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Whetherit’savegetablegarden,houseplantsoralandscape...
Thisnewsletterisproducedby:
GerryHernandezMasterGardenerCoordinator
LuisEspinoAdvisor
ChrisGreer
CountyDirector
OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesday, 9am—12pm 1pm –4pm
UCCE office, 100 Sunrise Blvd,
Colusa 458-0570
Haveaquestion?
CooperativeExtension,ColusaCountyP.O.Box180,100SunriseBlvd.,SuiteEColusa,Ca95932530‐485‐0570530‐458‐[email protected]
InThisIssue: FrequentlyAskedQuestion
Bookofthemonth—NewSunsetWesternGardenbook
OrnamentalPlantoftheMonth—CannaLilies
EdibleGardenoftheMonth–CareforyourGardenandEnjoytheHarvest
RecipeoftheMonth—HendersonPeachSmoothie
ProblemoftheMonth—Tomatoproblems
SmartGardeningPractices
JulyintheGarden
Gardenclubactivities
August2013
InformationBoothLocations:
ArbuckleFarmersMarketWednesdayAugust7
ColusaFarmersMarketMondayAugust5MondayAugust19
FrequentlyAskedQuestionDearMasterGardener,Mylandscapetreesaredroppingalotofleaves.Whatisgoingonandarewegoingtohaveanearlyfall?YourNeighborDearNeighbor,Idon’tknowifwearegoingtohaveanearlyfall.Theleafdropiscalledleafscorchandiscausedbyexcessiveheat.InJulywehadof icialtemperaturesof115degreesandyouknowthetopofyourtreeswashotterthanthat.Hereisthetechnicalanalysis:Leafscorchiscausedbyexcessiveevaporationofmoisturefromtheleaves.Inhotorwindyweather,waterevaporatesrapidlyfromtheleaves.Ifrootscannotabsorbandconveywaterfastenoughtoreplenishthisloss,theleavesturnbrownandwither.Thisusuallyoccursindrysoil,butleavescanalsoscorchwhenthesoilismoistandtemperaturesarenear100degreesforextendedperiods.YourMasterGardener
BookoftheMonth
The New Western Garden Book TheUltimateGardeningGuide
Assurelyasgardenschangewiththeseasons,gardeningiseverchanging.Newplants,techniques,materials,andlifestylesareconstantlybroadeningthechoicesreadershaveandreshapingthewaytheygardenintheWest.Inresponsetothisnatu-ralevolution,theeditorsofSunset—theWest’smosttrustedsourceofgardeninginformationformorethan80years—havecompletelyredesignedandupdatedTheWesternGardenBookinthis2012NinthEdition.Followingthebest-sellingsuccessofthepreviouseditionsofTheWesternGardenBook,thiseditionincludesafreshnewlook,thousandsofcolorphotographs,freshillustrations,andaneasy-to-followformat.WrittenbyexpertsforgardenersintheWest,thisbookisanindispensablereferenceforbeginningandexpertgardenersalike.TheNewWesternGardenBookfeaturesinclude:
AphotogalleryshowstheWest’smostinnovativegardens,fromall-ediblesfrontyardstostylishwater-wiseand ire-wisegardenstolivingwallsandgreenroofs—allwithideasreaderscanuse.
ClimateZoneMapsandgrowing-seasongraphsforallregionsoftheWest,includingAlaskaandHawaii.
AnewPlantFindersectionhelpsreaderschooseplantsfortheirgarden’sproblemareasorforspecialeffects
AtoZPlantEncyclopedialistssome8000plantsthatthriveintheWest,includingmorethan500newones.Gorgeouscolorphotographsillustrateallplantentries—forthe irsttimeeverinTheWesternGardenBook.
GardeningFromStarttoFinishisanewvisualguidethatleadsreadersthroughallstepsofmakingagarden,fromsoilprepthroughplanting,growingandcare,withspecialsectionsonnatives,veggies,grassesandmore.
