My To-Do List . . .

I still need to get the Christmas tree decorated and presents wrapped. We got more rain the last couple of days--another inch--so the ground is too wet to be working in.

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Planting by the Stars:

Tuesday-Wednesday--Libra–not good planting root crops; very good for above ground crops
Thursday-Saturday--Scorpio–2nd best for planting root crops; #1 planting above ground crops; good to set out fruit trees, flower bushes, vines
Sunday-Monday--Sagittarius–fairly good root crops, above ground crops; no transplanting

My To-Do List . . .

The rain has arrived! The weatherman said there wouldn't be much rain with this system, maybe half-an-inch, but I think we have passed that by now (noon). The snow is suppose to get down to 1,000 feet tonight, and maybe we will see a little snow in the valley. A second storm will arrive in a couple of days and is suppose to be warmer and wetter.

My To-Do List:
--Stay indoors and enjoy the rain!
--Stay warm!
--Put the Christmas tree up!

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Planting by the Stars:

Monday-Wednesday--Leo–not good for planting or transplanting; good to weed, make seed beds
Thursday-Saturday--Virgo–not good for planting or transplanting, good to weed
Sunday-Monday--Libra–not good planting root crops; very good for above ground crops

Remember that if the ground is wet, don't walk on the garden soil, much less dig or plant in it. Walking on or working the soil will compact it by removing the tiny air cells. The soil will become heavy like clay and need to be reworked once it has dried.

My To-Do List . . .

OK, I'm back, the laundry is done, and most things are caught up from our vacation. The weather was perfect and we had a good time at Disneyland.

This morning I went to the Garden of the Sun where a group of Master Gardeners gather each month to try to answer garden questions, and identify plant problems and insects. I found this beetle a few weeks ago, but couldn't find any information on it in my books or online. No one at the meeting knew what it was, either. The beetle was the size of a lady bug, but green with black and white spots. If anyone knows what it is, please tell me!

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Planting by the stars:

Monday-Tuesday--Aries–very good planting root crops; not good planting above ground crops or transplant
Wednesday-Friday--Taurus–#1 planting root crops; not good planting above ground crops; good for all transplants
Saturday-Sunday--Gemini–2nd best planting root crops, above ground crops, and transplants

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If you haven't had time to plant your fall garden, there is still a little time left, but not much. Lettuce, radishes, peas, green onions, spinach, garlic, onion sets, shallots, and carrots can be planted by seed. These may not produce before winter sets in, but you may get an early spring crop. The price of seeds is cheap--it doesn't hurt to try!

My To-Do List . . .

I have forgotten to do my to-do list for the garden, so I will start with today. I will be gone for about a week (leaving in a few days), so I will give the "planting by the stars" for the rest of the month. I haven't been working in the garden, partly because of the rain, and partly that I haven't planted any veggies this fall. I didn't want to plant veggies and then have them dry up while I was gone, but I may get some tomorrow anyway--it's hard for me to resist! And, looking at the planting signs below, it looks like I will have good planting days before I leave!

Planting by the Stars:

(Oct. 20-25)
Tuesday--Libra–not good planting root crops; very good for above ground crops
Wednesday-Thursday--Scorpio–2nd best for planting root crops; #1 planting above ground crops; good to set out fruit trees, flower bushes, vines
Friday-Sunday--Sagittarius–fairly good root crops, above ground crops; no transplanting

(Oct. 26-Nov. 1)
Monday--Capricorn–#1 planting root crops; 2nd best planting above ground crops and transplanting
Tuesday-Thursday--Aquarius–not good planting root crops; very good planting above ground crops (but not seeds, they will rot)
Friday-Sunday--Pisces–2nd best planting root crops; #1 planting above ground crops and transplanting above ground crops, trees, bushes, vines; good to weed

My To-Do List . . .

