Topics in Subtropics

An introduction to Palmer amaranth Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie Author: Ted Webster Author: Stanley Culpepper Despite the fact that I am currently working in orchards and vineyards, I receive lots of requests to discuss Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.

The Situation: Several species of brightly colored, ground dwelling bugs are familiar to California residents who observe the insects running over dry ground, feeding and migrating among urban vacant lots and weedy fields.

Walking a passionfruit vineyard in Carpinteria recently, we saw wilted leaves and total plant collapse.

With drought and forecast for more of the same, it's time to think of alternative crops for our area. Pithecellobium dulce (translation: sweet monkey ear) may be a choice. Guamuchil is just one of the many names for this tree crop, including: monkeypod tree, camachile, and Madras thorn.

Problem: There was a Valencia farmer in Ojai, farming on a rocky loam. More rocky than loam, on a 10 % slope, where he had been spraying the weeds down, the soil had gradually washed away and all he had left was scattered cobbles.