- Author: Tammy Majcherek
Persimmon Taste Testing at the South Coast Research and Extension Center.....
The South Coast Research and Extension Center opened
up it gates to invited guests, the California Rare Fruit Growers Assoc.
and the UCCE Master Gardeners on Friday, December 2, 2011.
Attendees were treated to the first annual persimmon taste testing to
be held at the South Coast REC in Irvine.
Of the approximately 125 guests, only 54 were brave enough to taste
and evaluate the “fruit of the Gods” grown at the Center. Evaluators
were asked to rate the 14 varieties using a basic one to five scale based
on attractiveness, physical maturity, ripeness, texture, astringency,
sugar, flavor, and overall performance which was rated on a one to nine
ranking.
The persimmon collection at the Center contains various cultivars that
are not widely available and sought after by avid fans of this fruit. The
varieties that were evaluated included True Fuyu (PCNA), OC Fuyu
(PCNA), Imoto (PCNA), Matsumoto Wasa (PCNA), Meakawa Jiro (PCNA),
California Fuyu (PCNA), Gosho (PCNA), Jiro (PCNA), Suruga (PCNA),
Maru (PVNA), Kurokuma (PVNA), Dai Dai Maru (PVNA), Trible (PVNA),
and Nishimura Wase (PVA). Additionally, the softer Hachiya types were
available to taste though weren’t evaluated.
On hand to answer questions were the knowledgeable volunteers who
maintain the Center’s collection along with noted author and
persimmon grower, Jim Bathgate.
Taking advantage of the reusable bags available for purchase, the
attendees filled up with their favorite varieties, especially those that
are not widely available. Proceeds from the sale of the bags will benefit
the Urban Horticulture Extension Program at the South Coast REC
providing the general public with educational opportunities related to
edible and ornamental landscaping.
A good time was had by all experiencing this fall gem. For more
information regarding future public events at the South Coast Research
and Extension Center visit http://ucanr.org/sites/screc/ .
- Posted By: Tammy Majcherek
- Written by: Tammy Majcherek
You probably think this post is going to be about the leaves turning, or that you should plant spring flowering bulbs and native plant selections, but you would be wrong.
I want to remind everyone to adjust your irrigation controller, or turn it off altogether for the next few months. Think of the savings on your water bill!
The rain season officially started October 1st. Since that date, here at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, we have received approximately 1.25" of rain - this weekend alone we are expecting .75". You may not think that is very much, but mixed with the cooler temperatures, most plants will not need much more than that for the next week.
Check out BeWaterwise.com for a quick and easy program to adjust your irrigation schedule. Using their Water Calculator tool will allow you to customize a watering schedule to fit the needs of your landscape. Please remember that nothing is fail safe and you may need to adjust according to irregular weather or irrigation coverage.
In addition to adjusting your irrigation schedule, don't forget to repair or adjust the sprinklers themselves. No sense in going to all the trouble of reprogramming the clock if your spray heads are going every which way. Most often, you need nothing more than a screwdriver and a little brute strength to get things back in line.
Good luck, stay dry, and enjoy those savings!
- Posted By: Tammy Majcherek
- Written by: Courtesy of Orange County UCCE Master Gardeners
- Author: Tammy Majcherek
Have you ever taken a walk through your garden and all of the sudden just been taken aback by the unexpected beauty of a certain plant, or collection of plants? Recently I had that very experience.
Working in the landscape on a continual basis you have a tendency to be a little more critical of a plant's vigor and it's beauty. Growing in one our demonstration landscapes here at the South Coast REC are a couple of Ceanothus x pallidus 'Marie Simon', a hybrid of early 19th century French origin related to some of our California Native Lilacs such as Ceanothus 'Concha'.
Planted as part of a research project two years ago, the scrawny 1-gallon plants would not have been my first choice. During the first year they were nibbled on by rabbits, infested by aphids, the foliage seemed to continually wilt and appear somewhat anemic, and lest we not forget the few very unassuming, washed-out pink blooms. Yet somehow these dainty plants continued to bounce back ever so slightly. The one thing that was growing on me was the color of the bark - a nice reddish-burgundy color that blended well with the medium green foliage.
