Fall is the best time to plant perennials - those beautiful blooming and dramatic foliage plants that last from year to year, but may go partially or completely dormant (asleep) until spring. A fall planting gives the roots plenty of warm soil temperatures which when combined with cooling air temperatures, helps build stronger roots.   Stronger roots in fall and winter will provide more growth and blooms in the spring.   For example; Salvias, Lavenders, Baby's Breath, Cornflower, and many more.   What else in October?

»   Place your orders for bareroot fruit trees and roses at Morris Nursery.   (2012 Roses!)

»   Remove those snails by hand or use Sluggo bait around your plants. Dawn is the best time to spot them.

»   Rake fallen leaves that will now be changing and dropping with the world’s greatest rake that allows you to go right across sensitive bedding plants without disruption because of a unique plant friendly design.   Come see it!

»   Now is the time to plant your seedling plants such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, celery, parsley, sugarpod peas, winter squash, and lettuce.   Also plant garlic and shallots from bulbs and from seed.   Plant fava beans, carrots, beets, radishes, chives and turnips from seed.

»   Plant seedling flowers for fall and winter color.   Pansies, viola, snapdragon, stock, iceland poppy primroses and cyclamen are just a few of the beautiful bedding plants great for fall and winter.

»   Feed your lawn now with Master Nursery Fall and Winter Feed or choose Dr. Earth organic lawn food to strengthen your lawn for winter.

»   Begin feeding citrus once a month with 0-10-10 Master Bloom fertilizer to begin slowing down growth so foliage can develop toughness for the upcoming winter.   This will also help to sweeten the coming fruit.

»   Scale and mealy bugs are insects common to many plants including citrus and perennials. These can usually leave a sticky mess and a sooty mold caused by plant sap and insect excrement.   Apply the appropriate sprays now to control them.   Spray for ants as well because they may well be spreading these insects to your unaffected plants.

»   CHECK YOUR TREE STAKING !
    a) Make sure those stakes are secure and tied off well before those big winter rain storms and high winds arrive.
    b) Check the ties on older staked trees to make sure they do not cut into the tree.   If so simply move them up or down a few inches.

                                        Ron Hoffmann

Let There Be Light!
House/Office Plants Light Requirements

       Most people choose a houseplant which has the right shape, appearance, and price.   It is essential however, that it should also be right for the available light and warmth it will receive in its new home.   Each plant has its own likes and dislikes and it is important to find out a little more about those facts before you purchase your plant.   When carefully selected, your new plant may still get a little homesick even in good conditions and some varieties of plants can go through a temporary shock until they get acclimated to their new abode.   Don't assume that conditions must be wrong if the plant looks a little sad for the first few weeks.   Here are some basic guidelines to assist you in figuring out the right indoor light for your new houseplant:

  ¤ Shade: Well away from a window but enough light for you to be able to read a newspaper.   Aglaonema, many types of Philodendron, Mother in Laws Tongue

  ¤ Semi-Shade: Near a sunless window or some distance away from a bright window.   Aglaonema, many varieties of Dracaena, (including dragon tree, and corn plant), most Ferns, Fittonia, Prayer Plants, Ivy, Philodendron, Lady Palm, Lucky Bamboo, Kentia Palm and Peace Lily

  ¤ Bright but No Sun: On a sunless windowsill or near a bright window.   Anthurium, Begonia, Bromeliad, Spider Plants, Dumb Cane, Philodendron, Pepeormea (Mouse Tail), Aluminum Plant, Creeping Charlie, Schefflera, Peace Lily, Polka Dot Plants, Bamboo Palm, Grape Ivy, Weeping Fig, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Chenille, and African Violets

Year Round Spray & Fertilizer Schedule

  ¤ Citrus: Spraying for insects is only necessary when insects are present.   Aphis, Scale, and Snails are the main problems.   For aphis and scale, use Sevin or Dr. Earth Organic sprays.   Bait for snails with Sluggo or a metaldehyde Snail & Slug Bait.   Fertilize in spring and summer with citrus food - either Master Nursery Brand or Dr. Earth fruit tree food.   In winter use Master Nursery Master Bloom 0-10-10 monthly to improve fruit for the next year.   Prune to shape anytime except November, December, and January.