OrnamentalPlantoftheMonth
CannaLilliesforTropicalTextureandDurability
Ifyouarelookingforaboldfeatureinyouryardthatgetsplentyofsunandthumbsitsnoseatmostpestsanddiseases.Youcangofortheold“tall”varietiesthatwillneveraskyoutostakethemuporneedanythingbutmoistureandsuninordertolookgoodallsummer.Oryoucangofortheshortestcannasthatstaysaround2feettallorcanheadintothestripedfoliageofTropicannathatstayslessthan3feettall.Inourzonethecannasisaperennialandafterafewyearsyouhavemorethanenoughtosharewithyourfriends.Youcanindoneswithdarkgreenfoliagelike“Australia”,colorfulfoliageasontheTropicanna,andafairlynewvarietycalled“TropicalRose”thathaslightergreenleaveswithdramaticwhitestripesthatlookgreatincontainersandtopoutaround30inchestallbylatesummer.
ThecannawillstarttoshowoffinourareaaroundlateJuneorearlyJulythecolorrangegoesfromthesoftestofpinkthrough ieryredandorangeandintothespeckledyellow lowerof“Picasso.”Wecancountontheir lowersuntilcoldweatherorfroststopsthemhereaslongastheyaredeadheadedjustbelowthedyingblossoms.Ifyoucuttolowyouwilllosefuture lowers.
Ifyouhaveapondorwaterfeatureyoucanlookfortheaquaticcannastoaddanotherdimensiontoyourgarden.Justmakesurethattherhizomesarenomorethan5-6inchesbelowthesurfaceofthewater.Toodeepandtheycan’tgetenoughoxygenandwillsuffocateanddie.Mostwatercannasgrowabout3-6feettallinawiderangeofcolorsandmostlywithblue-greenleaves.
Cannasarewaterloverssoifyouhaveanareathatdrainspoorlythecannaswillbehappyascanbe.Whenit’stimetodividetherhizomessimplydigtheclumpandpulltherootsapart.Theyarebrittleandbreakatnaturaldivisionspots.Justmakesureeachpiecehasatleastonenode,orbud,wherenewleaveswillgrownextyear.Ifoneofthepieceshaslotsofrootbutnonodevisiblejusttossit–youwillstillhaveplentytoplant.Thenodeisessentialfortheplanttoberobustwhenyoureplantit.Sometimesthelittlestemsgrowingrightnexttothemajorstemmaylooklikeanodebuttheplantwilltakelongertorebound.
Ifyou indtheoccasionalgrasshopper,caterpillarorleafrollerenjoyingfreelunchjustpickthemoffanddropthemintosoapywater.Thetoughplantsonlyhaveoneseriousproblem–“Yellowmottlevirus”.Ifyouspotleavesstreakedwithyellow,theplantmaybeinfected.Sometimestheleavesarepuckered,twisterorstunted.Eventhe lowersmightshowpalestreaks.Thereisnochemicalcontrolsoyoumustdigthecannasoutandputtheminthetrash–notthecompostpile.Asyoutrimthestembesuretodipyourclippersina1:10bleachsolutiontopreventspreadingthisdisease.Mostofuswillneversee“Yellowmottlevirus”sojustenjoythecannasallsummerlong.
SubmittedbyCynthiaWhite
EdibleGardenoftheMonth
CAREFORYOURGARDEN&ENJOYTHEHARVEST
•Duringthesehotdayswaterearly(before8am)allowingittosoakin.Containerplantsdryouteasilyandmaywellneeddailywater.
•Mulchingsaveswaterandtheplants.Tryputtingdownafewsheetsofnewspaperandcoveringwithaninchofcompostorbark.
•Beonthelookoutforpests.Ifpossiblepickthemofforknockoffwithahardsprayofwater.
•Feedvegetableplantswithbonemealorafertilizerhighinphosphatetoencouragemorebloomandfruit,butbesuretowaterwell irst.
