Sweet Orange

The Orange County Great Park fall garden lecture series continues. Last week we had those wicked bugs. This week it’s all about growing your own garden greens. Here is the skinny on this upcoming event:

The Orange County Great Park is hosting a fall garden lecture series. The lectures, which are held at the Great Park Farm and Food Lab, are now though November 5. All lectures are free. The next lecture is on Saturday, October 15 at 10 am.

Here is a description of the upcoming free talk that is straight from the Great Park’s website:

Master Gardener Kay Havens will demonstrate how to make beautiful salad blends. Her seminar will include Asian greens as well as how to make garden additions for flavor and color.

Note: The Great Park uses sustainable practices (The 2009 APA award given to the Great Park and comments from The Sustainable Sites Initiative are examples of this.) but recently accepted a donation from a company that is associated with Monsanto. This company will be the “exclusive lawn and garden products sponsor of the Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab and Community Gardens Program.”

If you follow these matters, you will know that Monsanto receives a lot of criticism from the sustainable-practices community. I am not sure what to think of this partnership right now, but maybe that is a discussion for another time.

Photo courtesy Seeds of Change

The Orange County Great Park is hosting a fall garden lecture series. The lectures, which are held at the Great Park Farm and Food Lab, are now though November 5. All lectures are free. The next lecture is on Saturday, October 8 at 10 am.

Here is a description of the upcoming free talk that is straight from the Great Park’s website:

Author Amy Stewart (Wicked Bugs) will discuss bugs gone wild. It’s an A - Z of insect enemies, interspersed with stories that explore bugs’ sometimes odd behavior and our sometimes irrational responses to bugs.

Note: The Great Park uses sustainable practices. The 2009 American Planning Award given to the Great Park and comments from The Sustainable Sites Initiative are examples of this. However, the Great Park board accepted a donation from ScottsMiracle-Gro, a company that is associated with Monsanto, and ScottsMiracle-Gro will be the “exclusive lawn and garden products sponsor of the Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab and Community Gardens Program.”

If you follow these matters, you know that Monsanto receives a lot of criticism from the sustainable-practices community. I am not sure what to think of this partnership right now, but maybe that is a discussion for another time.

Photo courtesy Seeds of Change, an organic gardening and food company

According to Cindy McNatt, a columnist with the Orange County Register, Orange County’s first frost date is “sometimes never, but occasionally around Dec. 1.” Based on this date, Peaceful Valley, an organic gardening company, recommends the following general fall planting schedule for the Orange County.

When you scan down the list, you will see that according to the guide if you live in Orange County (at least most O.C. locations) and haven’t already planted, you missed most direct-sow and start-in-tray dates. However, these things are not written in stone, so you can always give it a try anyway. Or tuck the information away for next year and plant from seedlings that you buy locally or online. I like the list because it gives you an idea of what is possible for a fall produce garden.

• Beets-direct sow in the beginning of September
  varieties: Chioggia, Cylindra, Detroit Dark Red, Early Wonder Tall, Golden, Bull’s Blood, Green Top Bunching
• Broccoli-start in trays in August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Di Ciccio, Calabrese, Rapinni
• Cabbage-start in tray in late August or early September then transplant a few weeks later, some varieties direct sow in early September
  varieties: Napa, Express Red, Pak Choi
• Carrot-direct sow in late July to mid-August
  varieties: Danvers, Kuroda, Little Finger, Scarlet Nantes, Chantenay
• Cauliflower-start in trays in late August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Snowball
• Chard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Red Ruby, Fordhook Giant, Rainbow Beet, Yellow
• Endive-direct sow in August
  varieties: Batavian, PV Org Endive Tres Fine
• ArugulaGreens-direct sow in September
  