  ¤ Grapes: Spray or dust in spring on a regular basis for powdery mildew with sulfur.   Fertilize with a fruit tree food in February, May and September.   This is also true for all the other deciduous fruit trees, apples, cherries, peaches, etc.   Use amounts as directed on the package.

  ¤ Cherry, Plum , Pluot, Quince, Peach, Nectarine, Apricot: Dormant spray for disease with copper in December and mid February.   Use Liqui-Cop and Spray Grip mixed with water.   It is important to have at least 24 hours of dry weather after spraying.   Watch for Aphid infestations after new leaves come out and they can be sprayed with Orchard Spray or Take Down or an organic product.   There also may be a problem with powdery mildew on peach or nectarine fruit.   Use the same sulfur as on the grapes.

  ¤ Apples and Pears: Spray with Liqui-Cop with Spray Grip as flowers are in full bloom for fire blight and other diseases.   Spray BT Worm Killer or Sevin when flowers start to wilt for Codling Moths.   Traps are also available for codling moth control.   Watch for aphids and spray as needed with the above listed products.

  ¤ Pecans: Watch for aphids and fertilize like the other trees.
  ¤ Figs: Usually no spraying is needed.

       Pruning for all these fruit trees and grapes is done mostly
       in winter but some pruning can also be done in summer to
              help with size control of the trees.

        Use these warm and cool season vegetable charts to decide when to plant your vegetables for best results, whether you are seeding into pots, transplanting as seedlings from pots into the ground, or seeding directly into the ground.   Y stands for Yes, should work.   N stands for No, not recommended.   P stands for Possible, depending on your location, the microclimate in your garden, and the weather in a given year.   Note that some vegetables appear in both charts because they grow well year round.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Arugula

Seeds in pots

P

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

N

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

N

Basil

Seeds in pots

N

P

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Beans

Seeds in pots

N

N

P

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Direct seeding

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

N

N

N

N

Beets

Seeds in pots

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

N

N

Corn

Direct seeding

N

N

N

P

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Chard

Seeds in pots

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

Y

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

Y

Y

N

N

Direct seeding

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

N

N

Cucumber

Seeds in pots

N

N

P

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

P

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Direct seeding

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Eggplant

Seeds in pots

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Lettuce

Seeds in pots

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

Melons

Seeds in pots

N

N

P

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Direct seeding

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Peppers

Seeds in pots

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

P

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Squash, summer

Seeds in pots

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

P

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Direct seeding

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Squash, winter

Seeds in pots

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Direct seeding

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Tomatoes

Seeds in pots

N

P

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

P

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Arugula

Seeds in pots

P

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

N

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

N

Beets

Seeds in pots

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

N

N

Broccoli

Seeds in pots

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

P

Y

P

N

N

Brussels sprouts

Seeds in pots

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

N

N

Carrots

Direct seeding

N

Y

Y

Y

P

N

N

N

Y

N

N

N

Cauliflower

Seeds in pots

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

P

Y

P

N

N

Chard

Seeds in pots

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

Y

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

Y

Y

N

N

Direct seeding

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

N

N

Fava beans

Direct seeding

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

N

Garlic

Direct planting

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

Greens

Seeds in pots

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

N

(Mustard, Asian)

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

N

N

P

N

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

Lettuce

Seeds in pots

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

P

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

Onions

Seeds in pots

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Transplanting

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Peas

Seeds in pots

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

Direct seeding

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

N

Potatoes

Direct planting

N

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

N

N

N

N

N

Radishes

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

Y

P

P

P

Y

Y

P

N

Spinach

Seeds in pots

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

N

Transplanting

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

Direct seeding

N

P

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

P

N

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