Topics in Subtropics

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Topics in Subtropics Blog
You can subscribe to this  blog with multiple entries per week reflecting what's happening with subtropical crops and upcoming educational events.  Just click on the "Subscribe" button just to the right of this paragraph.  There's also our seasonal quarterly Topics in Subtropics newsletter found at our Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare and Kern Counties Cooperative Extension websites.
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frost damage

My Frost Protection Spray Trials

October 30, 2024
By Ben A Faber
The use of foliar nutrients as frost protectants has been promoted for years. Research published by Steve Lindow at UC Berkeley explained that certain naturally occurring bacteria ,such as Pseudomonas syringae and Erwinia herbicola act as nucleating agents for ice formation.
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thermometer

Frost Terminology

October 28, 2024
By Ben A Faber
A Frost Primer Definitions: Dry-bulb temperature: the temperature of the air as measured with a thermometer. Wet-bulb temperature: the temperature that the tree will likely sense due to evaporative cooling of the leaves.
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avocado pruning stub 1

Now is NOT the Time to Prune Avocados

October 25, 2024
By Ben A Faber
When to Prune Avocados and Suggestions of How to Prune In the past avocados were rarely pruned. In fact, if the trees got very big, growers would stump them down to 3-4 feet and then let them regrow. This would often be a disaster, since the trees rapidly grew to stupendous sizes again.
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frost damage leaves

Preparing Frost Protection Measures

October 23, 2024
By Ben A Faber
Forecasts are for a mild La Nina which usually means low rainfall, cooler temperatures and relative humidities, all of which usually means greater conditions for freeze events.
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cover crop trail Hansen

Cover Crops Workshop

October 21, 2024
By Ben A Faber
Come hear about cover crops and how we measure their effects on soil and improved growing conditions Climate-Smart Farming Demonstration Field Meeting November 6, 2024 9:00 AM - 11:45 AM 5352 Beardsley Rd. Camrillo, CA 93010 Contact: Siomara Zendejas siozendejas@ucanr.
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