The Real Dirt blog covers regional gardening issues from soil health to planting for pollinators; from fire resistant landscaping to attracting wildlife. Read all about it!
Many school children in Butte County may soon be using their school gardens as living laboratories, engaging in science while planting, growing, and harvesting vegetables, thanks to the Butte County Master Gardener Living Lab Program.
Fall is the best time to plant garlic for a summer harvest. Both the softneck and hardneck types of garlic can be planted now. The softneck varieties are found in most grocery stores. They have a mild flavor and store very well.
As days shorten and temperatures cool, the pace of gardening slows along with plant growth. But there is still plenty to be done during the fall and winter months. In fact, much of what is done in the garden now will set the tone for the following year. Cleaning up the garden is an important chore.
The fungal disease oak root rot (Armillaria mellea) has evolved with California oaks and other native plants. It is parasitic on oaks and other plant species, but if these plants are growing in our environment of moist winters and dry summers, this fungus is normally kept in check.
