Ahhhhh…. it’s that wonderful time of year when we get a second chance to start a garden. Fall is considered Sacramento’s “Second Spring”. Some would argue that it’s an even better time to plant than Spring. Why? Because it’s a time of year when plants will focus on putting down roots, so by the time Spring rolls around and shoots emerge, your plants will be settled in and ready to bust out some leaves, blooms or fruit! And if Mother Nature cooperates this season, she’ll do most of the watering for you.
Here’s what you can plant, starting this month–
Spring-Blooming Bulbs
Early this month, we’re expecting the arrival of Dutch bulbs from family-run Netherland Bulb Company. We’ve ordered a colorful array of tulips, daffodils, Dutch iris, saffron and autumn crocus, allium and freesia. We’ll post to Instagram when they arrive, and our Instagram posts automatically cross-post to Facebook and Twitter!
Wildflowers
Wildflowers are surprisingly easy to grow from seed and Fall is the best time to plant them in our area. In most cases, you’ll want to look for the sunniest, least cultivated parts of your yard. Then follow these tips from Renee’s for prepping your soil before sowing. Many of us don’t even fuss over the soil and simply scatter seeds in a sunny bare spot and forget about ’em. Be sure you know how to recognize emerging sprouts and if you use a landscaping service, make sure emerging seedlings don’t fall victim to the string trimmer.
Trees, Shrubs & Vines
Fall is the best time for planting all trees, shrubs and vines, with the exception of tender tropicals and subtropicals (i.e. citrus). Gentler temperatures and dry weather make for easy planting and good root establishment. If you’re planting for Fall color, it’s advantageous to select plants showing the color(s) you want, because individual trees, shrubs and vines vary in their coloring. What you see is usually what you get.
Cover Crops
Our gardens gobble organic matter like candy. A great way to rebuild nutrient and organic content in our depleted soils is to plant a cover crop. A Fall-planted cover crop. We carry large packets of different cover crops, and the Scatter can from Renee’s. For bulk seed, check your local farm supply store.
Cool-Season Herbs, Veggies & Color
While we’ll miss basil, zinnias and tomatoes when their prime growing season has passed, it’s kind of exciting to be able to plant lettuce, pansies and cilantro again! Our tables are full of cool-season veggies such as lettuce, broccoli, kale and more. Remember, veggies, herbs and flower starts can sell down quite a bit over the weekend, but we work hard to restock each week for a full selection on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday since that’s when most people shop.
We buy like this every week until the planting season winds down and our thoughts turn to making room for Christmas trees. So now is the time to plant, while our growers are pumping out cool-season starts and we’re stocking our tables with them. It’s also a great time to start many seeds indoors or in the greenhouse. If we’re experiencing high temperatures, consider shading newly planted starts until temperatures drop.
Native California Plants
Fall is the best time for planting California native plants, because establishing them now follows their natural growth cycle. Young seeds and starts germinate or put down roots with the first rains (supplement with water if rain is sparse) and mild Fall weather, they settle in over winter, and explode into growth come Spring. Once established, many natives require little to no supplemental water.
