Sale benefits local charities
For information GardenNotes@sbcglobal.net
Davis Central Park Gardens Open House
October 3 4:30 to 7:00 pm.
For more information http://www.centralparkgardens.org
Davis Library Book Sale
October 5, 6, 7 Often good finds on gardening books
For information on times 757-5593
Davis Garden Club
Davis Public Library. 4th Monday of month, 7 to 9 pm
For information 222-3052 www.davisgardenclub.org
snapdragon scabiosa

2
 Plant notes!
Here is more information about some plants mentioned in this newsletter.

Cool season annuals:

annual chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum paludosum HA
Can buy plants. Self-sows, sun. 12” tall.
annual clary sage Salvia viridis HA Direct seeding best,
although can be transplanted. Sun. Self-sows.
Ammi majus HA Direct seeding best, sun. Self-sows, 3-5 ft. tall.
Great cut flower.
breadseed or opium poppy Papaver somniferum HA Direct
seeding is best due to taproot, sun. Self-sows, 3-4 ft. tall.
california poppy Eschscholzia californica HA Direct seeding
best, sun. CA native with taproot. Self-sows.
cornflower, bachelor’s button Centaurea cyanus HA Direct
seeding best, sun. Self-sows. Doesn’t like to be transplanted.
farewell-to-spring, godetia Clarkia amoena HA CA native.
Direct seeding is best, sun. Self-sows. Good cut flower.
A couple plots in Patricia’s garden that have been cleaned up, dug with a
Flanders, corn and Shirley poppy Papaver rhoeas HA Direct digging fork, mulched and are now ready to add more plants or seeds.
seeding is best – hates being transplanted. Sun. Self-sows.
forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica HA or biennial. Can direct
seed or transplant. Sun to part shade. Self-sows. Fall Garden Cleanup
larkspur Consolida ambigua HA Direct seeding best, sun. Hates By now many blooms have faded, stems have
transplanting. Seeds are poisonous!! Self-sows. 3-5 ft. tall, cut flower.
sweet peas Lathyrus odoratus HA Direct seeding is best.
toppled, and lush green has been replaced by blotchy
Soak seeds 24 hours before planting. Sun. Fragrant flowers. yellow out in the garden. While many plants will
knotweed, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate Persicaria continue to bloom until frost, it’s now time to start fall
orientale HA Direct seeding best, sun. Self-sows. 5-10 ft. tall!! cleanup. This should not be seen as a chore but a
red flowering flax Linum grandiflorum HA Easy to grow but
slow to germinate. Doesn’t transplant well. Sun. Self-sows. chance to prepare your garden for spring re-growth and
to make space for planting.
Perennials: Fall can be a daunting time for gardeners as they
autumn sage Salvia gregii Semi evergreen shrub, sun. contemplate how and when to clean up their garden.
butterfly bush Buddleja davidii Deciduous woody shrub
catmint Nepeta Herbaceous evergreen.
Garden clean up does not need to be a stressful
columbine Aquilegia Herbaceous evergreen with basal leaves. mystery. The key is to determine a plant’s growth habit
coneflower Echinacea Herbaceous deciduous that completely and then you will have a clue to that plant’s
disappears in winter. Plant location needs to be marked. maintenance needs.
coral bells Heuchera Herbaceous evergreen with basal leaves.
Iceland poppy Papaver nudicaule Short lived perennial grown
The first task is to determine if a plant is an annual
as annual. Easy to find in nurseries. or a perennial. A lot of summer annuals will have set
lemon verbena Aloysia triphylla Semi evergreen shrub, frost seed and may be ready to be pulled from the garden. If
tender. Best planted and pruned in the spring.
pulling them out will disturb surrounding plant roots,
Miscanthus Warm season grasses.
pansies Viola x wittrockiana Perennial grown as HA just cut to the ground. If the plant self-sows easily and
penstemon Penstemon Woody evergreen. more are wanted in the garden, shake the plant around
primroses Primula Polyanthus Group Plant under deciduous to release the seeds. If not, cut flowering stalks before
trees as they need summer shade.
seeds form.
scabiosa Scabiosa caucasica Herbaceous evergreen.
scented geranium Pelargonium Woody evergreen low shrub. The chart on the next page lists types of perennials
Frost tender - best planted and pruned in spring. and their maintenance needs. Perennials are either
shasta daisy Chrysanthemum maximum Herbaceous considered woody or herbaceous (soft stemmed).
deciduous plant that forms low clumps of leaves in winter. Sun.
snapdragons Antirrhinum majus Short lived perennial
However, due to our long growing season, many
stock Matthiola incana Short lived woody perennial often planted herbaceous plants will develop woody stems.
as an annual. Easy to find dwarf varieties in nurseries. A general rule of thumb is to cut stems that have
yarrow Achillea millefolium Herbaceous deciduous plant flowered back to new growth. This new growth can be
