What to do in the Garden in October

 

Maintenance and Clean Up

✦ Dig and store potatoes; keep in darkness, moderate humidity, temperature about 40°F. Discard unused potatoes if they sprout. Don't use as seed potatoes for next year.

✦ Ripen green tomatoes indoors. Check often and discard rotting fruit.

✦ Harvest and store apples; keep at about 40°F, moderate humidity.

✦Place mulch over roots of roses, azaleas, rhododendrons and berries for winter protection.

✦Cover asparagus and rhubarb beds with a mulch of manure or compost.

✦Prune out dead fruiting canes in raspberries.

✦Harvest squash and pumpkins; keep in dry area at 55 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.Harvest squash and pumpkins; keep in dry area at 55 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Planting and Propagation

✦ Dig and divide rhubarb. (Should be done about every 4 years.)

✦ Plant garlic for harvesting next summer.

✦ Plant ground covers and shrubs.
✦ Dig and store geraniums, tuberous

begonias, dahlias, and gladiolas.

✦ Pot and store tulips and daffodils to force into early bloom, indoors, in December and January.

From Benton County Master Gardeners -
Membership meetings: 3rd Monday Oct. to May 7:00pm - currently on Zoom