•Pinchbloomsfrombasilsomoreleavesgrow.
•HARVESTyourtomatoes,eggplant,peppersandsquash!Avoidbaseballbatsizedzucchini.Pickallyourvegetableswhenyoungandtenderandtheywillbeencouragedtokeepproducing.
•Pickcornandtrythefollowingrecipe.Ialwaysthoughtyoucouldn’tbeatplainoldcornonthecobwithbutterandsalt,butIhavebeenconverted.Thishasbroughtnothingbutraves.
RoastedCornwithManchego&Lime
byJean-GeorgesVongerichtenandDanKluger
Makes8servings
Ingredients
6earsofsweetyellowcorn,unhusked2tablespoonsextra-virginoliveoil2tablespoons(1/4stick)unsaltedbutterKoshersaltfreshlygroundblackpepper1jalapeno,seeded, inelydiced1/2teaspooncrushedredpepper lakes1lime,cutinto4wedges1cup inelygratedManchegocheese1/4cupthinlyslicedchives2teaspoons inelygratedlimezest
Preparation
Preheatovento450°.Roastunhuskedcornonabakingsheet,turningoccasionally,untilheatedthroughandcrisp-tender,about15minutes.Letcool.Shuckcornandcutkernelsfromcobs.
Heatoilinalargeskilletoverhighheat.Addcornkernelsandsauteuntilheatedthroughandlight-goldeninspots,3–5minutes.Addbutter;stiruntilmelted.
Seasontotastewithsaltandpepper.Transfercorntoalargewidebowlordeepplatter;sprinklejalapenoandcrushedredpepper lakesover.Squeezelimewedgesover;sprinklewithcheese,chives,andlimezest.
BonAppetit|August2011
JohnandDianeVa is
ProblemoftheMonth
Tomatoes—Blossom end rot, fruit cracks and ver cillium wilt
Blossom end rot
Plants with blossom end rot show small, light brown spots at the blossom end of immature fruit. The affected area gradually expands into a sunken, leathery, brown or black lesion as the fruit ripens. Hard, brown areas may develop inside the fruit, either with or without external symptoms. The disease is not associated with soil contact or with damage to other plant parts.
Solu ons
Blossom end rot results from a low level of calcium in the fruit and water balance in the plant. It is aggravated by high soil salt content or low soil moisture and is more common on sandier soils. To reduce rot, monitor soil moisture to make sure that the root zone neither dries out nor remains saturated. Follow recommended rates for fer lizers. Some varie es are more affected than others. The disease is not caused by a pathogen; there are no pes cide solu ons.
Fruit cracks
Fruit may crack in a radial pa ern or in concentric circles. Radial cracking, the more common of the two, occurs during rainy periods, when rains follow long dry periods. Fruit exposed to the sun may also develop cracks.
Solu ons
Maintain a uniform water supply through the use of irriga on or mulches. A full leaf canopy will also help protect fruit from the sun and reduce cracking.
There may be some resistant varie es in your area.
Ver cillium wilt—Ver cillium dahliae
Ver cillium wilt o en starts as a yellowing between the major veins of the leaves. The fungus moves throughout the plant and eventually whole leaves and stems wither and die.
Solu ons
Ver cillium wilt of tomatoes can be avoided in many cases by plan ng resistant varie es, which are labeled V. If you wish to grow suscep ble varie es, problems can some mes be minimized by removing all residue, including roots that may be suscep ble, and using soil solariza on before you plant. (picture of stem)
RecipeoftheMonthBarbaraScheimerandCynthiaPeterson
HendersonPeachSmoothies
4softHendersonPeaches
5cupsfatfreefrozenyogurtoricecream(peachorvanilla lavored)
¼to1cup1%orwholemilk(dependingonyourconsistencypreference)
1banana
1thoney(ifdesired)
Mixallingredientsinablender,servecold.Becreativebyaddingstrawberries,blueberriesetc.
