Is late summer or early fall a good time to plant an oak tree?
Mid-August through October is an excellent time to plant many deciduous trees and shrubs. However, some tree species are slow to root and are best planted in spring. Spring planting is generally preferred for oak, fir, magnolia, ginkgo, birch, yellowwood, bald cypress and callery pear. When do you harvest gourds? Gourds should be picked when the fruit are fully mature. At maturity, the stem attached to the fruit begins to dry and turn brown. Cut the gourds from the vines with a hand shears, leaving a few inches of stem attached to the fruit. Handle the gourds carefully as the skin is susceptible to bruising or scratching. After harvesting, gently wash the gourds in warm, soapy water to remove any dirt. Add a small amount of a household disinfectant to clear water, then rinse the gourds in the solution. The disinfectant should destroy decay organisms which could lead to fruit rot. Gently dry each gourd with a soft cloth. Place the clean fruit on newspapers or shelves to dry or cure. A w