• Mustard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Giant Red
• Mizuna-direct sow in September
  varieties: Mizuna
• Tatsoi-direct sow in September
  varieties: Tatsoi
• Mesclun-direct sow in September
  varieties: Spicy Mix
• Spinach-direct sow in September
  varieties: Bloomsdale
• Dandelion Greens-direct sow in June
  varieties: Catalogna
• Mustard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Southern Giant Curled
• Mesclun Mix-direct sow in September
  varieties: Organic Mesclun Mix
• Kale-start in trays in August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: LacinatoKale, Red Russian
• Lettuce-direct sow in August to mid-September
  varieties: Royal, Sunset, Tango, Flame, Freckles, Little, Red Deer Tongue, Speckles, Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Gourmet Mix, Merveille Des 4 Saisons, Parris Island Cos, Rouge D’Hiver, Green Salad Bowl, Red Salad Bowl, Dark Lolla Rosa, Red Oakleaf, Rubin   Organic Lettuce, Silvia Red Romaine, Summer Bibb, Iceberg Superior
• Onion-start in trays in June and early to mid-July and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Valencia, Rossa Di Milano, Torpedo Red Bottle, Walla Walla, Evergreen Bunching,
• Leek-start in trays in late June and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Varna
• Pea-direct sow in August
  varieties: Mammoth Melting, Oregon Sugar Pod, Progress #9, Sugar Snap
• Radish-direct sow late September to mid-October
  varieties: White BeautyRadish, Cherry Belle, China Rose, French Breakfast, White Icicle, German Giant, Pink Beauty, Sparkler, Easter Egg Mix
• Turnip-direct sow in late August to early September
  varieties: Purple Top, Seven Top, Golden Globe
• Kohlrabi-direct sow in early September
  varieties: Purple Vienna
• Rutabaga-direct sow in July

For more detailed information on the planting dates, the various plant varieties, and growing conditions for each plant, click on the Peaceful Valley Fall Planting Guide Calculator. Also, if you don’t live in Orange County, you can find the planting guide that is suitable for your area by entering the anticipated first-frost date for your location.

Graphic courtesy Peaceful Valley

Summer is over and summer garden produce is mostly a thing of the past. For many, fall is a time to let the garden go fallow. Not a bad idea, but a fall garden is entirely possible.

Look forward to peak flavor and performance of many crops that do not prosper in summer heat. Lower temperatures are ideal for producing crisp lettuces, without the bitterness or bolting that can occur in hot weather. Frost-kissed kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage have a special sweetness. Carrots, beets and turnips also thrive in the fall garden and, after harvest, can be kept in a pantry or root cellar so you can enjoy their goodness well into winter. Collards, mustard and other greens also like cool weather.–Vicki Mattern, “Top Tips for Great Fall Gardens,” Mother Earth News

Note: In a few days, I will post some fall planting guide information that is specific to Orange County. Also, the Orange County Great Park is currently offering free fall gardening workshops, now through November 5.

Photo courtesy Seeds of Change, a company that specializes in many things organic

Fed and Be Feed–the motto for St. Paul’s Sunday Supper program

Sunday Supper is an outgrowth of the AngelFood ministry. It now provides a free meal to anyone who wants one [as well as take-home provisions for the coming week], every Sunday evening at 5:30 pm in our Parish Hall. This ministry started in July 2010 and now is both ecumenical and inter-faith with support from our neighbors, Aldersgate Methodist Church and Congregation B’nai Israel [as well as Trinity Episcopal Church and Tree of Life].–St. Paul’s Episcopal Church website

In my last post, I wrote about AmpleHarvest.org’s attempt to help gardeners share their surplus produce. I could not leave the subject without mentioning one of my favorite programs, St. Paul’s Sunday Supper in Tustin. The video tells the story. (Click here to view the video by Jeremy Stebens on Vimeo.)

Currently, St. Paul’s, located at 1221 Wass Street in Tustin, can accept your produce on Fridays and Sundays. For any questions on donating your surplus garden fruits and vegetables (or other supplies) to the Sunday Supper program, send an email to lesiriani@gmail.com, or call  Wayne Kemp at 714-544-3141.

Additional information: “Church groups gather to serve Sunday dinners: Five congregations come together to provide free weekly dinners at a church in Tustin.”–Elysse James, The Orange County Register

Photo courtesy The Orange County Register