Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
October, 2012
Regional Report
Eat Those Pumpkin Seeds!
Toast -- don't toss -- your pumpkin seeds when you carve your jack-o'-lantern. Separate the seeds from the stringy pulp by washing the seeds well. Spread them on a cookie sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt if desired. Toast them for three or four minutes at 375 degrees, stir, and toast another two or three minutes until they're evenly golden. Cool them to room temperature, and enjoy!
Clear Bramble Berry Canes
Remove bramble berry canes that fruited this year. You can do this now or wait until January, when the leaves have dropped, the canes are bare, and new and old growth are easy to tell apart.
Water Grapevines and Trees
Give one last deep watering to grapevines and deciduous trees to make them more cold-hardy.
Separate and Replant Perennials
Use a spade or sharp knife to separate the large clumps of perennials, or gently pull apart individual plants after loosening the clump from its surrounding soil. Discard the old, unproductive sections. Trim the foliage to four or six inches. Dig in compost, replant, and water in well.
Feed Overwintering Plants with No-Nitrogen Fertilzer
Feed all overwintering plants with a no-nitrogen, high-phosphorus, high-potassium fertilizer to help them become cold-hardy.
