Gardening Q&A

September/October 2022 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 want to trim all the shrubs in my garden. Any hints?

First, don’t trim any that bloom in the spring (like forsythia). If you prune them now, you’ll be cutting off next spring’s flowers. Otherwise, the first thing to do is trim away any dead branches. Next, trim branches that cross or are rubbing against each other. Finally, prune for looks: Don’t butcher the shrub by simply cutting wherever your clippers land. Cut limbs or branches back to a main stem, or where they will branch out and get bushier. When you are done, it should look like no one was ever there; it should look as though the plant grew that way naturally.

How do I know if my pumpkins are ripe enough to pick?

Pumpkins can stay on the vine quite a long time, even after they turn orange (or white, or whatever color they are supposed to be), but they should be fully colored before picking. The skin should be hard. If you can easily pierce the skin with your fingernail, the pumpkin isn’t ripe enough to pick. Thump or slap the pumpkin. It should make a hollow sound. Pick them too soon, and they won’t last the season.