Gardening Calender Final Week of September

Keep strawberry beds weed free. Every weed pulled now will make weeding
much easier next spring.

¨ When planting spring bulbs, the depth of planting varies with the size of the bulb; for example, tulips are about five to six inches, four to seven inches for daffodils, three to four inches for hyacinths and one and one-half to three inches for small bulbs. A good rule of thumb when planting bulbs is to set them three times as deep as the bulbs’ greatest width.

¨ Bring poinsettia inside. It is best to repot into a similar but slightly larger container, using a regular commercial potting soil. Then, place in a warm, sunny window.

¨ Don’t wait for frost warnings to bring houseplants indoors. For many tropical houseplants, night temperatures of 50^oF or lower, can cause damage. Check all houseplants for pests and diseases and repot if needed.

Gardening Calender Second Week of September

Plant evergreens. To transplant needle-leaf or cone-bearing evergreens, be sure
plants have adequate rootballs.

Clean up garden debris and add to compost pile or turn under vegetation. To
improve soil structure and decrease erosion during the winter, plant a cover crop. These wintercover crops can be planted from September 1 through November 1.¨ Bring in Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus and place on a cool porch or cool part of the house. Do not water for four weeks so that buds can set. After that time, fertilize well and resume weekly watering.

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Gardening Calender First Week of September

Start a compost pile using any disease-free plant material from flower and vegetable gardens (do not use weeds that have gone to seed), grass clippings, and pruned pieces from trees and shrubs (keep in mind, the smaller the piece of material, the faster the decomposition or breakdown).

¨ Have soil tested to determine the amount of lime and fertilizer required and apply to lawn area.

¨ Space strawberry runner plants about six inches apart. Pull out extra plants.

Harvest vine-ripened vegetables from plants that continue to produce.

¨ Start tomato plant indoors in a peat pot. Select a short-day variety like “Pixie”. When large enough, transplant into three and one-half inch or larger pot and place in the sunniest window. Water and feed it regularly and tomatoes will be ready for Christmas dinner.

Maggie Moor Orth

Delaware Cooperative Extension, Delaware State University¨