Chef Rebecca Tip!! – January

Try making a different soup, stir-fry or quiche each week from the bounty of broccoli/broccolini 🥦,
brussels sprouts, beets, carrots 🥕, cauliflower, chard, kale🥬, leeks, mushrooms, mustard greens,
onions, sweet potatoes🍠, squash or turnips that you’ll find in your garden or at your local Farmer’s
Market.

I used to struggle with soups, but when I stopped trying to follow a precise recipe and
instead opted to sauté, simmer, and stir in whatever was ready to harvest from my garden (and/or
was left over from my meekly trek to Farmer’s Market) – I turned into somewhat of a super-soup 🥣
chef! I love combining chicken, leeks, mushrooms, garlic, onion, carrots and some kale into a
savory pie 🥧 – add a nice glass of red wine 🍷, and voilá– a restaurant-worthy winter meal! Salud!

Garden Tips for January

Garden Tips for January

Fruit tree pruning is best done in January and February. Prune off dead or damaged branches. Open up the tree’s canopy by removing crossing branches. After pruning, apply a dormant oil spray to ward off scale, mealy bugs, whiteflies and mites. Pruning should be completed by the end of February before buds begin to open. Call our Hotline for information regarding the Pruning Fruit and Nut Tree pamphlet.

Fire proofing the area within the first 30 feet of your home can mean the difference of saving or losing your home. Never plant pines, junipers, eucalyptus or greasewood trees within this zone – they are high in oils and resins and are extremely flammable. Keep brush and small braches trimmed away from structures. Small plants, no taller than 18 inches and fire resistant groundcovers are recommended. For more information on fire proof landscaping and an extensive list of plants, go to:  www.bewaterwise.com/fire02.html

Moss and algae in the lawn is usually caused by neglect. It may be due to poor drainage, too much water, soil compaction, restriction of airflow, too much thatch, or a soil imbalance. Reduce watering, dethatch, reduce compaction by aerating, perform a soils test – pH should have an acidity range between 6-7. An application of fertilizer will with help with moss, whereas algae needs a reduction of fertility.

Frost-protect sensitive plants by keeping soil moist and cover plants with a blanket or cloth during night of freeze warnings. If possible move potted plants under eaves, preferably on the east or south side of the house.

Move houseplants to a bright, sunny location. Clean foliage by washing sturdy leaves with a moist cloth or rinse the entire plant under a tepid shower. Dust fealty leaves and succulents with a soft brush.

For our complete list of January Gardening Tips, click on:  http://www.mastergardeners.org/tips/january.html

Garden Tips for December

Garden Tips for December

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Beware of poisonous plants, such as Poinsettia and Mistletoe, they can be harmful to both humans and pets. Don’t be afraid to enjoy them for the holidays, just keep them out of reach from children and those curious dogs and cats.

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Protect plants from frost by placing stakes around tender plants and covering with clear plastic or fabric such as a sheet or old blanket. Don’t let the plastic touch the foliage. Wrap larger plants with strings of small Christmas tree lights and cover with a sheet. Turn the lights on at night. If plants are potted, move them to a sheltered area such as a porch, under the eves on the south side of the house or even under a tree. Be sure to uncover them during the day. Moving them indoors to a cool room would also be good, if possible. Don’t prune frost damage on a plant until new growth starts in spring. The dead material helps protect the plant from further damage.

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Clean garden beds in preparation for winter. Many insects and diseases over-winter in fallen debris. Prune diseased leaves from roses, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas. Leave leaf litter under oaks, pine and junipers; the leaf duff helps protect the roots.

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Winter watering is important if there has been no rain for a week or two. Use a moisture meter or a shovel to dig into the soil (at least 6 inches below the surface) to see if the soil has dried out. This is especially important for recently installed plantings.

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Prune apple trees that have weak or unproductive branches. Apple trees produce fruit terminally on spurs located on wood 2-8 years old. Pruning allows sunlight into the tree to encourage good spur development.

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Prune blackberries as soon as harvest is complete. Remove all wood that has produced the current year’s crop, and trellis remaining large branches immediately; a fan shape is recommended. Tipping (removing the end of the canes) will promote larger berries and help keep the plant more manageable.

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Harvest kiwis when they are still hard, then let them soften at room temperature. Watch the vines for signs of ripeness; a few fruit will turn soft and the skin color will change from greenish to full brown. Fruit can be left on the vine after the leaves fall off. Kiwis can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 months or at room temperature for about 2 weeks.

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Peppertree pysllid  are greenish or tan pear shaped pests that cause damage to California peppertrees. Tiny, translucent, white eggs turn into orangish nymphs that feed on new plant growth. Leaves will appear wrinkled or twisted. The pest rarely does serious damage to the tree, so control methods aren’t usually necessary.

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Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that reduces the vigor and health of its host tree. Cut off any affected limb 18” or more below the mistletoe attachment. If this isn’t possible, remove the mistletoe and wrap the infected area with black plastic to prevent re-sprouting.

 

For our complete list of December Gardening Tips, click on: http://www.mastergardeners.org/tips/december.html

Garden Tips for November

Garden Tips for November

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Autumn is here in full swing! Take care of your garden with these Fall season garden tips.

 

Control ants by caulking cracks and other points of entry to your home. Ant baits can be effective; ants are attracted to the bait and then carry a small portion back to the nest where it will kill the colony. Boric acid and Fipronil baits are most effective.