forming low clumps of leaves in winter.
found along the stem or coming from the ground. If
Cool season bulbs: you are not sure how to cut back a plant -- wait until
See July-Aug. newsletter for discussion about cool season bulbs. new growth is evident.
Now that plants are cut back, it is a good time to dig
Cool season vegetables and fruits:
Shade seedlings and keep them well watered until established
and mulch. Using a digging fork, gently dig around
Root crops (carrots, turnips, beets, parsnips, radish) Direct the existing plants trying not to disturb the roots.
seed. Transplanting damages the root!! Compost and/or fertilizer can be dug in as well. Then
Strawberries Fragaria June bearing and everbearing varieties add a layer of compost or mulch on top of the soil and
Alpine or woodland strawberries Fragaria vesca Easy to around the plants, but keep it away from woody stems.
grow, doesn’t produce runners. Red, yellow and white varieties.
Miner’s lettuce Claytonia parvifolia HA Easy to grow CA This will protect from compacting winter rains, help
native. A tasty green. Self-sows. Sun or shade. control weeds and improve the soil structure.
3
 Perennial Plants (not trees) and Their More gardening tips!
Maintenance Needs
Accidentally digging up bulbs. When cleaning and digging
Plant type Maintenance Examples in the garden, bulbs are sometimes dug up. If crowded, they
Woody plants Generally pruned in the Spring can be divided. Just replant, giving them more space to
deciduous dormant season blooming only: grow.
(December to February) lilac
Shrubs and vines that only wisteria When direct seeding a new variety you aren’t familiar
bloom in the spring are forsythia
spiraea.
with, plant some seeds in a pot to see what the seedlings will
pruned after they flower to look like.
avoid cutting off flower
buds.
Drip irrigation and plants/bulbs that like summer dry
Woody plants Semi-evergreen plants Evergreen:
may retain most of their conditions. If you have drip, there are sometimes drier
evergreen penstemon
leaves in a mild winter areas that don’t get as much water (away from emitters).
semi-evergreen This is a perfect area for plants that really don’t like summer
and can lose almost all in Semi-
a severe winter. evergreen: water. These include some California native plants and
Remove dead and autumn sage bulbs and many of the incredible South African bulbs.
diseased stems anytime. butterfly bush
lemon verbena Sacramento Garden Notes is a newsletter published by
Hardy perennials can be
(tender) Robert B. Hamm. There will be some information about
pruned right before new scented geranium
growth begins. plants that don’t do well in Davis. The September issue has
(tender) a nice article on native bees and how to attract them to your
For tender perennials, wait
until late spring when garden. GardenNotes@sbcglobal.net to subscribe.
there is no longer a chance
of frost before pruning or Ranunculus and anemone bulbs need to be planted now
cutting back. The old but no later than the middle of October. They need time for
foliage will help protect roots to form before the cold weather sets in. Don’t forget
plant from frost. to water.
Herbaceous Evergreen plants are cut scabiosa
evergreen back to new growth and catmint
flowering stems are
Sources for seeds of hardy annuals and vegetables:
removed. New growth Territorial Seed Company www.territorialseed.com
should be visible along Pinetree Garden Seeds www.superseeds.com
lower stems. Johnny’s Selected Seeds www.johnnyseeds.com
Herbaceous Foliage and roots emerge columbine Peaceful Valley Farm Supply www.groworganic.com
basal leaves from single point called a coral bells Wildseed Farm www.wildseedfarms.com
crown. Many of these Nichols Garden Nursery www.nicholsgardennursery.com
plants are evergreen. Cut
off dead flower stalks and
clean up old foliage
touching the ground.
Herbaceous Look for new growth Form clumps
deciduous emerging from the of leaves in
ground; remove all other winter:
foliage and flowering shasta daisy
stems. Because our yarrow
winters are mild, most
plants form a clump of
new growth that stays low
Dies
all winter and really starts
completely
to grow in the spring.
down:
In Davis, very few plants coneflowers
will die completely down
larkspur breadseed poppy
to the ground. It is a good
idea to mark the location
of these plants. Newsletter created by:
bulbs Wait for foliage to yellow gladiolus Marlene Simon -- UCD graduate in Horticulture
and start to die. Cut stems dahlias Patricia Carpenter -- Garden Design and Education,
to about 6” to help mark with 30 years of Davis gardening experience.
plant.
grasses There are cool and warm Miscanthus The bi-monthly newsletter is free if received by email. If mailed,
season grasses. Cut back the cost is $15 per year. To be added to the subscription list or to
to ground when new unsubscribe, contact us at: TheDiggingFork@gmail.com
growth starts.