October 2002

Edible

Clean up flower and vegetable beds. Remove dead plants. If left in the garden, these plants can serve as overwintering homes for insects. Add a 2-3 inch layer of organic matter to the soil and dig it in. This will allow the organic matter time to break down and your bed will be ready to plant next spring.

Pick green tomatoes with no blemishes or soft spots. Wrap individually in newspaper and store in a dry place indoors. They should ripen in a few weeks.

Pick pumpkins at a local pumpkin farm. Avoid pumpkins with soft spots or blemishes. Keep a stem on the pumpkin. Do not hold the pumpkin by the stem. For a listing of local pumpkin farms, check out our Pumpkins & More site or call 773-233-0476 for a list.

Prepare for frost. Our average frost occurs in Chicagoland around mid-October. Frosts are often followed by a few weeks of growing weather. Remember last year's warm fall? Cover plants with floating row covers, newspaper or sheets. Be sure to cover tender plants like tomatoes and peppers. Lettuce and beets can survive a light frost while broccoli, cabbage, radishes and spinach can survive a hard frost.

Ornamental

Continue to mow the lawn as long as the grass is growing.

Lift tender summer bulbs such as dahlias, cannas, gladiolii and tuberous begonias after frost. Shake off soil, let the bulb dry and store in a cool, dark place. Check throughout the winter for shriveling or rotting bulbs.

Plant bulbs now. Bulbs can be planted until the ground freezes. Squeeze bulb between your thumb and index finger. The bulb should be firm to the touch and not feel hollow. Plant larger bulbs in groups of 5-12. Smaller bulbs should be planted in masses of 50 or more for a spectacular effect.

Protect bulbs from rodents. Plant daffodils. The daffodil bulb has a toxin in it which squirrels do not like. Another alternative is to dig out an area, plant your bulbs and cover them with 1/2 inch mesh hardware cloth.

Become a Master Gardener. Call 773-233-0476 for more information or apply online.

Watch for the Asian lady beetle. These beetles are multi-colored from yellow to red. Older homes will attract more beetles because they usually have more cracks for easy entry. If you were invaded last fall, you more than likely will be welcoming beetles this fall because they emit a phermone (scent) that persists.

Try goldenrod for late season color in the garden. Goldenrod makes a spectacular splash of yellow in fields and along roadsides. There are shorter types of goldenrod available for the small garden. Try one of these cultivars, 'Crown of Rays,' 'Golden Baby,' 'Golden Fleece' and 'Golden Thumb.'

Are branch tips form your trees falling to the ground? This is a common fall occurrence and is most likely caused by two beetles, the twig girdler and the twig pruner. Chewing of the branches occurs during the beetles‚ reproductive phase. Fallen branches can be up to two inches in diameter. Chemical control is not necessary.

Plant lilies now. During the first year growth and flowering from fall planted lilies is better than lilies planted in the spring. Small bulbs should be planted four inches deep and large one 6-8 inches deep.