Remember the column in July where I wrote how deer-resistant tuberous begonias are? Well, never mind, if you get my drift.

I just hope the recent rain will entice my resident doe and her two fawns to leave my plants alone. My heart goes out to people whose plants get eaten just before the relatives from Ohio come to visit.

On a lighter note, now that the weather has cooled, it’s a good time to start your cold-season vegetable garden. You can start the following from seed: beets, carrots, radishes, onions, spinach and turnips.

Others to plant from starts are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, lettuce, peas, leeks and parsley. Be sure to amend your soil that was depleted by summer crops for good results.

With luck, you won’t see small holes in leaves on your cole crops like cabbage and cauliflower — but if you do, the plants are probably being attacked by caterpillars. Search the leaves and pick off and destroy them or spray with organic BT. Other insects to watch for are aphids that love to nestle inside.

Spray with a strong stream of water, or use a pesticide like neem oil or insecticidal soap to control.

To reduce the number of sites that harbor insects and diseases over winter, pull weeds, spent annuals and old vegetables. Remove fruit and leaf litter from under trees. Compost only pest-free plant debris. If you suspect pests, bag up the debris and toss in your green waste can. Commercially-made compost normally gets hot enough to kill pests.

Besides adding disease-free plants and debris to your compost pile or bin, also mix in vegetable and fruit waste, coffee grounds and clippings. Chop up large pieces, and keep the pile as moist as a wrung-out sponge.

Compost can take six weeks to six months to mature, depending on the temperature and the size of the pieces. It is not necessary to add any additives such as an activator to speed up the process. The microorganisms are already present in the plants and soil.

Proper management is key. Your pile should include equal parts by volume of dry, brown, carbon-rich materials (dried leaves, straw ) and fresh, green material high in nitrogen (fresh lawn clippings). Wet the pile as you build it and rewet it each time you turn it. To thoroughly process the raw materials, turn the compost weekly.

A natural for planting

If you have a stump in your yard that you’d love to hollow out so you can plant something inside, here’s a tip I received from a fellow gardener: Drill as many holes as you can in the stump, pack them with steer or chicken manure, and water in. Cover with a tarp for three months or until rotted, then scoop out. Fill your stump with planting mix, and you’re all set to create a beautiful composition in your new natural planter.

• E-mail Jan Nelson, a California certified nursery professional at Plant Works, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it