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October's Not Just For Raking

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Add some quick color to your garden while it's warm by planting marigolds, coleus, and other similar varieties.

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By PENNY CARNATHAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 1, 2008

While the rest of the country girds its gardens for the coming frost, October in the Bay area means it's time to get out and have fun.

This is a great time for putting in an herb garden, or a winter vegetable garden. And when we start seeing some consistently cooler temperatures, you can plant favorite flowers, like petunias and snapdragons.

The garden shows and sales that all but disappeared over the summer return now in earnest. If you choose to stay home, remember, your summertime hot-humid-lightning excuse has gone to seed and blown away. Get out there and lay a paver path, dig a little pond, or pull up all those weeds!

Oct 1-2: Try Moon Calendar Gardening.

Good days for planting beans, peas, squash, sweet corn and tomatoes, if you plant by the moon calendar. Don't know what that means? Go to www.gardenbythemoon.com.

Oct. 3-5: Orchid Show & Sale.

What don't you have? Get it noon to 4 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at The Honeywell MinReg Building in Largo. $5

Oct. 6-10: Add Some Quick Color

While it's still warm, plant coleus, begonias, marigolds, sunflowers and zinnias. Wait till it's consistently cool for alyssum, dianthus, geraniums and lobelia.

Oct. 11-12: Fall Plant Festival.

Meet the plant of your dreams at USF Botanical Gardens' big sale;10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12. $4 admission.

Oct. 13-17: Get Ready For Christmas

Keep your Christmas cactus and poinsettias in the dark at night now if you want blooms for the holidays.

Oct. 18: Circus McGurkis

Get out, have fun, promote peace, get some more plants. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Vista Park in St. Petersburg. Free.

Oct. 20-23: Soup's On!

It's mealtime for gardens on a slow-release diet. Try Osmocote Plus (available at Home Depot) or Dynamite.

Oct. 24-25: Strawberry Fields Forever

U Pick in U Garden. Now's the time to plant strawberries. Need help? Visit http://www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH029.

Oct. 27-29: Some Cool Veggies

Now's the time to plant broccoli and carrots, onions, peas, spinach and cauliflower.

Oct. 31: Don't Forget The Seasoning

Basil, chives, cilantro, garlic, mint, rosemary and thyme all love the cooler temps.

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