OCTOBER

In the Edible Garden

• Remove all plant debris from the vegetable garden. Plants left in the garden will serve as over wintering sites for insects.
• Pick pumpkins at a local pumpkin farm. Choose pumpkins with a stem and no soft spots or blemishes. Do not carry the pumpkin by the stem. The University of Illinois Extension's web site WWW.URBANEXT.UIUC.EDU/PUMPKINS has a listing of local pumpkin farms. For a print copy call 773-233-0476.
• Do not compost diseased plants. Compost rarely reaches temperatures required to kill most plant pathogens. Bag or burn the diseased plant material.

In the Ornamental Garden

• Do not add bone meal to the soil when planting bulbs. The scent of bonemeal may attract squirrels, moles, dogs and other animals that will dig up the bulbs. Work bulb fertilizer into the soil next spring after flowers fade.
• Pot up spring flowering bulbs to force into bloom. Moisten soil and place in refrigerator for 10 to 12 weeks. After the cooling period, move to a cool sunny location to induce bloom. Erect barriers such as chicken wire or hardware cloth to protect newly planted trees and shrubs from rabbit damage during the winter.
• Lift and harvest tender bulbs and corms. [caladiums, cannas, gladiolas, dahlias and tuberous begonias]. Dig up bulbs/corms and place in a well-ventilated area to dry for two to three weeks. Cut off stems with a sharp knife or scissors. Allow begonia stems to dry until they are brittle enough to break off from the bulb. Dust with a bordeaux mixture to prevent rot. Store in a cool, dark place in vermiculite.

In the Interior Garden

• Give holiday cacti short days and cool nights to initiate flowering. Holiday cacti are short day plants— i.e., they will bloom when nights are at least 15 hours long. They will also flower if exposed to temperatures between 50-55 degrees. No flowers will form at night temperatures above 70 degrees. Place plants in a cool room where no lights are used at night to induce flowering.
• Bring house plants indoors before night time temperatures drop below 55 degrees. Inspect plants for insects and diseases. Repot plants if necessary. Expose plants gradually to reduced lighting. Bringing plants from bright light to reduced light will cause leaves to drop, but new leaves will form after plants adapt to lower light.