| Gardeners in sunny Southern California can always | | | | bulbs now. We need to purchase the bulbs as |
| plant vegetables and flowers in September and | | | | soon as we see them in our nurseries, and home |
| October for their fall and winter enjoyment. Most | | | | and garden centers. The bulbs need to be fairly |
| gardeners in the mid section and northern states | | | | heavy for their size and firm when squeezed, if |
| are finishing up with their gardens for the year | | | | we aren't going to plant immediately, store them |
| and are getting ready for the winter frost. | | | | in a cool dry place until ready. Now is the best |
| We need to prepare our soil by removing all | | | | time for planting daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. |
| annuals, till the soil and add plenty of compost or | | | | When our summer vegetables are no longer |
| organic mix. If we wait a couple of weeks before | | | | giving us a good crop, which is usually late in |
| planting we will give the weeds time to germinate, | | | | September or October, we need to remove |
| thus removing them while they are small will be | | | | them and plant new vegetable plants that will |
| easier than waiting until later. At the end of | | | | continue to produce through the winter. Some of |
| September, we can start planting our fall and | | | | these vegetables are broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, |
| winter flower gardens. In September our nights | | | | and peas. |
| are usually cool and the days can be warm to | | | | The Santa Ana winds that we get can produce |
| hot, especially when the autumn Santa Ana winds | | | | chaos to our newly planted garden. The winds will |
| start blowing. In the sunny areas we can plant | | | | draw out the water from the leaves and the |
| delphiniums, larkspur, pansies, snapdragon, and | | | | shallow root system cannot replace it as fast as |
| Iceland poppy; the shady areas can take daisies | | | | the winds take it. If we don't provide enough |
| and primrose. | | | | water, the winds can destroy our garden in just a |
| Now is also the time of the year when our | | | | few days. Once the winds pick up we need to |
| perennials start losing their vividness. We need to | | | | quickly get the garden hose and give our precious |
| remove all the old summer flowers and to trim | | | | plants the needed moisture. |
| back the overpowering growth of the plants. We | | | | Sometimes fall gardening in Southern California can |
| can also plant some wildflowers by gently raking | | | | be pretty tricky, but as long as we keep on top |
| the soil, spread some seed, and lightly cover the | | | | of the wind conditions we should be just fine. |
| seed with soil. Once the rains come to Southern | | | | Having a winter vegetable garden is fun for the |
| California, these seeds will start germinating. | | | | entire family. |
| We need to start planting our spring flowering | | | | |