ThankyoutotheHendersonFamilyforthisrecipe.Morepeachrecipesareavailableathttp://hendersonpeaches.com
SmartGardeningPractices
ThiswillbeanewseriesonhowtolessenyourgardeningfootprintonMotherEarthandsavemoney.
FourEasyWaystoGetStartedwithSmartGardening!
1. Checkyourirrigationsystem
A. Lookforbrokenoroutofadjustmentheads.
B. Setyourcontrollerproperlyfortheseason.
2. Usemulchin lower,vegetableandshrubbeds
A. Mulchpreventswaterloss,andkeepsweedsdown.
B. Mulchmaterialscanbebark,groundtreetrimmingsandfallen leaves.
C. Apply3inchesofmulch.
3. Usecomposttoimprovesoilhealthandfertility
A. Compostreducesfertilizerneeds.
B. Improveswateruseef iciency.
C. Incorporatecompostwhenplantingorapplytoshrubs. Rememberto“spacethebase”(putcompostafewinchesfrom thebaseoftheplant).
4. Grasscyclewhenmowinglawns
A. Grasscyclingallowsgrassclippingsandtheirnutrientstobe recycledintothelawnandsoil,reducingtheneedforfertilizers. Inaddition,thereislesswastetotheland ill.Useamulching moweroronewithamulchingattachment.
AugustintheGarden:
Thingstoplant:
Youcanplantdirectlyinthegardenseedsofcarrots,beets,lettuce,spinachandturnips.Indoorsyoucanstartseedsforbroccoli,cabbage,kale,bunchingonions,andradicchio.
Thingstodo:
Besuretomonitoryourwateringsystem.Checkforcoverageandwatchforpluggedorblockedsprinklers.
Deeplywaterfruittrees,grapes,andornamentaltrees.
Continuetoweed.Beespeciallysuretogetweedsbeforethey lowerandsetseeds.
Checkthemulchyouhavespreadaroundandbesureitisthickenoughtosuppressweeds.(3to4inches)
Cutoffspent lowersofperennialsandannualsforcontinuedbloom.Cutlavenderseverelyafterithas inishedblooming.Petuniasandcoreopsisshouldbeshearedbacktopromoteanothercropofblossoms.
SciencewordoftheMonth….
Vernalization—Theinducementorpromotionof loweringbyexposureto lowtemperature,asinsomebulbsandbiennialplants.
The Colusa County Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a partnership among the University of California, USDA, Colusa County and the Colusa County Farm Bureau. Master Gardener volunteers extend horticultural information and offer educational programs and garden-related demonstrations in Colusa County.
The University of California prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (as defined by the Uniformed Ser-vices Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994: service in the uniformed services includes membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services) in any of its programs or activities. University policy also prohibits repris-al or retaliation against any person in any of its programs or activities for making a complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment or for using or participat-ing in the investigation or resolution process of any such complaint. University policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws.
Inquiries regarding the University’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1111 Franklin Street, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 987-0096.
To simply information, trade names of products have been used. No endorsement of named products is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products which are not mentioned.
University of California, United States Department of Agriculture, Colusa County Cooperating. For special assistance regarding our programs, please contact us.
AdditionalLinks
IntegratedPestManagement www.ipm.ucdavis.edu
UCDavisArboretum www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu
McConnellArboretumandBotanicalGardens turtlebay.org
InvasivePlants www.cal-ipc.org
PlantRight www.plantright.org
PG&E www.pge.com
SaveOurWater www.water.ca.gov
GardenClubofColusaCountyactivities
NextmeetingMondayAugust26th,6:30pm
642FifthSt.(St.Stephen’sEpiscopalChurch)
Speaker-Idon’tknowwhoitisbutI’msuretheywillbefabulous.Bythenextnews-letterIwillhavealistofspeakersandtheirbios.