Bay Area Almanac
Find monthly garden tips, news, recipes, and more for productive gardens throughout the Bay Area.
January
Seed and bare-root catalogs are the ideal cure for winter blues. And nurseries are starting to receive their bare root fruit trees and berries. Now is a good time to order seed potatoes, asparagus and artichokes.
VEGETABLES:
Sheet compost your vegetable beds to help keep weeds down and add nutrients. If it’s raining, make a cup of coffee and order your seeds from catalogs. Then read a trashy novel. You may still be harvesting from fall-planted veggies, but any open beds can be sown with:
▪ Onion; Leeks (from seed) (Onions from sets aren’t recommended in the Bay Area.)
▪ Collards (set plants)
▪ Fava Beans
▪ Rhubarb; Artichokes (last month to plant sets) and Shallots (from sets )
Meanwhile, plant these vegetables inside for transplanting outdoors in about two months: Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards; Parsley, Chayote
FRUIT TREES
January is the peak time for dormant pruning of deciduous fruit trees—with the exception of apricots, which should be done after the harvest in August. Make sure you’ve cleaned up all the fallen leaves and fruit, especially around apples and pears, and prune out any fireblight damage, disinfecting your clippers after each cut. See our March Almanac for other organic control methods against Codling moths–watch for the ‘petal fall’ stage in apples. Remember, most home orchards do not need much dormant pruning–the best time to prune to control size is during the summer.
QUALITY TIME
You’re not doing chores! You’re spending quality time in your garden! Fruit trees will appreciate a layer of hot compost around them, as you spread the compost and work it into the soil pull up any weeds that have appeared. Remove any snail ‘condos’—especially around strap-leafed plants such as Agapanthus. If you have frost-tender plants-especially certain citrus and subtropical, be sure to protect with row cover fabric http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/row-covers/5111.html
JANUARY GARDEN HARVEST
• Beets and Carrots from October-sown seeds
• “Swiss Army Chard” made it through the cold snap; plenty of sorrel, the last of the Chayote, and peppers if they have been covered to prevent frost damage.
• Meyer Lemons and Satsuma Mandarin Oranges are ripening now.
February
February is the prime month for planting bare-root berries and fruit trees. Time to start your tomatoes indoors. Dormant prune deciduous fruit trees
VEGETABLES:
Sheet compost your vegetable beds to help keep weeds down and add nutrients. You may still be harvesting from fall-planted veggies, or maybe you’d rather read ‘The Wonders of Tibet,’ but any open beds can be sown with: • Onions, Leeks; Radish, Carrots, Beets; Lettuce, Chard, Arugula, Kale
• Collards (set plants) Rhubarb; Artichokes and Shallots
• Fava Beans, Peas, Potatoes
Outside it’s rainy & cold, but inside is cozy—perfect for starting Tomatoes !
FRUIT TREES
Bare Root season is peaking now, so if there are fruit trees or berries you lusted after last summer, purchase them now. Dormant prune deciduous fruit trees—except apricots, (done in May.) Watch for fireblight on apples and pears, and prune out, disinfecting your clippers after each cut. Spray with a sulfur/dormant oil mix to control codling moth, aphids and powdery mildew, but don’t spray if rain is likely within two days. Repeat every 10 days or until the ‘petal-fall’ stage. Last chance to spray for control of brown rot on Plums, ch erries and nectarines
QUALITY TIME
You’re not doing chores! You’re spending quality time in your garden! The plums are just starting to bloom, and the cherries and apricots are coming into bud. Take a moment to look closely at the flowers and observe as tiny fruit forms. Watch for weeds, hoe out as soon as they appear, leaving desired 'volunteers' and wildflowers for forage. Bait for snails using "Sluggo,’ especially around citrus. you spread the compost and work it into the soil pull up any weeds
FROM THE GARDEN
• Brussel Sprouts, Kale, Beets and Carrots from October-sown seeds
• “Swiss Army Chard” make it through the cold snap; sorrel.
• Meyer Lemons and Satsuma Mandarin Oranges are ripening now.
March
El Niño hasn’t given us much time for the garden this year, and has wreaked havoc on Plums, Apricots and other ‘Stone’ fruits, whose blossoms can succumb to brown rot in rainy spring weather. But gardeners are ‘perennial’ optimists, and will start spring planting now. Remember, VIGILANCE is essential to control weeds and snails.
VEGETABLES
You can sow these cool season root, leaf and legume crops directly from seed
• Beets, Carrots, Radish, Parsnip, Onion, Leeks;
• Kale, Lettuce, Swiss Chard;
• Fava & Scarlet Runner Beans, Sugar Snap Peas
And few vegetables are as easy and rewarding as these from cuttings or set plants:
• Potato, Sunchokes, Artichokes; Sun chokes are a great perennial flower, but probably add to your carbon footprint if you actually eat them (hee-haw!)
