Gardening Q&A

November/December 2023 California Bountiful magazine

As a California Bountiful reader, you have the opportunity to get your seasonal gardening questions answered by gardening expert Pat Rubin. Here are a few questions from our readers.

I haven’t picked my pumpkins yet. Is it too late?

Pumpkins need to be left on the vine for as long as possible for the best color and ripeness. As long as the rind (the skin on the pumpkin) is hard, the pumpkin is still good to pick and use. It’s best to wait until after the first frost but before freezing weather sets in to pick pumpkins (and winter squash).

What should I be doing in the garden in December?

December is a great time for garden cleanup. Remove all dead foliage, clean away any weeds. Add compost to the vegetable garden and mulch around the shrubs and trees. If you have fruit trees, now is the time to prune them. This is the time of year I start sprinkling flower seeds in vegetable and ornamental garden beds.