Food and wine comes from the land and it is natural to think of gardening and being a steward of the land when we think of what to eat and drink. As the Epicure column has taken shape with little room for how our gardens grow, Epi would like to introduce a new monthly gardening column.
The prefix “epi” has the meaning “upon,” “beside,” “above,” and “on the outside.” When combined into the word epicure, it means a person with refined taste, especially in food and wine. When combined with gardening, it could be considered as meaning “living wisely on the land.”
Today, there is an increased awareness of the need for stewardship of our land and Sonoma County has a rich history of agricultural and open space preservation. As well, the current emphasis on organic and sustainable gardening can translate to an increased health to the property allotted to our care.
What to do in gardens in August
As the bounty of spring plantings in our vegetable, fruit and flower gardens continues to surround us, it’s time already to look to late summer and fall color and sowing cool-season crops. Some flowers that will carry a border into late summer and fall include aster, caryopteris, chrysanthemum, coreopsis, daylily, gaillardia, gaura, rudbeckia, Russian sage, salvia, phlox, and verbena.
In the vegetable garden, it’s time to start cool weather seeds for fall harvest. Sow broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower seeds in containers. Use flats or pots and a potting mix, moistening the mix thoroughly. Seeds of beets, carrots, onions, peas, radishes, lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard can be sown directly in the ground.
Feed roses now for a fall mass of blooms. Use an organic fertilizer and apply it to moist soil.
Recycle grass clipping by allowing them to remain where they fall when you mow. They decompose quickly and will release nutrients back into the soil, promoting a healthy lawn.
Sonoma is home to a well-established Master Gardener program with representatives at the Friday Farmers Market. Stop by and get to know them and check out their Web site at: groups.ucanr.org/sonomamg/. They are available to answer your questions. They also give workshops around the county throughout the year. This next month includes classes on Autumn Kitchen Gardens at Petaluma Library; Harvest for Hungry – Healing Gardens in Santa Rosa; Re-thinking Lawns – Rohnert Park Library; Honeybees – Rincon; Improving Soils – Petaluma; and The Rain Chain – Healdsburg. Details are found at their Web site under calendar.
Gardening by the Moon
Using the phases of the moon to determine when to plant in the garden is a method that goes back hundreds of years and is a complement to organic gardening practices. It is based on the premise that plants respond to the same gravitational pull of tides that affects the oceans and can help speed the germination of seeds and growth of plants by working with the forces of nature. See: gardeningbythemoon.com for more information on using this technique.
The Farmers Almanac Gardening by the Moon Calendar applies generally to regions where the climate is favorable and includes the advice to plant above ground crops during the light of the new to full moon, and below-ground crops during the dark of the moon. See: farmsalmanac.com
Gardening by the Moon from the Farmers Almanac
August 2009
8/15-16 Any seeds planted now will tend to rot.
8/17-18 Most favorable days for planting beets, onions, turnips, and other root crops. Plant seedbeds and flower gardens.
8/19-23 A barren time. Best for killing weeds, poison oak, and other plant pests.
8/24-26 Good days for planting aboveground crops. Excellent for sowing grains, winter wheat, oats, and rye. Plant flowers.
8/27-28 Plant peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and other aboveground crops. Extra good for leafy vegetables. Plant seedbeds.
8/29-31 Cut winter wood, do clearing and plowing, but no planting.
September 2009
9/1-2 Any above-ground crops that can be planted now will do well.
9/3-4 Poor planting days. Kill plant pests.
9/5-6 Good days for planting root crops. Fine for vine crops.
9/7-8 Seeds planted now will grow poorly and yield little.
9/9-10 Good days for planting root crops.
9/11-12 Seeds planted now tend to rot in ground.
9/13-14 Fine planting days for fall potatoes, turnips, onions, carrots, beets, and other root crops. Also plant seedbeds and flower gardens.
9/15-19 A most barren period, best for killing plant pests or doing chores around the farm.
Inspirational Quote
“The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.” Hanna Rion
May we all discover inspiration in our gardens and find our senses renewed and enhanced.
EpiGardens is the newest column of Patti Williams who also writes as Epi Curious. Patti can be reached directly at epi@pattiwilliams.com