If the soil has warmed up, you can start planting out Cabbage-family vegetables from seedlings sown indoors in January, or purchased from your local nursery:
• Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards.
For something different, you might want to try Chayote—an easy perennial that isn’t really a squash—which, along with tomatoes and cole crops should be started indoors this month at the latest.
FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
This is your last chance to dormant-prune fruit trees, keep snipping and shaping. this is the last month to graft any scions you may have collected. The soil around your fruit trees should by now have had a layer of hot compost lightly forked in. Don’t disturb any of the delicate feeder roots near the surface. Remove any weeds that pop up, leaving well-behaved annuals such as calendula and alyssum as forage for the bees. Prep soil around cane berries, and dig out runners—give them away or perhaps plant them elsewhere in the garden. If you are dry-farming your trees don’t add any compost.
QUALITY TIME
It is a good idea to spray fruit trees (except apricots) with a dilute sulfur mixture to control brown rot, aphids and assorted garden nasties; repeat weekly over a period of several weeks, as weather permits. This old-fashioned, low-toxicity control measure isn’t pleasant for the applicator, but your trees will thank you later this summer. A good quality pump sprayer makes the job much tidier, as will an old jumpsuit to protect your clothes from the rotten egg aroma.
IN THE GARDEN NOW
• Harvest all root crops remaining from fall-sown seeds
• Depending on when they were planted, Fava & Scarlet Runner Beans and Leeks may be ready now, as will a few Asparagus from 3 year-old starts and Cabbage & Sugar Snap Peas will be ready by the end of the month.
• Meyer Lemons & Navel Oranges are ripening.
April
This is the month you’ve been waiting for all winter long—time to plant tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and squash.
Apple and Pears are in bloom, as are cane berries.
If you planted asparagus three years ago, you’d be harvesting them in abundance now, along with oranges and much more.
VEGETABLES
You can sow these root, leaf and legume crops directly from seed:
• Scarlet Runner Beans, Pole & Bush Beans,
• Beets, Carrots, Parsnip, Radish;
• Kale, Lettuce, Swiss Chard
And from seedlings started indoors, or purchased in the nursery:
• Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Leek; Tomatoes, Chayote, Make certain the set plants you purchase are not root-bound or they will be stunted. And, drum roll please! Time to plant summer vegetables, as soon as the soil warms:
• Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Summer & Winter Squash, Sunflowers, Melon.
Cucumbers require the most heat, so plant only if the soil is warm; and melons should be attempted only in inland areas. If you grew your seedlings indoors, take them outside for a few hours each day to harden them off. This is the last month to order seed potatoes, which you can plant throughout the summer.
FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
If weather remains rainy, you should treat fruit trees and cane berries with dilute oil/sulfur mixture to control powdery mildew and brown rot. If you don’t spray, make sure to put up pheramone traps in apple and apricot trees to control codling moth.
QUALITY TIME
Continue baiting for snails once a week using ‘Sluggo,’ per the March Almanac. You need to repeat applications once a week for three or four weeks until all the eggs have hatched and future generations are ‘nipped in the bud.’
See notes in the March almanac for spraying tips, and keep an eye out in Pear trees for fireblight. Cut our infected branches and disinfect with 15% bleach solution or 90% rubbing alcohol after each cut.
IN THE GARDEN NOW
• Shallots, Chives, Lettuce, Kale, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Parsnips, Scarlet Runner Beans, Sugar Snap Peas
• The first crop of Asparagus is coming in now
• Meyer Lemons & Navel Oranges are ripening and stone fruit trees should be in fruitlet stage now. A few strawberries will be ready by the end of the month; and Feijoa petals can be picked
May
It’s May! Asparagus and Artichokes are at their peak, and Cherries and Plums will start to arrive by the end of the month.
Many navel oranges in coastal climates continue to ripen—don’t be fooled by the orange color, pick a few and try them! This is the prime month to plant summer veggies, and the first strawberries will be ready by month’s end.
VEGETABLES
You can sow these root, leaf and legume crops directly from seed:
• Scarlet Runner Beans, Pole & Bush Beans, Kale, Lettuce, Swiss Chard.
If you have trouble with pests—slugs, snails, insects— devouring direct-sown seedlings, start in containers and transplant as soon as they’ve formed their third pair of leaves. Birds find seedlings luscious, so bird netting may also be needed.
The following are always started from seed, and should be kept uniformly moist until established:
• Beets, Carrots, Parsnip, Radish.