This week I need to get busy with my fall planting before it's too late! I plan to plant from seeds:

--carrots
--garlic
--lettuce
--peas
--turnips
--radishes
--spinach
--beets
--onion sets

--plus, get my little Meyer lemon tree into the ground

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Planting by the stars:

Monday--Sagittarius–fairly good root crops, above ground crops; no transplanting

Tuesday-Wednesday--Capricorn–#1 planting root crops; 2nd best planting above ground crops and transplanting

Thursday--Aquarius–not good planting root crops; very good planting above ground crops (but not seeds, they will rot)

Friday-Sunday--Pisces–2nd best planting root crops; #1 planting above ground crops and transplanting above ground crops, trees, bushes, vines; good to weed

My To-Do List . . .

We have a nice few days, where the temperature is suppose to be below 90', then it's back up to about 97'. The past two nights have been nice and cool, too--great sleeping weather! I haven't been planting any seeds because I am going to be in Idaho for a week and I didn't want to burden my husband with taking care of seedlings while I am gone--it's going to be hard enough for him to keep up with the watering of my producing vegetables! He is not a gardener, doesn't enjoy anything about gardening, but he is a good sport!

--water
--weed
--now is the time for the last summer pruning of dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees, cutting back half of the newest growth. This is also the time to trim the top any fruit trees you might want to bring back down to easier picking height. DO NOT TOP LANDSCAPE TREES!!! Fruit trees are not landscape trees--fruit trees are pruned for production. Do not remove much each year, only the new growth. If you drastically cut back your fruit trees, the result will be the same as landscape trees. This is what will happen if you top landscape trees:

"Topping won't work to keep trees small. After a deciduous tree is topped, its growth rate increases. It grows back rapidly in an attempt to replace its missing leaf area. It needs all of its leaves so that it can manufacture food for the trunk and roots. It won't slow down until it reaches about the same size it was before it was topped. It takes at maximum a few years before your tree returns to near its original size.

An exception to the grow-back-to-size rule comes if you damage a tree's health so it hasn't the strength to re-establish itself. It is, in effect, dying and will continue on a downward spiral for years. Topping can't make a significant size difference-not for long. The species or type of tree you have determines its size. A dogwood or Japanese maple may grow from 10 to 30 feet in its life, an oak or an ash from 10 to 90 feet. You can't "stop" trees with topping. If you succeed, you have killed them."

[From: Plant Amnesty]

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Planting by the stars:

Monday-Tuesday: Pisces–2nd best planting root crops; #1 planting above ground crops and transplanting above ground crops, trees, bushes, vines; good to weed
Wednesday-Thursday: Aries–very good planting root crops; not good planting above ground crops or transplants
Friday-Saturday: Taurus–#1 planting root crops; not good planting above ground crops; good for all transplants
Sunday-Monday: Gemini–2nd best planting root crops, above ground crops, and transplants

My To-Do List . . .

Can you believe how fast the crabgrass and other weeds have practically exploded out of the ground this past week or so? My husband had cleared the weeds from our front yard-- then yesterday he was astounded at how big the weeds were, again! The high heat has given way to the 90's and the nights are cooling down a bit--just right for plant (and weed!) growth. With that in mind, this week my to-do list will include:

--weeding the front yard
--planting some chives, green onions, kohlrabi, radishes and peas

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Planting by the stars:

Monday-Tuesday: Virgo--weed only, no planting
Wednesday: Libra--very good for above ground crops
Thursday-Saturday: Scorpio--#2 root crops; #1 above ground crops; OK for planting fruit trees, flower bushes, vines
Sunday-Monday: Sagittarius--fairly good root crops

My To-Do List . . .

This week will be a little different for me--I will be reorganizing my household and gardening, and setting some goals. Nothing big, it's just something I seem to do going into fall and spring. So, I won't be as focused on gardening this week, but I will still have my "fingers" in it!

My To-Do List:

--watering
--weeding
--planting chives, green onions, and kohlrabi

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Planting by the star* signs:

Monday-Tuesday: Virgo--no planting, just weeding
Wednesday: Libra--very good for above ground crops
Thursday-Saturday: Scorpio--2nd best for root crops; #1 for above ground crops; OK for transplanting trees, flower bushes and vines
Sunday-Monday: Sagittarius--fairly good for root crops

*for some reason I got stuck in "moon" sign mode, but they really are star signs!

My To-Do List . . .

All I have been doing in the garden is pulling a few weeds, and watering, watering, watering! So, I have the same list as last week!

