October starts the gardener’s quiet season. Winter approaches and the intensity of growing and harvesting wanes. We suggest that as the garden settles in for winter, you might like to try cold season activities such as outdoor winter gardening, setting up an indoor growing station, or investigating what plants might be grown and/or displayed as unusual decorations and conversation pieces during the coming holidays. In any case, it’s a great time to break out the landscaping books and magazines, seed or flower catalogues, graph paper and such to educate yourself and make a plan for next year’s gardening fun.
It is good for the garden to rest until its next productive season. We too must remember to rest amid the stresses of life—life which can become all too busy during the darker colder months that often hold intense office work and numerous busy (and sometimes demanding) holiday festivities. Instant escape comes with pondering our garden plans, so keep the books, magazines, and drawing materials handy and don’t forget to make regular visits to roguevalleygardener.com !
Immediate expert plant help for our region is available from the Master Gardener Plant Clinic by phone @ 541-776-7371, ext. 204. Of course, our website is here for you to ask questions in the forums and your fellow Rogue Valley Gardeners can respond; we will do our best to find answers to your questions as well.
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Prune (and fertilize) |
Plant (seed) |
Transplant (starts) |
Sow for transplanting |
Harvest |
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Artichokes |
Cover crops (do this early; types such as vetch) |
Garlic cloves |
No sowing needed (or pot daffodils and tulips for early bloom) |
Jerusalem artichokes |
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Asparagus |
Fava beans |
Shallot Bulbs |
horseradish |
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Herbs |
Sunflower heads |
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Potatoes |
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Squash and pumpkins |
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Peppers and Tomatoes, (even if green to ripen indoors) |
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Walnuts and/or Filberts |
Other suggestions: Hide away your hanging fuschias!
Taper back your watering. Adjust your delivery system so as not to waste water on areas no longer producing.
Watch temperature predictions carefully and protect producing plants from occasional early frost, allowing further harvest if warm weather continues.
Store tuberous plants: geraniums, begonias, dahlias, gladiolus. Save vegetable and flower seeds.
Plant a shrub!
Mulch, mulch, mulch—perennials (roses, azaleas, rhodies), over-wintering crops, leafy vegetables, asparagus (w/manure). Incorporate leaves into your compost layer, making it a few inches deep.
Spade manure, other compost, and lime into open areas and/or plant cover crops.
Prepare an asparagus bed. If you have winter vegetables make various row/spot covers.
Control lawn weeds, especially in new planting. Final lawn fertilizing occurs now.
Spray (copper) to prevent fungal and bacterial disease in stone fruit, cane berries.
Use this down time to clean and service tools and equipment for next year. Don’t forget to remove or stabilize gasoline in power equipment.
Sources: Master Gardener’s Guide OSU Extension; Grange Coop Rogue Valley Gardening Guide.
