Things to Do in October

Events

• 2018-10-31 Samhain (New Years Eve)

FIRST FROST - Murfreesboro

• Oct 5th - 10% Chance
• Oct 22nd - 50 % Chance
• Nov 9th - 90% 
• 2012 - 10/29
• 2013 - 10/24
• 2014 - 10/5
• 2015 - 10/17
• 2017 - 10/29

Harvest

• Maybe last of Chicago Hardy Figs (StarkBros) - harvest before last frost
• Late Oct - Missouri Hardy Pecan
• Mid to Late Oct - 
• Kanza Pecan
• Pawnee Pecan
• 120 day Pumpkin & winter squash planted in mid June
• Black Walnuts
• 2013 - 10/03 Began harvesting
• 2015 - 10/12 2 1/2 gallons
• 2017
• 10/11 100 BW
• 10/13  52 BW
• 10/15  501 BW
• 10/16  347 WB
• 10/20  70
• Southern Giant Pecans
• Sunflower Sprouts from spilled seed
• 2017 - 10/20  24 each
• Seed Harvest
• 2013 - 10/20
• Mixed Basil
• 2016 -10/15
• Morning Glories
• Moon Flowers

Farmers Market

• 2013 - 10/12
• Orange Tomatoes
• Red slicing tomatoes
• roma tomatoes
• carrots
• green cauliflower
• fried pies - peach
• Bianca White (Sweet) Peppers
• Green (Bell) Peppers
• Orange (Bell) Peppers
• Hot Red Peppers
• New Potatoes

Blooming

• 2015 - 10/7
• Red penstemon
• Basil
• Little daisy-like things
• Last of honeysuckle
• Last of small yellow rudebekias
• 2016 - 10/15
• Heavenly Blue Morning Glories
• Little White Daisies
• "Ditch" Morning Glories

Garden - Events

• Per Tennessee Gardener (Oct 2011), bulb sale at Ivan Racheff House and Garden in Knoxville. First Th-Fr-Sat each year.
• Last month for the Murfreesboro's "Saturday Farmer's Market"

Garden - Sowing

• Plant winter rye cover crop (chickens can also graze in winter for greens)
• Per Tennessee Gardener (Oct 2011), plant hardy onion plants and sets, winter cabbage and collards (cabbage and collards surviving to 15*F)
• Sow hardneck garlic

Wildlife

• Per Tennessee Gardener (Oct 2011), put up bird feeders.

Roses

• Next, stop cutting off dead blooms in early October; this signals the plant to stop producing new growth so it can be ready for winter. Remove only the petals to keep the beds clean. http://www.nashvillerosesociety.com/GrowingBeautifulRoses.html

Trees

• When 50% of leaves have fallen, spray with compost tea (Holistic Orchard)

10 - October 02

2005

2006

2007

2010

2005

The sweet gums [trees] are looking decidedly perky this morning. I was concerned that yesterday's dry winds would have been hard on them, but I guess the cooler temps and deep watering helped them. Of course, I took pictures yesterday. Need to add them to my database.

2006

• DONE - See how deep rain penetrated into the ground – not much; 6” only
• DONE – Buy dirt – 2006-10-21
• DONE – Take a nap
• DONE – Remove clothes pins from fruit trees – 2006-10-04 [used with string to keep young branches spread apart]
• How do I put diesel and oil in the tractor?
• [Plant] more peas, please
• Fall cleanup
• More soap making
• Remove Christmas décor from last year
• Wire fence fruit trees [I have no idea what that means now]
• Cut back viburnums
• DONE- Trees? 2006-10-07 none at HD [Home Depot, probably Carson City] [Black Austrian] pines

So much to do before D leave for trainin in South Carolina – and then a blink of an eye and he's of to Iraq.

Strange, but I think I won't have to water this week.

2007

[Accomplished]

• Watered all houseplantsHaven't been in the garden in 24 hours – miss that contact with the Earth
• Filled bird feeders
• Played with dogs
• Dreaming of Garlic
• Put dead lettuce in compost pile

One place I saw said 12 -15 bulbs of garlic per person per year – seems like our family could eat more than than
Garlic Use – Crush, add to butter, put in molds, freeze, pop out of molds, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. Instant garlic butter for cooking. I love it!

I am taking a class on jumpstarting your creativity by studying Leonardo da Vinci – It's been a year or more since I've kept a non-garden journal. I wonder if now is the time to start one again?
A year ago D was contemplating spending a year in Iraq – and now, now what are his plans? I am so blessed to have him home. He planted a tree this weekend.

2010

Big fat drops of rain accompanied by the usual winds. Cooled things down nicely. Still, one should not mistake this little rain as actually watering anything. It has barely wet the surface [of the ground]. Had to run to put dog food and chicken food out of the rain, but other than that, not a big deal. Even when there is lots of it, I've always loved the rain.