- Author: Julie Hyske, Master Gardener
Zucchini Breakfast Quesadillas
Ingredients
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 medium zucchini shredded
3 medium scallions, thinly sliced
½ tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
3 eggs
1 tbsp water
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ tsp salt
4 (6 in) flour tortillas
Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, then add zucchini, scallions, black pepper, oregano, and pepper flakes. Sauté until vegetables are tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 2 more minutes. Meanwhile, crack eggs into a bowl. Add water and whisk until well combined. Stir in Cheddar cheese and salt. Add egg mixture to the skillet and increase the heat to medium. Stir and scramble until eggs are soft-set, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove egg mixture to a plate and wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel. Spread ¼ of the egg mixture onto half of each tortilla. Fold tortillas in half. Place the clean skillet over medium-high heat. Add tortillas, two at a time, to the hot skillet and cook until crisp, about 1 minute per side. Serve with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream
Serves 4
Chicken Taco Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing:
¾ cup ranch dressing, bottled or homemade
¼ cup salsa
3 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
For the chicken:
2-½ cups cooked shredded chicken
2 tbsp taco seasoning
¼ c. vegetable oil
2 tbsp butter
For the salad:
1 large head green leaf lettuce, shredded thin
3 whole Roma tomatoes, diced
¾ cup grated pepper jack cheese
2 ears corn, shucked
2 whole avocados, diced
3 whole green onions, thinly sliced
½ cup cilantro leaves
3 cups tortilla chips of your choice (flavored or not), crushed slightly
First, make the dressing by combining all the ingredients in a bowl and stirring together. Cover and refrigerate.
Next, generously season the shredded chicken. Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the shredded chicken, quickly coating the seasoning, about 2 -3 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Place the ears of corn in the skillet you used to cook the chicken and roll it around so that the flavorful oil/butter mixture coats the corn and cook the corn until it has a nice sear. Slice off the kernels with a sharp knife and set aside. To assemble the salad, pile shredded lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, cheese, corn, avocado, green onion, cilantro, and crushed chips on a big platter. Drizzle the dressing all over the top, serving part on the side if you'd like. Serve the salad in individual bowls.
Serves 4-6
The Ultimate Berry Crumble
Ingredients
For the crumble:
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
¾ tsp baking powder
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup frozen unsalted butter
1½ tsp vanilla
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp apple cider vinegar, or as needed
For the fruit mixture:
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup blackberries
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
cup sugar
2 tsp cornstarch
1 pinch cayenne pepper
Preheat the oven to 375?. Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a bowl. Whisk until thoroughly combined. Grate in the frozen butter, stopping occasionally to toss the butter into the flour mixture until coated. Drizzle in vanilla extract; add egg yolks. Stir with a fork until egg is mostly absorbed. Add vinegar; mix briefly. Use your hands to finish mixing, squeezing until it clumps, but mixture remains mostly dry. Add 1 teaspoon vinegar if needed.
Combine blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries in another bowl. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, and cornstarch. Sprinkle in cayenne pepper. Mix until sugar and cornstarch are mostly dissolved. Place about half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. Press mixture down using a flat cup until well compacted. Spread the berries over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture on top, squeezing some of it into clumps. Bake in the preheated oven until top is beautifully browned and berry syrup bubbles on the surface, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
Serves 6
Mediterranean Summer Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing:
½ cup olive oil
3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
4 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp oregano
½ tsp sea salt (plus more to taste)
freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
For the salad:
1 19oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (white kidney beans)
1 19oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
½ cucumber, quartered and sliced
1 medium zucchini, quartered and sliced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced
1 large yellow or orange bell pepper, diced
¾ cup kalamata olives, sliced
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
½ cup small-dice red onion
2 tbsp roughly chopped fresh basil
¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
In a medium bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing. In a large bowl, gently mix together the beans, cucumber, zucchini, tomato, bell pepper, olives, parsley, red onion and basil. Pour the dressing onto the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated. Fold in the crumbled feta. For best flavor, cover the salad and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Serves 8
Oven-Baked S'mores
Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
? cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
whole graham crackers (about 32-48, depending on the brand)
2½ cups milk or semisweet (or mixed) chocolate chips or chunks
6 cups mini marshmallows
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 or 9-inch square pan with parchment paper so that it comes up higher than the sides by an inch or so. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat and whisk in the brown sugar, milk and vanilla, heating for just a minute to take the chill off the milk. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the graham cracker crumbs, this will make a fluid paste. Lay a single layer of graham crackers to cover the bottom of the prepared pan. Spoon a third of the graham cracker paste over the cracker layer, spreading a little (it does not have to cover the crackers completely). Sprinkle a third of the marshmallows on top, followed by a third of the chocolate chips. Arrange a second layer of graham crackers over this and repeat with a third of the paste, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Repeat again with the remaining crackers, paste, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Bake for 16-20 minutes, until the marshmallows have browned on top. Spoon into serving bowls hot and gooey. If serving later, cool the pan on a rack and then chill completely. Portion the s'mores into squares, easiest to do when chilled, and serve or store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Makes 20 bars
- Author: Regina Brennan, Master Gardener
Low Maintenance Plants for Seniors and Busy Homeowners
Regina Brennan, Master Gardener
One of the main things that many seniors and younger homeowners have in common is the desire to have a well-cared- for landscape around their home. Another shared desire is to have a low maintenance garden, but for different reasons.
