Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
Client: Help!!! I'm a relatively new vegetable gardener. I just planted my summer vegetable garden seedlings this week. Within the week I'm finding severely damaged zucchini seedlings with holes in the leaves and for some of them the entire seedling is gone. What is doing this? And what can I do to prevent such damage?
Control of these pests in the garden is usually a combination of methods. Hand picking at night with a flash light can be a quick and easy way to control the population. As you pick them off your plants or off the ground you can drop them into a container of mild soapy water. I personally like to wear garden gloves for this task. The water can be drained off in an out of the way spot in your yard and the snails and slugs disposed of in your trash bin.
The fourth possibility is birds. Pesky birds can do a lot of damage to your tender young plants. However, they are also your "friend" for all the garden pests they feed on as well as being protected by law. If birds are the "problem", to control the birds you will need to get some "bird netting" over your plants. Half-inch diameter PVC pipe works well for making an arch or tent over your plants. The method would be to drive 24" pieces of ¼ inch re-bar into the ground about 2 to 3 feet apart along BOTH sides of your plants (and opposite one another) far enough apart so that the PVC can be readily bent into an arch and slide over both of the opposite re-bars,. Stretch your bird netting over the arches and secure it in place with clips, string or twist-ties. You can also find some other methods of making these arches on YouTube videos at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEn-XQ5nA4k
Free UC Guidance on Snail & slug Management in the garden
(includes videos on identification of pest, applying bait, etc.):
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html
Free UC Guidance on Earwig Management in the garden:
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74102.html
I would do the nighttime check for snails and slugs first and try some of the trapping methods before I went to the trouble and expense of putting up bird netting. With a little effort I believe you can get the problem under control. However, the sad news is it looks to me like the zucchini plant will need to be pulled out and replanted as there does not seem to be enough leaf material left to sustain the plant. There is some good news here though, it's early in the growing season and the new zucchini will catch up in no time.
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of ContraCostaCountyf (BHD)
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
It definitely was a plant that the AAMG rarely see, but with some sleuthing MG Brian K. was able to identify it as a “Wild Cucumber” as it is commonly called. It is a California native no less. Its official formal name is Marah macrocarpa (or Marah-fabacea). My further research found that it is a perennial, the root can grow to several hundred pounds, but nowhere I looked indicated that it is edible. It does make for interesting conversations in the garden though.
Wild Cucumber also goes by Cucamonga Manroot or Bigroot. California Native Plant Society says that:
“Marah macrocarpa is the common manroot of most of southern California and Baja California. Cucamonga manroot has the most hairy shoots, stems, and leaves of all the manroot species native to California - this being consistent with its range having the most arid climate of all the species in California. Vines appear in late winter in response to increased rainfall, and can climb or scramble to a length of 6 meters (20 feet). Its leaves typically have five lobes with individual plants showing wide variation in leaf size and lobe length."
Interesting about Wild Cucumber. It's been popping up around my yard and around the Lamorinda area this year. I think 50+ inches of rain might have something to do with it. It's quite attractive and at first I wasn't sure if was was friend or foe or if it was an intentionally planted vine because it was popping up adjacent to fences. It grew happily about 8' in all directions in no time. When it started to climb over and strangle new little plants with its tendrils, I decided it was foe. It re-sprouts from tubers which Wiki says can be several meters long and up to 220 lbs so I probably haven't seen the last of it.
So have you seen any Wild Cucumbers in your garden lately? You might want to take another look before it's too late? 
Thanks to MGs Stephanie, Stella, Brian, and Martha for giving us this important info that Wild Cucumbers are loose in Contra Costa County… and this isn't “fake news”.
Help Desk of the Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SIM)
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (MGCC)
Client's Request: I am a dedicated organic gardener, and I'm looking for a landscape professional to help design my front yard, which will include vegetable garden areas. I would appreciate any suggestions Master Gardeners may have on how to employ a landscape professional.
MGCC Help Desk Response: Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk with your request about hiring a landscape professional.
The UC Master Gardeners Program cannot recommend any particular landscape designer, construction or maintenance company. However, the following organizations, listed in alphabetical order, provide references to these professionals. This list is neither comprehensive nor all-inclusive, and no endorsement of any business or professional is intended.
