[Image: garlic harvest]October often is one of our driest months, but it looks like we’re off to a pretty wet start. Most areas here have been getting at least an inch a week. This is great if you’ve already planted a fall garden, but it can make things tough if you’re off to a later start.
But fear not. You still have time to plant cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.) from seedlings. It’s time to plant strawberries this month; they’re usually sold as small bare-root plants, but bigger plants can be found in small pots. It’s also a good time to plant carrots, beets, turnips and others from seed. The wet weather will help them get a start; moisture loss usually is our worst enemy early on with fall gardens.
An enemy we do have in abundance is the white fly. These are very prevalent now, especially on fall tomatoes and cole crops. The soft-bodied insects are easy to identify. They look like little white gnats, mostly on the underside of leaves, and they fly off (temporarily) when disturbed.
If you have whiteflies, they can sometimes be controlled with a weak soapy solution. Malathion is a recommended control method, or you can use Neem oil or light horticultural oils. Any of these options will have to be sprayed directly on the insects, as they have little residual effect on the plant. You’ll likely miss some of them, so it may take repeated applications.
Caterpillars are another common problem now, and even a light infestation can shred a small plant in a day or two. Keep a vigilant eye out to catch them before they do much damage. In small infestations, you can find most of them and squish them with your fingers. For the more squeamish, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a bacteria that can be bought in powder or liquid form. Sprayed or dusted onto the plant, it kills any caterpillars that eats it. The bacteria are harmless to humans, pets and any garden critters you don’t want to kill. Bt (often called thuricide) is available from many brands.
Now is also the time to plant allium crops. These include shallots, onions, leeks and garlic. These are all usually planted from “sets,” which are pretty much like small bulbs, though they can also be started from seed.
If you plant garlic or onions, they’re a bit of a commitment. We plant these crops now and harvest about nine months later -- in May or June. It’s best to plant them in sandy soil about 4-6 inches apart. For garlic, you can use a clove from the grocery store and break it into individual “toes” to plant. But this will likely be a cultivar (cultivated variety) better adapted to California or wherever it was grown. You may search around a little to find a particular cultivar you want.
Work in a complete fertilizer (like 8-8-8) just before planting, then side-dress every four to six weeks when the temperature favors active growth. Soil with more sulfur content will produce more pungent allium crops, so bear this in mind if you side-dress with ammonium sulfate.