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Seize the day? How about 366 of them?



An invaluable calendar, and a bargain, to boot. (Photo:
Kathy Morrison)
Master gardener calendars are filled with expert advice

Next year is a leap year, so we get an extra day of gardening. But it's in February, so maybe it'll be an extra day of watching the rain and making gardening plans. (Why isn't Leap Day in April? or June?)

In any case, there are two great 2020 calendars available right now that are stuffed full of advice  from gardeners who know our climate and growing conditions. The calendars have been available for a few months, but this time of year is when folks really focus on the coming year. (And if you have your calendar already, they do make great gifts.)

The Sacramento County master gardeners' new Gardening Guide and Calendar has a theme of "Blossoms," with great photos of all kinds of blooming plants. It's sold for the bargain price of $10 (including tax),  with proceeds supporting the UCCE master gardener events such as Harvest Day.


The Placer County calendar is appropriate for Valley and
foothill gardeners. (Photo courtesy pcmg.ucanr.org)
"Gardening With a Purpose: Enrich Your Yard and Our Community" is the focus of the Placer County master gardeners calendar. Each month includes suggestions of what to plant, what's in season, timely reminders and irrigation tips, plus gorgeous photos and QR codes for additional information. It's also just $10.

You can find a list of local vendors who sell the Placer County Gardening Guide and Calendar at http://pcmg.ucanr.org/2020_Calendar/ or order it online at the same website.

Both master gardener groups also sell their calendars at their staffed events, including farmers markets and festivals.

-- Kathy Morrison

The website address for the Placer master gardeners is now correct. Apologies for the earlier error!

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Garden Checklist for week of April 27

Once the clouds clear, get to work. Spring growth is in high gear.

* Set out tomato, pepper and eggplant transplants.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash. Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom. Late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Transplant lettuce and cabbage seedlings.

* Weed, weed, weed! Don’t let unwanted plants go to seed.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Start thinning fruit that's formed on apple and stone fruit trees -- you'll get larger fruit at harvest (and avoid limb breakage) if some is thinned now. The UC recommendation is to thin fruit when it is about 3/4 of an inch in diameter. Peaches and nectarines should be thinned to about 6 inches apart; smaller fruit such as plums and pluots can be about 4 inches apart. Apricots can be left at 3 inches apart. Apples and pears should be thinned to one fruit per cluster of flowers, 6 to 8 inches apart.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

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