The Stanislaus Sprout

Here in Stanislaus County, zone 9b, we have experienced quite a few triple digit days with more forecast to come our way.

What is buzzing around my ears??? Oh drat, it is an adult female mosquito, that tiny annoying blood-sucking creature we all love to hate. But mosquitoes are more than annoying. They can spread West Nile virus (WNV), which can make people and animals sick and even cause death.

Almost any home gardener will tell you that one of the most versatile and rewarding plants to grow in a summer edible garden is a tomato. In fact, a 2023 study by the National Gardening Association revealed that 86 percent of gardeners grow tomatoes.

Summer is here, and so is the Stanislaus County Fair! Our local University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener Program volunteers are excited to have a presence at the fair this year.

Every gardener has stories about battling pests in their gardens such as aphids, mites, ants, scales, and whiteflies, along with diseases such as powdery mildew, damping off, and various fungal infections! We cannot experience the joys of gardening without also dealing with the pests and diseases th...