Good morning! It’s hard to believe that another gardening season is almost gone, and I am writing my last column. It is especially difficult because as I write this, it is 85 degrees. But summer temperatures or not, the signs are all around us. Hydrangeas are in full glory as are dahlias and zinnias. And, pumpkins have appeared to complement the colors in all the trees.

As I was thinking about how to put this last column together (it is always a bittersweet piece to write), I was backing out of the garage. When I started down the driveway, I glanced at the front lawn and noticed two big, bright beautiful pumpkins. I stopped the car and took a good look – and if you had been observing, you would have seen a very big smile on my face. One of the pumpkins very clearly bore my granddaughter’s name “Nola.” A passing comment during a conversation with Ray Parkin at the grocery store two months ago immediately came to mind.

My husband and I have been friends with Ray and Linda Parkin here in Turner for many years. He had said he was heading home to carve his grandchildrens’ names into the pumpkins forming in his garden. I had smiled and said, “Don’t forget Nola.” Well, he didn’t forget. My granddaughter loved it, and I am sure his grandchildren will as well. Just another example of the joys that gardening can bring.

But those pumpkins aren’t the only sign of fall surrounding us – and it is time to think of a few must-do chores. If we actually had a reliable forecast for the upcoming winter, the list would be much easier to compose. I have read two almanacs, both with conflicting opinions.

The National Weather Service winter forecast hedged a lot but finally predicted a warm winter, which agrees with one almanac and the woolly bears. My cat Angus brought one in the house last night – not as in he caught it, but rather the woolly bear caught a ride on Angus. And the woolly bears, upon close inspection, aren’t really very woolly this year. So, it is probably safest to hope for warm temps with a snowy blanket, but prepare for cold with no snow cover. In other words, hedge your bets.

There are always mandatory chores and others that are somewhat optional, depending on your attitude. Let’s begin with mandatory.

If you want dahlias next year, you have to dig up the bulbs this fall. They will not survive. The same is true of cannas and calla lilies. I have found, however, that many times when you talk with people about dahlias, they forget those little ones or those patio dahlias purchased in a six-pack last spring. These can be wintered over and put into pots indoors in early April; and they will be ready to bloom for Mother’s Day. So don’t just dig up the big spectacular dahlias, get the little ones as well.

You can winter over the little dahlias, the callas and cannas in the same location and mark them for early planting to start inside. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for next April or those bulbs might be in the cellar for a long, long time. If you want step-by-step instructions on wintering over bulbs, just send me an e-mail.

Speaking of bulbs, if you want pretty spring flowers like tulips, crocus, hyacinths and colchicums, now is the time to buy them. They need to be planted around the end of October or in early November. Make sure to plant them in a well-drained location because they rot in wet conditions. If you want to plant new lilies, you can do that in the fall or in the spring.

If you are paging through a bulb catalog or browsing online, don’t forget to look for paperwhite narcissus, amaryllis and freesias to brighten up the house this winter. They are colorful and do quite well in the house with a southern exposure of light. The paperwhites are very fragrant. They are ready to go in the house. You can actually grow any bulb, including tulips and crocus, in the house – they just need to be chilled.

Each type of bulb requires a different length of time; but if you take a few tulips, crocus and hyacinths and put them in the freezer for at least 12 weeks (this is for the tulips which require the longest chill), you can bring them out and plant a container and have a bit of spring for your Easter celebration.

Just a hint – go with short tulips for this project. They look better in a container. Some online bulb sellers offer prechilled bulbs specifically for these kinds of projects.

Any plants you want to save need to get in the house very, very soon before a frost gets them.

I have had specific questions about begonias and, yes, they will winter over in the house. They will keep performing until around Thanksgiving. Then stems weaken and start to rot. If you don’t cut them, they will simply fall off. When they start looking bad, I cut them back to 1 or 2 inches, put them in a corner with indirect light and leave them alone. I give them about ½ cup of water a week and no fertilizer. When the days lengthen in March, start giving what appears to be an empty pot a fair amount of water – but not so they are wet. In two or three weeks, green shoots will appear. You can begin watering according to the size and giving them fertilizer at half-strength. They will be ready to bloom and go back outside in May. This works well for tirellas and reigers but less reliably for tuberous begonias.

You can also take the tuberous begonia tubers and winter them like bulbs and replant in the spring. If you added asparagus ferns to containers for greenery, you can pull those out and pot them up for the house. They are happy even with indirect sunlight.

Geraniums also winter over and bloom brightly if they can get direct sunlight for a majority of the day. Anyone with Gerbera daisies can also bring them inside and winter them if you have strong southern light. They won’t look terrific in the spring but will bounce back within a few weeks of being put outside. Remember, Gerberas are heavy feeders so fertilize them regularly.

Any plants you plan to bring inside should be sprayed thoroughly with an organic safe soap to get rid of little, hiding creatures – and don’t forget the pots, including under the rims and the bottom. Let them sit for a number of hours after spraying and then rinse them thoroughly with a hose. Respray the plant, but not the pot, with safe soap and bring them in. You can bring them in gradually over a few days but make sure they are in at night. If they need to be put into new pots, do this before bringing them in but after soaping them.

For those with rhododendrons, don’t forget the Wilt-Pruf. If we have cold winds this winter, it could save them. It is a spray-on product and you do both the tops and bottoms of the leaves. It needs to be done when the temperature is above 50 degrees but as late as possible, so judge accordingly.

Now to optional chores. If you have some plants you treasure, mulch them. The same holds true of roses or any plant that is not truly hardy. Do not mulch peonies. They don’t like it. Mulch can be pine needles, shredded leaves but not whole ones or compost. This should be done after the ground freezes. Put on 2 to 3 inches of whatever product you choose. The mulch is not designed to keep the plants from freezing but to keep them from thawing when we get a week or two of nice temperatures in January or whenever.

I use compost because it is the easiest to deal with in the spring when it can simply be pulled back and left. Before you mulch is a good time to add greensand, organics like phosphorus and other products so your plants get a kick-start with thaw in the spring. These are not products to speed up the plants but rather to help them develop better root systems and to put nutrients into the soil.

If you have plants you are getting rid of or that need to go, dig them out now and add compost and nutrients to the soil so you are ready to replant in the spring.

Pull annuals out and work the soil where they were planted. Clean up debris under and around plants and shrubs. Debris offers a refuge for mice, insects, slugs, etc… so get rid of it. If you are pulling out any diseased plants, don’t put them in a compost pile.

After this, if you can still move, remove all the weeds you can to give yourself a head start next spring. Don’t forget to clean and oil your tools before putting them away for the winter.

Until next time, I wish you pumpkins that make you smile and little ghosts and goblins that come visiting, blue skies, apple pies and the blessings of family and friends. I will talk with you in the spring, if God is willin’ and the creek don’t rise.

Jody Goodwin has been gardening for more than 25 years. She lives in Turner with her husband, Ike, her two dogs and two cats. She can be reached by writing to her in care of the Sun Journal, 104 Park St., Lewiston, Maine, 04243-4400 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Oops and give me a call

In the last column about the Monarch butterflies and the milkweed, I mistakenly referred to the butterflies and their “cocoons.” Moths form cocoons, Monarch caterpillars form a jade-colored chrysalis with gold dots and a gold ring from which the butterfly emerges. Sometimes when I write, my mind picks the easiest word instead of scanning for the correct one. Thanks to all of you out there who sent messages correcting me.

Also, to the gentleman I spoke with about glads, would you please give me a call. I have more information for you. Thanks.