Master gardener Ed Buyarski has some final tips in the season finale of Gardentalk. He notes that overnight temperatures have been dropping in the upper Mendenhall Valley, so it may be a good idea to bring in begonias, fuschias and dahlias for the winter.
He recommends bringing the begonia pots into a garage, snapping off the heavy stems, and allowing the bulbs or tubers to dry out. They can be stored in a cardboard box or paper bags in a location that will not freeze.
For dahlias, Buyarski recommends washing the soil off the roots and clipping off the tops before storing in cardboard boxes of shredded paper, straw or dry peat moss. Keep them in an indoor location that will stay cool, but will not freeze over the winter.
He suggests keeping the fuschias in the pots, cutting some of the leaves back, give them a little water occasionally, and check for aphids on a regular basis.
It’s also a good time to protect outside perennials from freezing by removing debris and other slug habitat, and layering garden beds with seaweed, compost or even plastic. The extra layers provide some measure of protection against possible damage when roots freeze.
Listen to the Oct. 15 edition of GardenTalk that focuses on winter preparation:
The 2nd Annual Garlic Lovers’ Potluck, hosted by the Juneau Garden Club, is this Saturday, Oct. 17, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at The Canvas, 223 Seward Street.
Buyarski, Joe Orsi and David Love will discuss cultivation, harvest and storage, and offer varietal taste tests. Bring your favorite garlic dish; garlic breads will be featured.
All are welcome to the free event.