These should always be started indoors, or purchased in the nursery and planted as seedlings:
• Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts,
• Tomatoes, Chayote, Eggplant; Peppers.
Make certain set plants you purchase are not root-bound or their growth will be stunted.
Almost all the summer vegetables can be planted now:
• Corn, Cucumber, Summer & Winter Squash, Sunflowers, Melon & Sunflowers.
Melons, eggplant and cucumbers are only occasionally successful in coastal gardens; choose smaller varieties as all have garden-dominating tendencies.
FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
If weather remains rainy, you may need one or two additional sprayings of fruit trees and cane berries with dilute oil/sulfur mixture to control powdery mildew and brown rot. NOTE: Never use sulfur on Apricots! The first generation of codling moths are flying now, so make sure to put pheromone traps in apple and apricot trees to monitor them.
QUALITY TIME
Continue search and destroy missions for snails and slugs. If you have children, consider offering them a bounty for every snail collected. ‘Sluggo,’ requires four applications a week apart.
Growing season pruning of fruit trees is one of the most delightful activities in the garden. Thin out competing branches, and tie off young, supple shoots to train as an espalier. Many times, you can simply ‘rub out’ unwanted shoots with your fingers.
Fertilize artichokes and leafy crops with a foliar fertilizer such as sea kelp or fish emulsion; this is a good time to wash aphids off fruit trees, especially new shoots on plum and cherry trees.
After harvesting all artichokes on a stem, cut back to just below ground level and withhold water for a month or so.
Apples, pears and cane berries have finished blooming. Late rains can easily damage stone fruit crops. Look for the ‘fruitlets’ after petals fall; you can start thinning as soon as the fruitlets set.
IN THE GARDEN NOW
Artichokes are the queen of the May garden, but you will also be harvesting oranges, early plums and strawberries, lots of leafy greens and any root crops that are ready.
June
• This month Asparagus are finishing and Artichokes are at their peak.
• Blueberries, Cherries and Plums are ready by the end of the month.
• Many Navel Oranges in coastal climates are just now ripening,
• “June-bearing” strawberries (which start ripening in May) are at their peak.
• Last month to plant summer vegetables--cukes, beans, corn, squash & peppers.
VEGETABLES
Sow seeds for leafy greens, root, leaf and legume crops directly in the ground: • Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Arugula;
• Beets, Carrots, Parsnip, Potatoes, Radish.
This is the last month until fall to put in Cole crop seedlings started indoors in April:
• Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts
Make certain set plants you purchase are not root-bound or they will be stunted.
These summer vegetables can be planted from seed:
• Summer & Winter Squash, Sunflower, Corn, Cucumber, Pepper & Snap Beans, Eggplant, Pepper & Melon
FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
For later varieties of apples, pears and plums, thin fruit to three or four inches apart, and change lures on pheromone traps. Early apples make great applesauce and apple butters. Or, try slicing very thin in a food processor, and drying in a countertop dehydrator. Pick up any fallen fruit, and check for wormy apples--you'll see the 'frass' left by codling moth larvae on the blossom end of the fruit.
QUALITY TIME
• Just about everything growing in your garden will appreciate a fertilizer ‘snack.’ Apply liquid kelp or fish emulsion at 1-3 tsp per gallon using a hose-end sprayer directly to the leaves. Remember, this is not a substitute for a balanced meal--just a horticultural equivalent of a Snickers
• Asparagus will enjoy a layer of compost. If you're just establishing them, don't cut back until the canes have dried out.
• Citrus trees will appreciate a monthly deep watering. This month only, give all citrus a balanced organic fertilizer, and water in thoroughly. To discourage leaf-miner attacks, this will be the ONLY application of fertilizer this year.
• Sulfur dust can help control powdery mildew on tomatoes, grapes & apples.
IN THE GARDEN NOW
Cherries, apples, plums, and blueberries—now is when you appreciate having a staggered harvest! Ever-bearing strawberries continue to produce.
Scarlet runner beans, the last of the asparagus, artichokes & greens can now be harvested from winter-planted seed.
BLUEBERRIES!
Although blueberries do need acidic soil, the most important cultural requirement is LOTS of water. Blueberries are not an ideal plant during a drought, but the flavor is incomparable and kids love them. Select a good site, with a bit of shade, mulch heavily, and enjoy a guilty pleasure.
SUMMER PRUNING TIME
The best way to control the size of fruit trees is to prune during the late spring and early summer. Most trees will produce vertical shoots (or water sprouts) that do not produce fruit in their first season. If the shoots are small diameter, you can do some gangster pruning--"rub them out”— by bending the shoot back. New shoots will break cleanly at the stem petiole. Leave a few sprouts unpruned, this helps reduce regrowth. Larger shoots should be pruned with shears. Remove most of the shoots at the top of the tree, and any branches growing inward
July
It’s fruit season!