After reading that this species responds well to being cut back after it flowers, in the early fall we did just that removing approximately 1/3 of the growth.
During the second year, we noticed fewer aphids and less yellowing and tip-burn on the foliage. Still, the blooms were just not that impressive. I could not wait until the end of the evaluation period to perform a little shovel pruning. As done the previous year, we pruned in the fall, however just enough to clean up the shape and any dead branches.
This last March was the end of the evaluation period for this plant. Every time I walked out to the landscapes, I would look at these plants thinking "your days are numbered, I just need to find something to replace you with". Now it could have been my idol threats being sent telepathically, the above average rainfall this last season, or the more realistic explanation that these three plants have matured and are now established after two years, but returning today from the three-day weekend, I was pleasantly greeted by the beautiful plumes of pink flowers balanced on their burgundy perches engulfing these delicate plants as you can see by the picture below.
Needless to say, these landscape beauties have earned a reprieve from the henchmen. This is definitely a plant to be grown in the Irvine area, you just need a little bit of patience.
- Author: Tammy Majcherek
This article from the Sacramento Bee sums up the UC Davis Arboretum All Stars program nicely. Read on about the criteria that is used in selecting the top 100 plants for California landscapes which use less water and require less maintenance.
The inserted photos are just a few of the species being evaluated by UCCE Master Gardeners here in Orange County at the South Coast Research and Extension Center.
UCD Arboretum All Stars
By April Vail Fri, May 06, 2011 Sacramento Bee
One of the toughest hurdles in planting a garden is selecting just what to plant. Finding plants that will look good AND thrive in your garden can sometimes be tricky as environmental factors such as sun exposure, rainfall, soil type, and seasonal freezes have a profound effect on how plants will perform in your garden.
Fortunately the UC Davis Arboretum, in partnership with the California Center for Urban Horticulture (CCUH), aims to simplify the selection process with their Arboretum All-Stars list. Drawing from the Arboretum’s vast pool of plants collected over the last 75 years and the experiences of horticultural staff, the All-Stars list identifies the top 100 performers for California gardens. These plants have been selected for their beauty and ability to prosper in California’s Mediterranean climate (characterized by hot, dry summers and winter rainy seasons).
The Arboretum All-Star Program started in 2004 when Ellen Zagory, Director of Horticulture at the Arboretum, and a colleague, Diane Cary, came up with the idea as a way to promote plants that are attractive, drought tolerant, require little maintenance, and will grow easily in our climate.
Those All-Star characteristics help the gardener save time by requiring less maintenance and save money by requiring fewer inputs of water, pesticides, and fertilizers. Those same characteristics also help the environment by reducing pollution, conserving water, and attracting beneficial wildlife. Through grants, a partnership with the CCUH, and the aid of volunteers, the Arboretum All-Stars Project gained footing.
“The All-Stars were selected by five horticulturalists from the UC Davis Arboretum.” Ellen explained. Each plant had to meet specific criteria. 1) They had to look attractive through most of the year. 2) They had to grow well in our Mediterranean climate. 3) They also had to be test in the Arboretum. Based on their experiences each horticulturalist listed their top plants and rated them in categories such as “low maintenance”, “drought tolerant”, and “attracts beneficial wildlife. The top 100 ranked plants became the Arboretum All-Stars.
Several Arboretum All-Stars plants have undergone extensive field testing to determine how they would perform under four different levels of irrigation. These tests helped determine what watering regiments the plants responded to best. To test the All-Star plants under a variety of California climates, 14 Master Gardeners from various regions of the state have volunteered to grow and document the growth of these plants in their demonstration gardens. These tests are ongoing.
The Arboretum All-Star plants are available for viewing in several gardens throughout the 100 acre UC Davis Arboretum and also in All-Stars demonstration beds at their Teaching Garden site. A searchable listing of the Arboretum All-Stars is available on the UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars website .
For more information visit:
UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars website
http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum_all_stars.aspx
or, California Center for Urban Horticulture