Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
January, 2011
Regional Report
Transplant Artichokes, Asparagus, and Cole Veggies
This is prime time to get all cool-season veggies into the garden, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, green and bulb onions, flat-leaf parsley, radishes, and savoy spinach. Plant cole crops up to their first set of leaves to prevent their maturing into weak, leggy, less-productive plants.
Plant Bareroot Fruit Trees
Buy trees that have well-developed fibrous root systems, a single well-shaped leader, and no serious bark injury. Avoid trees with circling or tangled roots. Branches should be smaller than the trunk and growing from it at angles more horizontal than 45 degrees.
Transplant Gently
Now that the soil is thoroughly cold and moist, dig and replace the soil gently, and barely water in the transplant -- just enough to settle the roots. Don't stomp the soil with your hand or foot. Tamping the soil more than lightly will damage the soil tilth by compression.
Transplant Bareroot or Established Roses
Add humus and potash, but be spare with nitrogen fertilizers, as these hasten new foliage which may be damaged by late frosts.
Feed Azaleas and Camellias
Renew peat mulch and work cottonseed meal into the top two inches of soil around azaleas and camellias. Use a half-cup for small plants and up to a cup for larger ones.
