The Real Dirt

Flowers blooming

The Real Dirt blog covers regional gardening issues from soil health to planting for pollinators; from fire resistant landscaping to attracting wildlife. Read all about it!

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Garlic drying, J .Alosi
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Growing Garlic

October 9, 2020
Garlic is a species in the onion genus Allium, and therefore related to onions, shallots, leeks, and chives. It is flavorful, nutritious, and easy to grow. There are two types of garlic: softneck and hardneck. Softneck garlic is the easiest to grow.
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Mulched fava bean start, J. Alosi
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Meeting Nature Halfway

October 2, 2020
Imagine a healthy garden that grows, blooms, and produces food for you, your family and your neighbors, a garden that costs you very little money because everything it needs is already provided.
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Amaryllis belladonna, Laura Lukes
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Consider the Lilies…

September 25, 2020
Summer is almost over, but it's not too soon to begin planning next summer's garden. Many bulbs flowering in late spring and summer should be planted this fall and winter: they are available at nurseries and online right now.
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Ash on butternut squash, J. Alosi
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Safely Cleaning Wildfire Ash from Yards and Gardens

September 23, 2020
The following recommendations for safely clearing ash from outdoor surfaces, including ornamental and edible plants, come from the US EPA, Oregon State University Extension Service, Waste Management, and the Sacramento Bee. Basic Guidelines: Wait until air quality levels are safe for being outdoors.
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Garlic growing in raised bed, Kim Schwind
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Dig In: Start a Fall Garden

September 18, 2020
Do you associate vegetable gardening with the heat of summer, like fireworks on the Fourth of July or the drone of air conditioners on an August afternoon?
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