For seniors, heavy garden chores begin to lose their appeal when health concerns arise and energy seems to be an elusive commodity. The desire to get out and enjoy fresh air and the smells of good soil and fragrant blooms does not wane with age. Nothing quiets the soul and the mind better than sunshine and fresh air in a quiet and peaceful garden.
As a senior gardener, I look back, sometimes wistfully, at the strength and energy I once hand, seemingly just yesterday. I tend to forget that it is also a challenge to have youth, strength, and energy, but very limited time to do what needs to be done to maintain a desirable landscape. I suspect that a common desire of both older and younger gardeners would be to have a trusted landscape professional do the planning, planting, and maintenance of our ideal landscape. Alas, most of us realize that this usually does not happen.
One of the challenges of modern society is obtaining and maintaining balance. If a person has a long commute, a family to feed, and quality time to spend with spouse and children, there is precious time left for such things as mowing, pruning, deadheading, weed pulling, and the myriad of tasks necessary to keep a neighbor from reporting us to the homeowner's association for not keeping up our yard!
A common frustration is the challenge of actually finding a specimen that is highlighted in a newspaper article or magazine. I have found myself excited several times over a beautiful new plant only to discover it is still in the trial stage, and not available, or totally not suited to our climate zone. As stated before, your best bet is to go in person to a well stocked nursery and bring information about your space, shade, soil, and desired size at maturity.
When reviewing the availability of plants that I had researched and wanted to recommend, I had mixed success. I was very disappointed to find old, root bound stock that was stunted and looking like it was on life support. Although I am not at liberty to recommend one nursery over another, I highly recommend you visit more than one if you are having trouble finding what you are looking for. Stockton, Lodi, and other cities in our County are fortunate to have several excellent garden centers with well trained staff who are happy to be of assistance.
Lantana, with its many color choices, is a reliable easy maintenance shrub for our area. There are low growing specimens, from ground cover to larger multi-colored shrubs two to three feet high.
Pittosporum is another true performer, with many choices from compact to 12 feet tall. Many varieties have interesting leaves and variegated foliage. Be sure to check the dimensions at maturity before choosing.
Euonymus has both evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Deciduous types are valued for fall leaf color or showy fruit. Evergreen types are used mainly for background plants and hedges. Variegated forms work well as an accent plant, especially striking in the fall.
Low maintenance attractive shrubs can be made to really stand out with a variety of low growing colorful perennials in the foreground. I found several very attractive choices in a few of the garden centers that looked robust, but not all choices were in all of the centers.
Again, I encourage you to go in person to your local nursery and also to take a road trip to some of the places outside of the city limits to explore their offerings. Some of the plants I would recommend based on appearance and tag description were few in number. Remember, not only does the early bird get the worm, but the early shoppers can often get the best plants with the widest selection. Enjoy the adventure and remember to keep the goal in mind: drought resistant, low maintenance, and grown for our climate zone.