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Stylar end rot usually effects Persian limes but can affect other limes and lemons as well. Depressed areas will appear leathery and dry. You will notice a sunken patch at the stylar tip (end) of the fruit that will start out looking like a water-soaked, whitish area. It can cover ¼ to ½ of the fruit. Inside tissue will become pinkish or brown. You can pick fruit before it fully matures to cut losses. Extremely high temperature can bring it on.

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Powdery Mildew on apple trees appears as a powdery white substance on leaves and shoots.  New growth can be distorted and/or stunted.   4

 

Termites are small white, tan or black insects that can cause severe destruction to wooden structures. Signs of infestation include swarming of winged forms in fall and spring and evidence of tunneling in the wood. Complete inspection and control may require trained professionals.  For detailed information, go to:  www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7415.html.

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Fall is time to replace worn out plants and shrubs. Larger plants such as perennials and shrubs put down their roots in the winter when temperatures are mild and rain water is available. Newly planted shrubs will need supplemental summer watering during their first few years.

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Plant bulbs now for a beautiful spring show. Plant bulbs in well-draining soil. For each bulb, dig a hole three inches deep, mix a tablespoon of fertilizer (high in phosphorus and potassium) in the bottom of each hole, then place the bulb (stem side up) and cover with soil. Thoroughly soak the area after planting.

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For our complete list of November Gardening Tips, click on:  http://www.mastergardeners.org/tips/november.html

Garden Tips for October

Garden Tips for October

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With the cooling weather and soon-to-arrive rains, now is the time to clean up your garden beds in preparation for the winter. From adding mulch to preparing your tulip bulbs for your garden, find out what you can be doing this month in your garden.

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Clean garden beds in preparation for winter. Many insects and diseases over-winter in fallen debris. Prune diseased leaves from roses, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas. Leave leaf litter under oaks, pine and junipers; the leaf duff helps protect the roots.

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Add a mulch layer to existing garden beds to provide needed nutrients for next year’s crops. However, don’t practice wall-to-wall mulching – it’s important to leave areas of exposed native soil for our ground-nesting bees.

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Trim perennials such as salvias, penstemons, yarrow and buddleia (butterfly bush) to half or a third their existing size to stimulate healthy new growth in the spring.

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Harvest persimmons by cutting versus pulling the fruit off to avoid damaging the tree. Harvest Fuyu persimmons when firm and crisp; wait to harvest the Hachiya variety until fruit is soft.  Persimmon trees grow to about 25’ tall and wide, making it a nicely contained choice for a landscape tree.

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Chill tulip bulbs now in order to plant before the first frost. Tulip bulbs need approximately 6-8 weeks of chilling time before planting (place them in the refrigerator, not the freezer). Avoid storing your bulbs near apples. Apples emit ethylene gas which will cause the bulbs to sprout prematurely.

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Sow native wildflowers; poppies, clarkias, lupines and blue-eyed Marys are easy to start from seed. Plant just before the winter rains start to prevent the need for manual watering.

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Take inventory of your yard and landscape. This is a great time to remove and replace woody, tired-looking annuals, perennials and shrubs. Planting now will allow you to take advantage of fall and winter rains. For water-wise options, choose plants that do well in a Mediterranean climate – look for ones native to California, Australia and/or South Africa.

For our complete list of October Gardening Tips, click on:  http://www.mastergardeners.org/tips/october.html

Garden Tips for September

Garden Tips for September

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September is here! Here are some September gardening tips that you can look out for or try out in your garden.

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Bitter pit in apples is a common problem that shows up as small dark, bruise-like spots near the end of the apple.  This condition is caused by a lack of calcium uptake by the fruit. To keep it under control, mix one tablespoon of calcium nitrate in one gallon of water and spray the leaves of tree. This should be done in early spring just after bloom.

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Winter squash is ready to harvest when the stem begins to shrivel. Pick just before the first frost; cure by letting it sit in the sun for at least 3 days, and turn daily. Squash will keep for up to 5 months if stored in a cool dry place.

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Mosaic Virus on squash and cucumber plants is spread by aphids and cucumber beetles. The disease causes leaves to become rough and mottled. Plants can be stunted and fruit can turn whitish.  It’s best to remove and discard diseased plants; do not add them to your compost pile.

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Leave grass clippings on the lawn when you mow. They provide nitrogen and help retain moisture. Try to mow your lawn frequently. Cutting more than 1/3 of the height off of your lawn at any one time stresses the lawn. This will leave it more vulnerable to pests and disease.

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Deep water trees twice during the summer, even when they are planted in the lawn. Use a soaker or drip hose around the drip line of the tree; let it drip slowly for 2 to 3 hours. Mature fruit trees should be watered every 3 to 4 weeks; young fruit trees need to be watered every 2 weeks. Some mature ornamental or street trees may not need any water, but check the variety to be sure.

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Yellowing gardenia leaves is generally caused by chlorosis – a lack of iron in the soil. With a mild case, the veins remain green; with a more severe case, they turn completely yellow. Treat the soil with iron chelate in accordance to the package directions.

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Leafcutter bees cut smooth, round or oval holes in plant leaves, especially roses. They use the leaf fragments to line each brood cell of their underground hives in order to store nectar and pollen. Each cell is then sealed with a single egg inside. Larva pupates in the chamber and then emerges in spring. A leafcutter bee is considered a beneficial insect.

For our complete list of September Gardening Tips, click on:  http://www.mastergardeners.org/tips/september.html