--plant some beans, maybe corn
--fertilize my fruit trees

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Planting by the Moon:

Wednesday-Thursday: Libra--very good for planting above ground crops
Friday-Saturday: Scorpio--2nd best for root crops; #1 for above ground crops; good to set out fruit trees, flower bushes and vines
Sunday-Tuesday: Sagittarius--fairly good for root and above ground crops; no to transplanting

My To-Do List . . .

Not much work going on in my garden, with the temperatures ranging from 106' (today) on up to a 110 year record-breaker last Sunday with 112'. It's not uncommon for us to have these high temperatures in July. Some years we have a string of 110'+ temperatures that lasts a week or two, and can go up to 117' for days! With the heat, the best thing is to keep the plants watered well. I did get out this morning, before the sun got too hot, and weeded my vegetable boxes, but that's it!

My To-Do List . . .
--plant some beans, maybe corn
--fertilize my fruit trees
--stay in-doors as much as possible!

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Planting by the Moon

Tuesday: Gemini--2nd best for all crops, transplanting (protect those transplants by creating some shade for them until they are established)
Wednesday-Thursday: Cancer--#1 for all crops, transplants
Friday-Saturday: Leo--barren, not good for any planting; good time to weed, prune, remove plants/shrubs/trees
Sunday-Tuesday: Virgo--barren, not good for any planting

My To-Do List . . .

My husbands family has been in Fresno the past week and we have been enjoying each others company---so, that means I haven't gotten much done in the garden! I have been keeping up with the watering and picking up fallen fruit, though!

--fertilize the fruit trees, vegetables and flowers
--install another raised box garden (done! And, a 4th bed done!)

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Planting by the Moon: (yes, I finally found my Old Farmer's Almanac!)

Monday-Wednesday: Sagittarius---fairly good for root and above ground plants, not good for transplanting
Thursday: Capricorn---#1 for root and above ground plants; 2nd best for transplanting.
Friday-Sunday: Aquarius---very good to plant above ground plants, but don't plant seeds or they will rot.

My To-Do List . . .

--fertilize my fruit trees
--keep dropped fruit picked up
--try to keep everything watered!

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Planting by the moon:

Monday-Tuesday---Virgo: no planting or transplanting, this is a barren time
[I will post more when I find my Farmer's Almanac!]

My To-Do List . . .

I see that no one but Jill stepped up to the plate and answered my little garden quiz--so Jill gets the award for being right! Harvesting vegetables as early in the morning as possible will give you the best, freshest tasting produce possible. The more the day heats up, the more the plants will stress, which affects the taste and quality of the produce. Great Job, Jill!!

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My To-Do list:

--fertilize my fruit trees
--transplant my peppers into the new, big raised garden box (done)
--plant Golden Bantam corn seeds (done)
--cut back my apricot trees by half of the new growth (see picture) (done)

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Planting by the Moon:

Monday---Taurus: #1 to plant root crops, transplant all; 2nd best for planting above ground plants
Tuesday-Wednesday---Gemini: 2nd best for planting and transplanting all
Thursday---Cancer: #1 for planting and transplanting all
Friday-Sunday---Leo: no planting or transplanting (a good time to weed, prune)

My To-Do List . . .

Being that I didn't get much gardening done last week, I still have the same things to do! Except, I did harvest squash (and tomatoes and peppers!), which will be on-going through the rest of the summer.

---put in a new garden box (done)
---plant my new Meyer lemon tree

Planting by the moon signs:

Monday-Thursday:Pisces---2nd best for planting root crops; #1 for planting above ground crops, flowers, and transplants.

Friday-Saturday: Aries---very good to plant root crops, onions, beets; not good for planting above ground crops, flowers or transplanting.

My To-Do List . . .

---plant my new Meyer lemon tree
---put in one new garden box
---harvest squash!!


Planting by the moon:

Monday: Scorpio---2nd best to plant root crops; #1 to plant above ground crops, flowers; good to transplant fruit trees, flower bushes, vines.

Tuesday-Thursday: Sagittarius---fairly good for root
and above ground crops; not good for transplanting.