Plums and Apricots are ready now, as are Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries & Raspberries.
Many varieties are later than usual due to the June rains.
The first summer squash and tomatoes can be harvested.
Enjoy the last of the artichokes, then cut the stems to the ground.
VEGETABLES
As you finish harvesting greens and root crops, plant these veggies from seed:
Chard, Lettuce, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts; Carrots, Radishes & Beets; Snap beans, summer squash, Cucumbers (last chance!)
These crops can be planted from seedlings:
Broccoli, Cabbage
FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
Make sure trees have adequate water. If the month is hot, apply foliar fertilizer as a ‘snack.’ Keep training vines and berries.
QUALITY TIME
This is a month for pure pleasure in the garden-provided you’ve got the weeds under control, your work will be mostly harvesting, training & watering.
IN THE GARDEN NOW
This is the prime month for many fruits, especially stone fruits and berries:
• Strawberries,
• Blueberries,
• Blackberries,
• Raspberries,
• Peaches,
• Plums, and
• Early apples. Pick up any fallen fruit and use for jams. With good sunny weather early grape varieties may ripen by the end of the month.
From the veggie garden,
• artichokes are still producing, and the first
• summer squash is ready from April plantings
• Lettuce, arugula, cabbage and broccoli are nearing the end out their season from transplants set out in winter
• Snap beans (pole or bush) are small & tender now—there is nothing comparable in flavor or texture available in the supermarket—or even the farmer’s market. And this has been a great year for Sugar Snap Peas (not to be confused with Snow Peas or Shelling Peas) you eat the pod and peas both—kids love them, and you will too
Enjoy your handiwork, sit back and have a glass of wine in the garden—you deserve it!
August
It’s Fruit-A-Palooza Season!!
Berries, Apples, and Pears are bearing now.
Prune apricot trees after harvest.
Time to set out the Cole crop seedlings especially Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage.
Tomatoes and Basil are ready, so you can enjoy a salad with fresh lettuce & Aruglua
VEGETABLES
Cool Season Vegetables should be started now from seed:
• Annual artichokes
• Broccoli, kale and cauliflower and leaf crops to plant out in fall
• Onions
FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
All fruit trees will appreciate a foliar fertilizer now—by spraying the leaves with a ‘syringe’ you help prevent disease.
In foggier summers, control powdery mildew on grapes with a sulfur dust.
Keep training vines, and give strawberries a layer of hot compost. Prune back fruiting canes on raspberries and blackberries as they die back, but let this season’s canes continue growing.
This is the prime month to prune apricot trees. winter pruning isn’t recommended as it can help spread brown rot and Eutypa diseases.
QUALITY TIME
Prune asparagus that has died back; and trim Artichoke shoots to one inch below the soil. Keep fruit trees intermittently wet, and cut back on the water for Tomatoes—once a week is usually fine for foggy climates. Keep watering cucumbers, squash and Chayote.
Give your citrus at least one deep watering this month.
IN THE GARDEN NOW
Harvest garlic when the tops have died back;
Leeks and onions can be harvested now too.
Potatoes are ready from May planting.
You’ll still have plenty of lettuce and arugula, plus basil—add some tomatoes and fresh mozzeralla for the most delicious salads of the year! This is a great month to use all those beautiful Meyer lemons that have been stored on the tree to make lemonade —perfect for summer barbecues.
And of course, the favorite of kids everywhere—sweet corn. The stone fruits are harvested in abundance this month, and Bartlett Pears are at their peak.
September
Three cheers for the figs! You won’t find them in the markets because they don’t ship—but straight from the garden they’re pure ambrosia. Summer Vegetables are prolific now--tomatoes, Beans, Basil, Cucumbers, peppers. Many apples ripen this month too.
VEGETABLES
Time to sow these cool season vegetables fro seed:
Carrots & radishes for spring harvest.
Fava Beans & Kale.
Keep leafy crops well watered;cukes and squash should stay moist but not soggy. Protect pumpkins and winter squash from skunks and give ample water, but try to keep the leaves dry.
For Cabbage and Cauliflower, ‘blanch’ the heads by tying up outside leaves to keep the inner heads white & tight.
FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
Many apples are ready, and some late pears are ripening, as are Asian pears. Do a light pruning on trees you’ve finished harvesting, especially to remove any broken branches. Pick up any fallen fruit.
