August 19, 1997 Contact: Jennifer McNulty (408) 459-2495; mcnulty@ua.ucsc.edu

UC SANTA CRUZ HOSTS SECOND ANNUAL FALL PLANT SALE SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CRUZ, CA--Gardeners, don't take off those gloves! Don't hang up your spades! Instead, get ready for the second annual Fall Plant Sale at UC Santa Cruz on Friday and Saturday, September 5 and 6. Hours are noon to 6 P.M. on Friday and 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. on Saturday. The sale will take place in the Barn Theater parking lot at the intersection of Bay and High Streets at the base of campus.

Fall is a perfect time to garden on the Central Coast. Warm soil, mild weather, and relatively long days provide optimal conditions for planting perennials and winter vegetables. The sale will feature some of the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden's best-sellers, including lavenders, penstemon, yarrow, ornamental oregano, roses, subtropical salvias, ornamental grasses, and lamb's ear. A broad range of vegetables will also be available in six- packs, including broccoli, peas, Asian greens, salad mix, leeks, scallions, head lettuce, kale, and chard. All plants are organically grown.

Experienced gardeners know that a little effort in autumn pays off in the spring. By providing a few waterings until the rains come, gardeners can give their new plants a great start on spring. Fall planting gives perennials a chance to become established and acclimated so they'll be ready to take off when the weather dictates.

Fall plantings can also dramatically extend the harvest period of some vegetables, including lettuce. Instead of the typical two- or three-week harvest period that mature lettuce offers in the summer, plants that go in the ground in the fall will produce for two to three months during the winter.

Sponsored by the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, the sale will benefit the UCSC Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture. Members of the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden will receive a 10 percent discount on purchases; memberships will be available at the sale. For more information about the Fall Plant Sale or the Friends of the Farm & Garden, call 459-3240.

This release is also available on the World Wide Web at UCSC's "Services for Journalists" site (http://www.ucsc.edu/news/journalist/)

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