From SF Urban Ag: free compost, IPM class

The Urban Ag Resource Center opening for October will be this Saturday from 9am to 12pm at the Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden, 780 Frederick St. Come get Recology compost, soil and mulch from the Recreation and Park Department for your fall gardens.  There will also be a class on Integrated Pest Management from 10am to 11am.  

10/4 – Integrated Pest Management for your Garden

Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a process you can use to solve pest problems in your garden while minimizing the impact on people and the environment.  Learn more about how to control weeds, pests, disease and other gardening troubles in a sustainable manner from the head of Recreation and Park Department’s Integrated Pest Management team.

This class will be taught by Kevin M. Woolen, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Integrated Pest Management Coordinator.  He has been in the IPM business for over 25 years.  Kevin is a Bay Friendly Landscape Designer and avid urban farmer.

You can always get the next dates for the Urban Ag Resource Centers here http://sfrecpark.org/park-improvements/urban-agriculture-program-citywide/urban-agriculture-resource-centers/.

Thanks,

Hannah

Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator

San Francisco Recreation & Park Department  | Capital Improvement Division

City & County of San Francisco  | 30 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 575.5604  |  hannah.shulman@sfgov.org

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What to Plant: October, November, December

If you aren't battling birds or meadow voles, here are some ideas for what to plant in the fall/ winter:

October
Garlic: The 15th is the traditional day to plant garlic. Garlic should be purchased from a disease-free supplier like Territorial Seed Garlic is planted (pointy end up!) and grows over the winter. In early summer it starts turning brown and you have to stop watering so it doesn't mold. Then when the plant is about 50% brown you pull them and let them cure for a bit before cutting off the leaves or braiding them. Garlic is a fun crop and there are many varieties out there.
Artichoke (root-stock): You purchase a smallish root and plant it. Then you have a huge artichoke plant, so think about how much space you want to devote to this vegetable! Make sure it doesn't grow into the pathways- plant them in the center of the boxes.
Carrots (seeds): Always grow carrots from seeds! They do like warm soil, so we are getting to the end of carrot growing season, but give them a try. You need to sow fairly thickly and then thin, thin, thin the plants so you end up with about 2" between each carrot.
Fava beans- for food or as a cover crop
Onion (seeds)
Parsnips (seeds)
Radish (seeds)
Shallots (sets): What is a shallot set? Sets are bundles of small bulbs- you buy them for shallots and onions. Each small bulb should grow into a full sized bulb ready for harvest. I haven't had much success with shallots, but have had some great onion harvests- plant those in January.
Spinach: week 1 & 2
These may be worth trying:
Broccoli (plants): week 1 & 2
Cabbage (plants)
Cauliflower (plants): week 1 & 2
Chard
Leeks
Lettuce
Peas
Potato (tubers)
Spinach: week 3 & 4


November
Artichoke (rootstock)
Fava Beans
Garlic 
Peas (snap, sugar): This is it for fall pea planting! Protect the new plants from birds and snails- use a small plastic bottle or even a milk carton once the seed sprouts. You can start the seeds indoors 3 weeks before planting outside. Don't forget a nice sturdy trellis so your peas are happy and productive!! They need a trellis. 
Strawberry (plants): This is the best time of year to plant strawberries! The winter cold improves their ability to produce fruit. If you buy plants in containers, it's easy to plant them at the same depth as they were in the pot. If you buy bare-root plants it's important not to bury the crown (where the top meets the roots). Space 10" apart, keeping soil level around them, 6" from edge of garden box. Cut off any runners that grow to encourage the mother plant to develop and make more fruit.
Radishes
Shallots (sets)
These may be worth trying:
Cabbage (plants)
Chard
Leeks
LettuceMustard greens
Onion (seeds)
Potato (tubers)
Spinach

December
Radish (seeds)
Rhubarb (bare root)
These may be worth trying:
Artichoke (rootstock)
Chard
Fava Beans
Garlic
Leeks
LettuceShallots (sets)

Don't forget to visit your garden over the winter- the weeds will be growing even when you aren't there!

Great Horned Owls in the Dawn Redwood, Ft. Scott Garden

We've seen 2 owls in the tree a few times in the past weeks- a male and female seem to be pair bonding and getting ready for the upcoming nesting season. Keep you eyes and ears open next time you are in the garden at Ft. Scott!

(photo credits: Peter Ehrlich or Kim?)