Friday-Saturday: Capricorn---2nd best to plant root and above ground crops; 2nd best for transplanting.

Sunday: Aquarius---very good to plant above ground crops, but not from seed (seeds will rot).

My To Do List . . .

I have a little "shade" garden on the north side of my living room. It actually gets sun, although not as much as the rest of the yard. I have this rock positioned so that the sprinklers fill the depression with water. It is more at the height for my cats to drink from---and they do!

I have this saucer in the same little garden and the sprinklers keep it filled with water, too. This one is for the toads; and the little frog that I found in our pool about 6 weeks ago. We have a couple of toads, but we need a lot more to help keep the bug population down.

My To Do List:

---tonight I will finish pruning my hedges! (done!!)
---I have a lot of canning to do this week, so
that may be it---I probably will pull weeds, though! (weeds--done; 2 batches of Loganberry jam, 1 batch of blueberry syrup)

Planting by the Moon:

Today: Leo---no planting or transplanting; kill weeds.
Tuesday-Thursday: Virgo---no planting or transplanting; kill weeds.
Friday-Saturday: Libra---very good for planting above ground crops.
Sunday-Monday: Scorpio---2nd best for planting root crops; #1 to plant above ground crops and flowers; good to set out flower bushes, vines.

My To Do List . . .

This week I have a few things I would like to get done in the garden---what's on your list??

---fertilize my stone fruit trees, tomatoes, carrots, roses (done)
---finish pruning the hedges (9/10 done!)
---transplant my veggie starts into larger pots (done)
---take out anything that's left from the cole crops (turnips, bok choi, etc.) [see next post above]
(done)

I finally got all of the weeds pulled from my main vegetable box and layed them on top of the soil as a mulch. It was mostly crabgrass and I caught it before it went to seed. Soon I will cover them up with flakes of straw, when I get more straw.

I didn't get the bone meal to go after the pill bugs and ants, but I plan to this week.

Planting by the moon signs:

Monday-Tuesday: Taurus---#1 for planting root crops, including peanuts; good for transplanting everything, with it being 2nd best for transplanting above ground plants.

Wednesday: Gemini---2nd best for planting root crops, above ground crops and transplanting all crops.

Thursday-Friday: Cancer---#1 for planting root crops, above ground crops and transplants.

Saturday-Monday: Leo---not good for planting or transplanting; good for killing weeds, bushes.

My To-Do List . . .

My to-do list for this week:
---yes, those hedges still need pruning!
---deadheading will go on though the summer!
---weeding will go on till the end of the world!
---plant my cucumber and melon starts (done)

Things I have gotten done that were not on my list:
---laid out three 100' soaker hoses to water most of my new fruit trees and blueberry bushes
---still baby-ing my little plant starts

Moon signs:

Monday is Aquarius---very good for planting above ground plants, but not seeds (they will rot).

Tuesday-Thursday is Pisces---2nd best for planting root crops; #1 for planting above ground plants, trees, bushes and vines.

Friday-Saturday is Aries---very good for planting root crops; not good for planting above ground crops, or transplanting; good to kill weeds, bushes; barren time.

Sunday-Tuesday is Taurus---#1 for planting peanuts, root crops; very good for canning, making pickles, and transplanting all plants; 2nd best for transplanting above ground plants.

My To Do List . . .

Monday---Scorpio. #1 best to plant above ground plants, flowers; 2nd best to plant root crops; and good for transplanting flower bushes and vines.

Tuesday-Thursday---Sagittarius. Fairly good for planting cucumbers and onions. Not good for transplanting anything.

Friday-Sunday---Capricorn. #1 for planting root crops; 2nd best for planting flowers and above ground vegetables; and 2nd best for transplanting all crops.

My to-do list:
---weed (I think this is a year-round to-do!)
---dead-head, especially the roses and geraniums (done)
---trim front yard hedges (procrastinating!)

My To-Do List . . .

Today we are in Libra, which is "very good" for above ground crops.

Sunday and Monday we will be in Scorpio---#1 for above ground crops and flowers, and second best for planting root crops. It is also good for setting out fruit trees, flower bushes and vines.

---trim front yard hedges
---weed (endless!)

*full moon tonight