Some berries may still be producing (raspberries often produce a second crop) and a few Kiwi are starting to ripen by the end of the month.
QUALITY TIME
Enjoy your handiwork, and share your harvest with friends and neighbors. Make sure you have some annuals or perennials blooming as forage for the bees.
IN THE GARDEN NOW
Snap beans in a three colors, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, eggplant in warmer climates, peppers & melons—yum!
Leaf crops are still producing, as are onions, garlic and potatoes. Sunflowers that haven’t been decimated by the squirrels should be harvested. And scarlet runner beans are still yielding their tasty pods in many climates.
One of the most common creatures to find in the garden this month is the happy gardener, literally enjoying the fruit of her labors!
October
Fall is approaching, and late apples, pear and grapes have arrived, as have the ‘other’ fruits: Feijoas, pomegranates, figs, kiwis and persimmons
Keep orchard areas tidy after harvest by removing all fallen fruit.
Winter squash and pumpkins are usually harvested this month, as are the last of the tomatoes, cucumbers and snap beans.
VEGETABLES
Time to plant more
• radishes, sugar snap peas and fava beans for early spring harvest
Protect from snails and birds.
Indoors, start • Cabbage and broccoli
Any beds that aren’t yet planted should be sheet-composted over the winter.
FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
Give all fruit trees a light after-harvest fertilizing using compost or balanced organic fertilizer. Rake up leaves as they fall, and pick up all fallen fruit, then give the trees their last drink for the season. If you haven’t pruned your apricots yet, do it now, provided no rain is forecast for a week.
Berries can be pruned back as soon as they drop their leaves. Cut down canes that bore this year, and trim new shoots to one-third.
QUALITY TIME
After leaf-fall of stone fruits and berries, spray with a bordeaux mixture (copper) to control brown rot and peach leaf curl. This will need to be repeated every two weeks for a month, and again in the spring if rainfall is persistent. Your trees will thank you!
In the orchard, keep spent fruit picked up, and remove any ‘mummies’ that may be hanging on the trees.
IN THE GARDEN NOW
Apples, pears, grapes,kiwis and feijoas are ripening this month. Harvest the last of the tomatoes, summer squash and beans.
A new crop of lettuce, chard and arugula is almost read to harvest.
November
Kiwis, Feijoas and Persimmons, along with the late apples, are just in time for pies and tarts on Thanksgiving.
A new crop of leafy greens is ready now, as are root crops such as Carrots, Parsnips and Beets.
Nurseries will have Asparagus and Artichoke plants available now.
VEGETABLES TO PLANT THIS MONTH
Time for another planting of:
• Fava beans
• Sugar snap peas and, indoors, more
• Broccoli and cabbage.
Plant new sets of:
• Artichokes from seedlings, and • Asparagus in well-prepared beds.
CARE FOR FRUIT TREES, VINES AND BERRIES
Prune back cane berries: for raspberries, remove this years’ fruiting canes, but leave the young shoots that haven’t yet borne fruit. Blackberries are pruned down to two or three buds of this years growth-remove up to 75%of new growth and leave a few strong canes. Sheet compost to control weeds and add nutrients.
QUALITY TIME
Cleanup is key to reducing disease. Make sure all spent vegetables are removed and composted, and add a layer of mulch on beds that will be fallow this winter. Seed open areas under trees for spring wildflowers. Although ‘determinate’ tomatoes die back decisively, the indeterminate varieties tend to malinger into the cooler, wetter weather, but it is finally time to tear them out. But be sure to save a few tomatoes for seeds—it is quite easy, just squeeze the seeds and pulp into a jar, cover the pulp with water, and allow to ferment in a warm location for about five days—until a layer of mold covers the top. Then strain off the liquid and dry on a plate. Keep the seeds in a labeled envelope and you’re ready to start them indoors in February or March next year.
You can find details for seed saving at the Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library website http://www.richmondgrows.org/new-to-seed-saving.html
IN THE GARDEN NOW
Many root crops can be dug now, including
• potatoes, parsnips, beets and carrots.
The new planting of chard will still be bearing now—sautéed with garlic and olive oil---it makes a great accompaniment for turkey! You may have some early Brussels sprouts too.
• Meyer lemons and Mandarin oranges are ready—try a Shaker Lemon Pie this holiday.
December
In the spirit of the holidays, take a break from gardening! Of course, you’ll still be enjoying Kiwi, Feijoas, Mandarin Oranges, Meyer Lemons, Persimmons and late apples, plus the usual greens and root crops. If we get a good cold snap, the Brussels sprouts will be delicious at a holiday meal. Take a moment to count your blessings, among them living in the beautiful Bay Area, with food from the garden year-round.