Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The warm weather is causing seeds to
germinate, so far corn and peas have
sprouted.  The warm weather above
60 degrees is creating MORE diseases. 
Apple can get MORE apple scab so
wash when picked.
Pick squash and dry them out. 
Get off of wet ground.



Sunday, October 28, 2012


Discovery - I was out in the garden
and where the peas had been growing,
some peas that had fallen to the ground were
sprouting and growing.  So, we will see how
well they grow since it is almost November.
Last few blackberries and the last Fallgold
raspberries.  All done :(
Broccoli still going very well.  Got a 7 inch
cutting Friday, more coming on.
Hazelnuts harvest nearly over.
Prune rapsberries.
Start pruning tree fruits after leaves fall or
Dec. 1st which is only 5 weeks away.
Apple trees still holding the fruit.
The lawn may need mowing in the
next week or two between rain storms.
Mulch the unused garden area with 6 inches
of mulch or compost.  This will keep the
soil from compacting.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Pretty good weather for the week.
More rain forecast.
Some hazelnuts being "mudded" out due to the rain.
Apples and Asian pears - still good crop.
Grass seed and winter grains up and growing.
Ag activities slowing down.

Broccoli doing well, crop number 8.
Tomatoes - nearly done.
Winter squash - doing OK.
Still have artrichokes growing, slowly.
Some zuchini.
Cabbage - regrowing  from the earlier harvest.

Sunday, October 21, 2012


Before it really gets cold, you MIGHT try to
put in a cover crop of fava beans or buckwheat,
but it is going to need some warm days.  For a
cool cover crop, any of the grains will do well,
but can be harder to till under in the spring.

Saturday, October 20, 2012


Another great weekend, a little rain but nice most of the day.
Great pumpkin weekend - only 11 days left.
Tomatoes still coloring.
Celery OK.
Apples and Asian pears - nice.
Weeds growing too well.

Friday, October 19, 2012


Hazelnut growers scrambling to harvest nuts
during the dry days.
Rain is much needed for winter crops.
Still need about 10 days for the hazelnut
harvest for late falling nuts.
Pumpkin crop - a lot of pumpkins still waiting
for the public to arrive to purchase.
Fall apples - slowly ripening, need
a few days good sunshine.
Tomatoes and other warm season veggies
 - barely hanging on.  Lots
of frost and cold damage.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012


Grass and lawns are re greening with the rain.
Broccoli - doing very nicely.
Some squash such as winter  squash
and zucchini - are still blooming!!!!  Go for it!!!
Garden weeds jumped up at least a 1/2 inch  :(
Letting the prickly lettuce weed seed as
the plant attracts aphids in the garden.

Monday, October 15, 2012


Boy has the rain come back.
My front lawn which has been without
water for two months, is turning green in
less than two days after the first rain.
Tomatoes are covered in plastic, time will
tell if they survive this very wet weather.
Good thing I mowed all of the tall weeds
 in and around the garden.
Apples and late pears doing OK.
Fall broccoli is alreaday 6 inches across.
Picked all of the acorn squash and they are in
the green house curing, vines were dead.
Winter squash still have a green stem and
when you scratch with your thumb nail,
the skin indents = still green.






















Thursday, October 11, 2012

More great weather.
Rain predicted, but no clouds yet, yeah for the garden.
Protect the tomatoes with plastic.
Bring garden equipment in or under cover.
This rain will cause many weeds to grow and
the LAWN, so don't put the lawn mower away yet.
Lots of apple cider being made.
Fall raspberries doing great, especially the golden type.
Warm season veggies near end of production. 
If tomatoes get wet and then the weather
turns warm = late blight.


Sunday, October 7, 2012


More good weather.
Hazelnuts falling due to the windy weather.
Broccoli - coming in strong.
Lots of people doing lots of canning and drying.
Basil being hit with the cold weather.
Pumpkins and squash looking good, scratch
the skins;  if the knife doesn't indent the skin-
the squash are ripe or the stems are hard and tan color.
I am hoping for a few more artichokes.
Egplantgs - done.
Celery - doing OK.



Friday, October 5, 2012

Apple and Asian pear crop continue.
Hazelnuts dropping nicely with the windy days. 
Harvest has begun in some areas.
Great apple and pear weather, bad weather for
warm season crops.
Frost in some areas already, watch the
weather forecast for freezing temps.
Grass seed and winter wheat being planted, 
some growers irrigating the crop up.
Irrigation still needed in most mid valley
counties, many young hazelnut trees have
excessive leaf burn due to lack of water
in August and Sept.

Thursday, October 4, 2012


Apple crop - good.
Broccoli -7th crop.
New Fall crop - looking very good,
6 inch heads.
More cold morning.
Pleasant Hill had frost.
Onion and garlic - doing well.
Tomatoes - still ripening.
Eggplant - done.
Irrigation - needed for garden and tree fruits.
Place diseasy pumpkin and cucumber
plants with powdery mildew in hot
compost or cold compost pile.


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Protect warm season plants for the next
 to nights/mornings.  Cover with Remay,
 sheets or jug of water.

Monday, October 1, 2012


Even though it seems to be dry, if we look at the weather charts:
Prec. month to date - down 1.21 inches
Prec. year to date:  3.44 inches ahead of last year
Prec. since 10/2011 - 3.19 inches down from previous year.

So, even with the dry weather we are close to normal. 
Hint:  Water the garden and the yard, the soil is dry.

Blossom end rot or the end of tomatoes get a scabby
end,mean either toooo much water - probably not; 
not enough water - very likely in most gardens; or
too hot  yes;  or too cold;  yes, the last three weeks. 
Solutions:  add mulch to the soil or use drip hoses;
add lime to the soil, rototill lime (rate of 50 pound
per 1000 sq feet).