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Learn about seed saving and swapping

Placer County master gardeners host free in-person workshop

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED JAN 2, 2024

Hmm, there's bound to be seeds to swap in this collection. Learn about seed saving and sharing during a Placer County master gardener-led workshop Jan. 13. Kathy Morrison

What does a gardener do on a cold, damp January day? It’s a good time to sort seeds (before ordering new packets).

You also may want to swap some extra seeds with gardening friends – or get ready to save seeds for future growing seasons.

Learn all about saving and sharing seeds during an upcoming free workshop. Hosted by the UCCE master gardeners of Placer County, “Seed Saving Flowers and Vegetables” will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Loomis Library. No advance registration is necessary.

“Did you know that National Seed Swap Day is January 27, 2024?” say the organizers. “Honor the great U.S. tradition of swapping seeds with neighbors and sharing warmth with your community. You will learn the basics rules for seed saving, germination requirements by species, how to grow plants identical to the parent plant and how to preserve heirlooms.”

Not only will you be saving seeds, but saving money, too: Growing vegetables and flowers from seed costs a fraction of buying transplants. The one-hour class will cover all the basics to get you started.

Loomis Library is located at 6050 Library Drive in Loomis.

Details and directions: https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/.

Note: A Sacramento seed swap is scheduled 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Fair Oaks Library. See details here.

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seeds seed saving January UCCE master gardeners free class weekend event Placer County Sacramento gardening Loomis

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Garden Checklist for week of May 19

Temperatures will be a bit higher than normal in the afternoons this week. Take care of chores early in the day – then enjoy the afternoon. It’s time to smell the roses.

* Plant, plant, plant! It’s prime planting season in the Sacramento area. If you haven’t already, it’s time to set out those tomato transplants along with peppers and eggplants. Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.

* Direct-seed melons, cucumbers, summer squash, corn, radishes, pumpkins and annual herbs such as basil.

* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.

* In the flower garden, direct-seed sunflowers, cosmos, salvia, zinnias, marigolds, celosia and asters.

* Plant dahlia tubers. Other perennials to set out include verbena, coreopsis, coneflower and astilbe.

* Transplant petunias, marigolds and perennial flowers such as astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia and verbena.

* Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, earwigs and aphids that want to dine on tender new growth.

* Feed summer bloomers with a balanced fertilizer.

* For continued bloom, cut off spent flowers on roses as well as other flowering plants.

* Don’t forget to water. Seedlings need moisture. Deep watering will help build strong roots and healthy plants.

* Add mulch to the garden to help keep that precious water from evaporating. Mulch also cuts down on weeds. But don’t let it mound around the stems or trunks of trees or shrubs. Leave about a 6-inch to 1-foot circle to avoid crown rot or other problems.

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