Organic Gardening & Square Foot Gardening Class

Feb 12, 2011 - 10am to 2pm

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Fruit Tree Care Demo

Feb 12, 2011 - 930am to 1130am

Cost: $15

Growing fruit trees in our city landscape is significantly different from growing them in rural areas. In this class you will learn the single biggest mistake when planting fruit trees in the desert; when to plant and how to manage your fruit trees; watering and fertilizing techniques; and why fruit trees are like art. The good news is that the same urban orcharding techniques apply to planting one tree or hundreds. Plus we will cover the most significant thing you need to know to successfully produce fruit.  Additional topics covered - picking a tree, pruning, urban orcharding, planting, and fertilizing.

Greg Peterson
www.UrbanFarm.org
602-279-3713

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Hickman's Egg Ranch Fertilizer Products Demo

Feb 26, 2011 - 8:30am to 5:30pm

Things to expect:

CHLOROSYS & LEAF DROP of citrus andpossibly other broadleaf evergreens. APHIDS on most landscape and garden plants. SPIDER MITE infestations with spring warm-up and winds. WORMS in VEGETABLE GARDENS. WEEDS, following winter and spring rains. SAPSUCKERS

Things to do:

GET BARE-ROOT transplanting done now. Prune citrus, Bougainvillea and other freeze tender shrubs and trees. Fertilize fruit, nut, and shade trees, shrubs, and vines. Water deeply following fertilizations. Prepare soil for spring vegetable gardens. Prevent winter weeds from seeding.

Plant starts of warm season vegetables to get a head start on production. They may need protection during periods of frosty weather.

Plant spring bulbs such as cannas, callas, gladiolus, and caladiums. Also set out irish potato sets and onion sets.

Feed citrus and deciduous fruit trees mid-month prior to their bloom period.

Select and plant cold hardy trees and shrubs to establish them by summer.

Apply a pre-emergence to non-planted areas to discourage warm season weeds from starting by seed. they are available in liquid and granular forms as well as an organic option.

Later in the month sow seeds for warm season flowers, herbs and vegetables. Watch for birds and insects to be a threat to emerging seedlings-use bird netting and B.T. dusts or sprays to control.