/span>/h3>/h3>- Author: Francha Barker, Master Gardener
The Power of Weeds
Francha Barker, Master Gardener
Let's get the definition of weeds out of the way first because to dwell on it sets the tone for undesired negativity. Commonly and simply, a weed is a plant growing where it is not wanted. Weeds have special qualities giving them such power. Understanding those qualities, we can harness their power.
Weeds start showing up when a site has been disturbed from, mostly, human activity like gardening, construction, or fire. Wind and rain erode the ground. The ground gets walked on and compacted. Gravity moves soil down inclines. After a disturbance, bare land starts bleeding topsoil and nutrients, setting off a decline in soil health. In exposed soil, moisture doesn't retain or maybe enter. With less water, microorganisms struggle to survive. And on and on, the affected species survivals of plants, insects, and animals.
Nature has called weeds to rescue the soil. They jumpstart soil healing. Quick to establish, weeds rescue soil from the stresses of temperature extremes, bareness, poor moisture retention, water loss, microorganism depletion, and inadequate aeration. Weeds metaphorically stop the soil bleeding and resuscitate breathing. Bleeding must be stopped, and weeds are nature's primary defense system.
Some weed species come to the rescue and hold the soil in place. For example, Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) is a perennial which grows from a large, thick taproot, deeply anchoring the plant and catching and holding water.
Some weed species come to the rescue and cover the ground, like a band aid to cover the bare soil and stop the bleeding of erosion. For example, Stellaria media L.(chickweed) is an annual which creates lush, green mats protecting the soil while it heals.
It follows that which weeds are seen to show up can tell us the condition of the soil. Now we can truly harness the power of the weeds as soil health indicator plants. The aforementioned examples are indicators of conditions which might be a problem for our desired plant but make the weeds right at home. With that knowledge, we can change the conditions or choose a plant that is more suited to the conditions. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Master Gardeners are here to help.
Here's some more food for thought about the power of weeds:
Do you mulch with weeds?
Do you eat weeds?
Do you intentionally grow weeds to attract beneficial insects?
/span>/h3>/h3>From the Garden
Cheryl Carmichael, Master Gardener
My favorite pastime at this time of year is watching the leaves of trees unfolding from the almost invisible bulges on the branches. For deciduous trees, the stark stems are accentuated against the blue skies and only through experience
Take the time to watch the wonder of nature in the emergence of life all around you.
Photos courtesy of Cheryl Carmichael 02/2022.
/h3>/h3>- Author: Sue Davis, Master Gardener
Spring Garden Chores
April, May and June
By Sue Davis, Master Gardener
Spring is here. That time of renewal and joy as we wander our gardens and take stock of what works and what needs a “tune-up.”
April Ideas
ONE – Check all of the sprinklers and drip lines to be sure they are working properly and not wasting water. There is a comprehensive spring tune-up guide for sprinklers in the 2010 April - June Master Gardener Newsletter which can be found here.
THREE – Now is the time to fertilize lawns and many garden plants. Cane berries, citrus, fruit trees, palms, and heavily flowering shrubs will flourish with slow-release fertilizer products. Maintaining good fertilization can keep your plants vigorous and help prevent pest problems. Lawns will thrive with an application of fertilizer now. Use a balanced slow release or organic fertilizer according to the directions on the package. Organic fertilizers react more slowly but will eventually provide a lush result. If crabgrass has been a problem in past years, consider a pre-emergent/fertilizer mix. Help preserve our waterways by avoiding getting granules on hardscape surfaces.
FOUR – April is the time to think about control of the “A” pests: Ants, Aphids, and Abiotic disorders. Manage ants in the landscape and around the foundation of buildings with insecticide baits and trunk barriers such as “sticky foot.” Aphids can be controlled with a strong water spray from your hose. Difficult infestations may need an insecticidal oil or soap to reduce the damage aphids can cause. The best solution would be to look for and avoid harm to aphids' natural enemies such as lacewings, lady beetles and syrphids. Prevent or manage the damage that occurs from aeration deficits, frost, hail, herbicides, wind, and too much or too little water which all weaken plants and contribute to abiotic disorders.
