Fall Is For Planting
by Don Martin

Fall is the time of year when the weather changes bringing about gardening possibilities that are different than those during the blazing summer months. This is our second spring in Valley Center, so go ahead and plant those tomatoes and squash. It is too late to plant corn which is a 90 day crop and it may not finish before it is too cold. What to plant in the fall? Anything that has edible leaves and flowers, lettuce, kale, endive, broccoli, cauliflower, green peas, and many more. There is still plenty of warm weather to plant the petunias, vincas, zinnias, and other heat loving plants. In fact, some of he annuals like petunias that are in a warm area may last through the winter.

This is the perfect time to plant any landscaping that has been put off due to the hot weather. Shade trees planted now will establish a good root system over the winter months. One really good choice is the Shamel Ash which grows to 80' tall with up to 60' spread. This is a fast growing tree that is truly massive and has no known pest or diseases. It may shed leaves or be evergreen, depending if it is in a cold or warm area. Think shade for the house or yard. Do not plant this tree too close to the house. This tree is for sale at Armstrong feed. A spectacular tree that is not seen very often in San Diego is the Australian Flame Tree. It has large leaves and is covered with red flowers at the end of summer that hang like large clusters of grapes, very showy. It is a medium grower and may reach a height of 25' with a spread of 20' and does not have known pests or diseases. For Sale at Armstrong Feed If you would like some fall color, try Liquid Amber. Now is the time to pick out liquid amber trees because they are starting to show their fall color which can vary greatly from tree to tree. The Chinese pistachio is another fall color choice, however it is a slow growing tree and takes many years to attain a good size.

Next week, how to plant to ensure the best results for your efforts.