GETTING TO THE ROOT OF IT Tend to your

ABODE Getting to the Root of it

PLANT A ROOT VEGETABLE GARDEN IN OCTOBER

BY MEGAN MEINTASIS

PICK WITH CARE The month of October draws many of us outdoors in the valley. It is the month to go fresh apple picking, wander through a pumpkin patch, conquer a corn maze, and ultimately just enjoy the beautiful cooler weather. But did you know that October is also the perfect time to plant a root vegetable garden? Carrots, radishes, onions, garlic, beets, and turnips are all cool season crops that can be planted now. In fact, they much prefer the cooler soil this time of year brings.

Imagine having fresh garden grown garlic, onion, and carrots to season your fall pot roasts with— sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? There truly is no comparison to the flavor and gratification that comes from growing your own food. And the best part is, many of these crops, like onion and garlic, store really well and can be used for several months.

OCTOBER GARDENING TASKS

Clean and properly store garden tools where they are protected from moisture Plant root vegetables like carrots, onion, and garlic Check plants for signs of overwatering and adjust irrigation as needed Harvest pumpkins Let summer blooms, like zinnia and cosmos, go to seed WHEN TO PICK PUMPKINS:

Few things are more nostalgic than picking pumpkins from a patch in October. Whether you’ve taken the time to grow them yourself, or get to enjoy them at a local patch, pumpkin picking is always something to look forward to. If figuring out when your prize pumpkin is ripe and ready to pick happens to fall on you, there are a few ways to recognize the perfect pumpkin picking point.

First and foremost is color. A pumpkin that is ready to be harvested will be fully colored. They only ripen and change color when growing. Second is firmness. If you can pierce the pumpkin with your fingernail or it creates an indentation, the pumpkin is not ready. If it is picked at this point, it will shrivel in a matter of days. Pick your pumpkin at the right time and it should last two to three months in cool indoor storage.