In May
TWO – Before planting, determine whether the soil is clay, sandy, or loamy. Clay soil is “heavy.” When damp clay soil is squeezed, it forms a solid ball. Clay soil is improved with the addition of compost. Sandy soil feels gritty, doesn't hold together well and is often referred to as “light” soil. It drains quickly and doesn't hold either moisture or nutrients well. Loamy soil is often referred to as “friable” soil because it breaks up easily, holds moisture, and encourages organic activity. Next, follow the gardener's mantra - “Right Plant, Right Place.” Know how much sun or shade covers the part of the landscape being developed and check with nurseries or on-line sources such as Monrovia, Burpee, local garden centers, etc., for plants that will do well. Consider the surrounding landscape when selecting new plants so water needs are similar. Map your garden before you plant for amazing results.
THREE – It's May – think mosquitos and mulch. Mosquitos are nobody's friend. To reduce the spread of this pest and the diseases it can bring, eliminate standing water in gutters, drainpipes, flowerpots, old tires, etc. Place Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (BT, commonly referred to as “mosquito dunks”) in birdbaths and ponds to selectively kill mosquito larvae. Apply mulch to areas of the garden and under trees where existing mulch is thin or soil is bare.
THREE – Fill out vegetable gardens with transplants of tomatoes and peppers. Around the middle of May is a great time to plant seeds of pumpkins, beans, corn, squash, cucumbers, and melons. For interesting and unusual fall decorations, consider growing pumpkins or winter squash that are not the ordinary jack-o-lantern choice. Beef up a flower garden with a little height. Shorter bedding plants get the front row spot followed by tall, upright bedding plants and finished with some summer-blooming vines grown on a sturdy structure that is set in the garden at the same time planting occurs. It is difficult to add the structure once the plant needs it. As the vine grow, train the shoots to the support with self-gripping Velcro, plant tape, or twist ties. Start with flowers in six packs. Planted in May, these little gems will explode with summer color in a few weeks. If instant color is needed, think about 4-inch pots instead.
FOUR – Aerate lawns this month. Lawns that get a lot of heavy foot traffic develop compacted soil which makes it difficult for water, fertilizer, and oxygen to reach the roots. If a screwdriver can't be pushed up to its handle into the turf, it's time to aerate. Use an aerator that either produces a core or a water wash to dig holes. Spike aerators just add to compaction. If using a machine aerator, be sure to mark and avoid all sprinkler heads. Some machine aerators require a lawn to be moist, but not soggy. Irrigate a day or two before aeration if soil is dry.
June Notes
TWO – Basil and cilantro planted now will produce fresh herbs all summer. Both annuals do well in pots and love sun and ample water (easy to control if the herbs are in pots). Start basil from seedlings, but sow cilantro seeds directly in the pot – they germinate quickly. Begin harvesting when plants reach 6 inches tall. Other crops to plant from seed in June are cucumbers, green beans, melons, parsnips, pumpkins, and squash.
THREE – Clean up mummies and old fruit and nuts in and under trees to avoid harboring pests and deter borers by deep watering trees. Paint the trunk and scaffolds of young trees with white interior latex paint diluted with an equal amount of water to protect from sunburn.
FOUR – Still have a lawn and wonder just how much water it needs during the hot summer months in the valley? Lawns need about two inches of water per week during the summer heat. To determine lawn sprinklers' output, place several flat-bottomed containers (such as tuna fish cans) around the lawn, turn on the sprinklers for a half hour and then measure the water in the containers. Adjust the sprinkler coverage if needed and reset the amount of time they water according to the results of the timed test. Water lawns and the rest of the landscape early in the day to reduce water wasted due to evaporation and be cognizant of appropriate days to water if applicable. Better yet, start thinking about how to minimize or eliminate the lawn in your landscape to save water during these drought years.
Deep-water established plants often enough to prevent wilt and promote deep rooting as temperatures start to rise. Check the soil moisture around roots with a moisture meter probe or by digging down with a trowel. Soaker hoses apply water directly to the soil with minimal evaporation.
Subscribe to our Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist for Northern San Joaquin Valley. It is delivered straight to your inbox monthly with timely reminders to help prevent or reduce landscape pests and plant problems.
Information for this article was gathered from:
www.ucanr.org
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu
www.sunset.com/garden
www.farmerfred.com
A Valley Gardener's Journal by San Joaquin Master Gardeners
CA Month by Month Gardening by Claire Splan