The rains have returned! I swear that I have written that before in the last couple of months… Ahh, that’s fall. We truly are in the middle of the changing seasons. Soon we will be turning back the clocks and hunkering down for the winter. There is still time to get out and enjoy your garden. Walk through and snack on some of the remaining veggies and fruits (we can still find a few raspberries and a couple of beans if we look). Take a look at some of your plants and see if they are ready for the colder days ahead. In fact, in this week’s show we have plenty of tips for the fall from Jan McNeilan, Scott Lukens and Terrill Collier. Or… you can just put off the walk through your garden and take in one of the areas great fall festivals that are happening now. They are great even in the rain!
This week we featured...
French Prairie Harvest Festival
This week we found another great location to celebrate the fall season. We stopped by French Prairie Gardens (503-633-8445) to check out all the different events they have scheduled for the remainder of October. Farmer Eric took us on a little tour of the farm and we were able to check out the different hay mazes (including one of the biggest we have ever seen) and some of the other events they have on the grounds. The best part was the pig races! These little porkers run like crazy around the ring for the reward of an apple cider donut! There is a ton to eat and the market is full of fresh farm produce. The special event this weekend happens on Saturday night when they are leaving the farm open until 9:00. You can check out the mazes in the dark! Of course there are flashlights for those that want them. You can also rent a fire pit, complete with s’mores, for the whole evening by calling the farm. Take some time and check out French Prairie Gardens this weekend!
Fall Tree Problems
During this fall you may have noticed some issues with your backyard conifers. Fall is a great time to check out your trees to see if they are ready for the coming winter months. We noticed a couple of problems with our conifers and so we decided to check in with Terrill Collier of Collier Arbor Care (503-72ARBOR) to ask him if these problems were going to damage our plants. The first thing we had noticed was a large amount of ‘needle drop’. Terrill explained that what we were seeing was normal. As a conifer gets older it will lose its needles just like a deciduous tree will lose its leaves. You can tell if it is a normal drop by looking where it is occurring on the branch. The end of the branch should have 1-2 years of new growth on the end. If the drop is occurring towards the middle or interior of the tree, that could be normal. The second problem was more serious. It was a Cedar Canker. This problem is a fungal problem and you can tell if you have it by looking at the tree. You will see scattered dead and dying branches all over the tree. If you look closely at the branch you will see tiny resin droplets on the branch and if you cut one open you can see brown, dead wood under the bark.
If you are wondering if you may have problems with the trees in your garden you can give Terrill and his crew a call. You can also start thinking about getting your trees ready for winter by looking for the 8 warning signs that every homeowner should know on the Collier Arbor Care website. Take care of the problems now so you don’t have issues this winter.
Kindergarden – Leaf Cards
Falling leaves are a sign of fall and a reminder of a great craft for your kids. Amy Bigej from Al’s Garden Center (503-981-1245) showed us how to use those readily-available leaves to create cute note cards and greeting cards from nature’s bounty. The kids first picked fresh leaves off the trees (older ones are too dry to use) and then used paint to create a copy of the leaf on the paper. It is a wonderful way to get your kids ready, and excited, for the holidays.
Winter Bird Care
If you are looking to attract birds to your yard or garden you have to provide them the right reasons. We stopped by Backyard Bird Shop (503-635-2044) near Bridgeport to chat with Scott to find out what you need to have in your garden to be successful. We started with feeders. Picking the right food for the birds you want to attract is very important. Then you have to select the right feeder for that food. Fresh water is a major ingredient. Flowing water features are the best since they don’t freeze when the weather gets cold, but if you don’t have one of those, pick a deeper bird bath or check the water frequently to make sure it doesn’t freeze. Shelter is also something you should consider and the best are natural shelters like conifers and other taller bushes. They are looking for a place to visit. Make sure they visit your garden this winter. Now is a good time to get your kids involved in bird watching and care. Pick up a book or even get them their own feeder so they can be in charge of taking care of one of their own. For any of your birding needs, stop by your local Backyard Bird Shop.
Jan’s October Tips
The fall is in full swing and there is a lot to do in your garden before the really bad weather gets here. To get some tips we visited with Jan McNeilan for the tips of the month. Did you know you can still harvest and enjoy tomatoes even when your plant starts to die? Just pick off the translucent green and light pink fruit and bring it inside to ripen. This fruit has already started to ripen and it just needs a little time to finish. You can also harvest your green tomatoes and use one of the many recipes for green tomatoes to enjoy that fruit. Jan also showed us her favorite bean from this past season. It was a Della Fave Pole Beans from New Dimension Seeds. These are huge beans and they even start to turn purple as they ripen. We have tried these in our garden and we agree with Jan. These are delicious!
Jan also showed us her okra plants. She had started with 3 plants and she was able to harvest one small fruit from just one plant. The message here? If you had a bad year in your vegetable garden, don’t worry. This was a bad year and you should try again next year to grow your own vegetables. Even experienced gardeners have a bad crop every so often!
We then headed inside Jan’s greenhouse to check out some of her other garden projects. Jan was getting her spring bulbs organized and she had some tips for us there too. It is not too late to get your bulbs in the ground. In fact you can plant your bulbs through the end of December and still enjoy their spring color. Just remember that if they are late in the ground they may be a tad late in their blooming in the spring. Either way it is good to get them in the ground instead of in your garage. Also, when you order your bulbs they will come with instructions on how to plant your bulbs. Follow these instructions if you have any questions. The bulb company wants you to be successful so they put together some really nice instructions for you to follow.
Finally, we looked at peony roots. If you have ordered some and you can’t get them in the ground you can preserve them for a short time if you lightly moisten them and store them in a dark place. Don’t forget about them! They will need to be planted soon too. These are just a few tips for your fall garden to learn more, check out the OSU Extension website for a more comprehensive list.
