Well, it's already November, and our thoughts are slowly turning from our gardens to the holidays... soon, 2017 will be a just memory, and 2018 will be breathing down our necks. I started thinking about what I could write about a week or so ago, and thought, hmm, there is just not much going on... Well, except this and that, and... ok, there is plenty going on, lol.
Before long, we will be faced with the Spring Plant Sale!!! So, this is the time we need to be getting ready.. now... There are plenty of signup sheets at PACE for grow teams for various things. We need to sign up to get those precious plants ready for the sale, so don't be shy, lol. We also need some folks who can foster some trees for the 2018 Fall tree sale. So, even though the days are getting short, and the daylight savings is messing with our sleep, there are still plenty of projects to volunteer for here at the Master Gardeners. Plants need to be started soon, so at the Winter Social be ready to sign up!!
Did I say Winter Social? See.. the year IS passing us by... December 7th is the first Thursday in December. Look for an e-mail from Fran about food to bring to the event, and plan on bringing your significant other, or a good friend, or someone interested in gardening, or..? There is always excitement in the air, and food enough for all.
Class 8 is well underway, and soil samples are due at the next class on November 14th. Entomology and Integrated Pest Management is the topic for that class. Molly Keck is passionate about bugs, so you're sure to enjoy the class! Don't forget to bring your soil samples!
The Gonzales Master Gardeners are always interested in improving things at PACE, and many project ideas have been floating around recently. If you have an idea that you think would really improve things, and help further us in our mission to serve our community, feel free to explain it best you can in an e-mail to one of the board members.
With the end of the year comes one more thing for the Gonzales Master Gardeners - Membership Dues. Don't forget to bring your $20 to the Winter Social, or mail it in, if you haven't already. Dues are due by Dec 31st.
SO.. Christmas, there, I said it.. it is far away, and us guys have at least 7 weeks before we start thinking about shopping or anything... BUT, if you count back 6 weeks from the glorious day.. you get November 12th. That is supposed to be the day to repot any Amaryllis bulbs you have hiding in a cool corner of your fridge, at least if you try to get them to bloom for Christmas. Choose a nice big heavy pot, new potting mix, and leave about 1/3rd of the bulb exposed. water it well, and give it the best sun you can. Just as soon as it starts showing signs of sending up leaves, start with the nursery trick of weakly fertilizing weekly, with liquid fertilizer, and maybe with luck, you will have that beauty blooming for Christmas morning!
Ok, so there IS a lot going on in November, but there was no mention of the vegetable garden, lol, surely, it's done for the year... Sure, the Spring garden is long gone, but this is Central Texas, it's always time to plant something! Carrots, Chard, Collards, Lettuce, Multiplier Onions, Parsley, Radishes, Spinach, and Turnips can be planted still. You might even have time to put out Broccoli Cabbage, and Kohlrabi transplants, if the weather is nice... While you're in the spirit, clean up the greenhouse.. you're gonna need it real soon!
Ok, it's time for me to get some breakfast before the Sun comes up so I can Buzz around and do some of these things!