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is the national professional association for landscape architects. Landscape architects typically hold a degree in landscape architecture, covering a broad range including design, planning, grading and drainage, construction, and horticulture. Each state requires a landscape architect to earn a license to practice. The ASLA website maintains a searchable list of members as well as photos of award winning residential projects. To find ASLA member: http://www.asla.org/ISGWeb.aspx?loadURL=firfin amd for ASLA specifically for home gardeners http://www.asla.org/homeandgardentips.aspx.
Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) This 25-year-old organization established a peer reviewed certification program based on built projects. The organization also “…encourages all members adhere to a code of professional standards, to actively participate in continuing education, and to be current with state-of-the-art developments and trends throughout the field.” Their website has a search function that will help you find a local designer. https://www.apld.org/.
Rescape California is a San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable landscaping. Qualified landscape professionals must complete a comprehensive training program and use sustainable practices.
See http://rescapeca.org/education/for-professionals/design-professional-training/ for information on their qualification program and http://rescapeca.org/directory/ for an online directory of Bay-Friendly Qualified Professionals.
Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour is a local (Alameda & Contra Costa Counties) organization that seeks to educate and encourage the use of California native plants in home gardens. The organization provides contact information for those landscape professionals whose gardens have been featured in the tours. See http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/find-a-designer for contact information and links to photos of gardens created by each designer.
California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is a non-profit trade organization of licensed landscape and landscape-related contractors and professionals. See http://clca.org/consumers/consumers_home.php for general information and http://member-clca.org/max/4DCGI/directory/contractor/index.html for a directory of members.
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) graduates have been trained in water-wise landscape practices including plant selection, irrigation system design and water management. QWEL maintains an online list of certified professionals in the East Bay. While the website lists all professionals under the category of non-residential, many perform residential services. For more information, see http://www.qwel.net/ and http://www.qwel.net/graduates/east%20bay/ for a list of certified professionals.
We wish you the best on your project and applaud the addition of edibles in to your landscape design needs!
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SLH)
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
found on underside of leaf
Response from the Help Desk: Thank you for sending the photo of your citrus leaf with what clearly looks like a whitefly infestation. Whiteflies are tiny, flying insects that derive their name from the mealy white wax covering their wings and body. They suck the leaf's sap, which in some cases can cause leaves to curl and/or wilt and drop when populations are large. Whiteflies can be abundant in vegetable, fruit, and ornamental plantings, especially during warm weather.
However, the primary concern with whiteflies is the honeydew they produce. Honeydew excreted by nymphs collects dust and supports the growth of sooty mold, which is the black stuff you see on the leaf in your photo. (Sooty mold does not cause damage to the plant unless it's so heavy it blocks all sunlight from reaching the leaves.) The honeydew however attracts ants, which can "protect" the whiteflies from natural predators which would usually keep the whitefly population under control. These natural predators can also be harmed by the home gardener spraying with broad-range products such as insecticidal soaps.
Management of heavy whitefly infestations is difficult so prevention is best. Removing heavily infested leaves or hosing them with “sharp” water sprays is a good way to get a handle on an infestation. You will need to be vigilant in watching for whiteflies in the future. Since dusty leaves are more attractive to these insects, regularly washing off the plants with water should help a lot. Also, controlling ants will go a long way to allowing the natural predators to do their job. Placing sticky yellow traps (available at garden stores) on the trees (or plants or nearby) can also be used to monitor for whiteflies and will give you a warning that you need to increase your inspections and controls.
Here is more information from UC about whiteflies and their control: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7401.html and also information about ants and their control: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7411.html.
Please do not hesitate to contact us again if we can be of help in your gardening.
Happy gardening!
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SEH)
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA which also oversees much of CCC's Department of Agriculture) released documents March 21st announcing that Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) had been found March 6 in both El Sobrante (centered but includes portions of Richmond and El Cerrito) (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pdep/treatment/notices/2017/ACP-NOT-ElSobrante-ContraCosta-March-2017.pdf) and Pleasant Hill (plus portions of surrounding cities) https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pdep/treatment/notices/2017/ACP-NOT-PleasantHill-ContraCosta-March-2017.pdf). CDFA also announced that with cooperation of the CCC Agriculture Commissioner, they will soon commence with treatment to hopefully eradicate those found and prevent further spread.
Brownish adult, yellow nymphs, and white wax of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri
Click the map images for full page size maps
With ACP found in CCC and if you are growing citrus in your garden, you are strongly encouraged to check your citrus for ACP presence . Helpful UC IPM web guidance can be found at http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74155.html#PSYLLIDVIDEO (with video on how to detect ACP) as well as the CDFA web site (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/acp/).
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SIM)
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).
