Cue in the tune of The Music Man singing “Ya Got Trouble, Friend”, either you're closing your eyes to a situation you do not wish to acknowledge, or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated by the presence of pooling water in your yards and gardens. Well, ya got trouble my friend, right here in San Joaquin County. Trouble with a capital “T” And that rhymes with “P” and that stands for Pooling Water. Stop the music. Let's take a look at how a deluge of rain or water may affect what we usually expect in the way of disease, insects, and weeds amongst our plants.

Disease
Too much moisture in the plant soil causes oxygen deprivation, i.e., aeration deficit to the roots of the plant. Commonly, roots become waterlogged. Roots and the basal trunk (crown or root collar) give structural support to the plant and function to transport nutrients and water to the rest of the plant. Soggy soils are the primary cause of root and crown disease. Often the first symptom of root disease shows in the foliage as chlorosis, wilting, and discolorations (symptoms mimicking nutrient deficiencies). Disease pathogens such as Demataphora and Phytophthora are normally in many soils but thrive in overly moist, humid conditions and cause their most severe symptoms in soil near saturation. Their growth isn't normally seen above ground. But an exception is the wood decay fungi Armillaria. If clusters of mushrooms are seen around the base of a tree, suspect the tree may be hazardous.

Weeds
Almost all weed seeds won't be affected by sitting in water for a short period of time. For the most part, unless the water sits there for more than a week, most trees, shrubs, and turf should be fine. Weeds thrive in wet, compact soil. Wet weather creates ideal conditions for their germination and growth; and their seeds and reproductive parts are ready made to be transported. Flood waters, vehicle underbellies, shoes and clothing, and animal fur can transport weeds around and to your yard. Flood waters wash away desirable nitrogen from the soil. At the same time, many weed species don't like nitrogen in the soil. The good news is that weeding by pulling up by the roots is easier done when the soil is wet and soft.

Insects/ Pests
Actually, insects are even more affected by heavy rains and floods than many things. Unfortunately, home infestations commonly start in rainy weather, examples are cockroaches, ants, centipedes, silverfish, termites, and mosquitoes. When water is excessive and insects' homes are flooded, they lose their normal food source and head indoors into human homes. Standing water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Termites get a lot of their nutrition from the water-damaged wood of roots, organic mulches, and rotting house structures. Flood surviving plants and vegetables can have increased moisture ultimately increasing the food source for many garden pests, such as aphids, slugs, and snails.

After calling your San Joaquin County Master gardeners to chat about water-resistant native plants, raised garden beds, mulching, soil amendments, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) measures, and rain gardens (209-953-6112) or emailing at anrmgsanjoaquin@ucanr.edu your tune may change to: Cue in music of Frank Sinatra singing tune of “New York, New York”. These little town blues. They've all washed away. We've made a brand-new start of it, in old SJ County!

TREE: Prunus persicus ‘Redhaven peach'. If you want to have some top-quality large, sweet peaches from your back yard you will want to plant this variety. It is one of the most commonly planted backyard peaches because the fruit does not ripen all at once like most peach trees do. This means that the harvest is spread out and ideal for having fresh peaches on your breakfast cereal for about 3 weeks. These peaches can also be frozen or canned. This is a tree that has been around since 1940 when it was first introduced. For back yards it would be best to plant this variety on semi-dwarfing rootstock to keep the tree smaller. It is a freestone peach. The blooms are large, pink, fragrant and showy in mid spring and they attract bees and butterflies.

Redhaven is a fast-growing vigorous spreading tree and requires heavy pruning once established and thinning as it will set a lot of fruit. It is best to not allow fruit for the first couple of years to grow the tree structure. The Redhaven I planted had over 100 peaches in its third-year post planting thus living up to its reputation as a heavy bearer. The picture is one of a previous ‘Redhaven'.

VINE: Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Star Jasmine' is a vine that can be used on a trellis or as a ground cover. It is a very fragrant flowering vine that blooms in late spring and early summer. The clusters of star-shaped blooms are petite and complemented by small, shiny evergreen leaves and it attracts bees.

Star jasmine is best planted in the spring and will grow quickly, often adding between 3 and 6 feet per year and can reach a height of 20 feet. However, the first year that the plant is getting established, it may expend much of its energy creating a strong root system and may not grow much above ground. It should be watered well until established but once established, the vine has good drought resistance. It should be planted in full sun although it will grow in partial shade. It blooms best in full sun. It does best in moist loamy soil. Prune star jasmine plants after they finish flowering to encourage new growth. Late summer or fall pruning may reduce flowering the following year. Star Jasmine can be propagated by taking 6 inch cutting immediately below a bud, applying rooting hormone powder and plant in a damp sand and potting soil mix. This picture is of Star Jasmine on a trellis used as a screen at my old home.

FLOWER: Hybrid tea rose ‘Black Magic'; There are well over 10,000 hybrid tea roses and the first one is generally acknowledged to be ‘La France' which was hybridized in 1867. It was created by crossing repeat blooming Chinese tea roses with other roses to create the hybrid tea. The tea in tea roses comes from the use of rose petals to create a tea in China. There are so many hybrid tea roses that are great to plant in your rose garden and others, too, such as polyanthas, grandifloras, and floribundas. Each type has an interesting history of its development by many dedicated rose breeders. For more information on types of roses see: https://www.rose.org/single-post/2018/06/11/rose-classifications . The ‘Black Magic' rose is notable for its velvety dark red petals. It is a world renowned and awarded rose that was bred by Rosen Tantau in 1995. It is a tall upright growing rose with excellent cut flowers.

Spring brings to mind light bright dishes and opens the gateway to some of the best in-season produce. So as you rely on some of your tried-and-true favorites, remember also, to be inspired to try something new! The crustless spinach quiche couldn't be easier. Filled with spinach, onions, mushrooms, ham and cheese it serves up beautifully for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A main dish salad for lunch or a light spring dinner is a perfect selection to add to your menu rotation. The mandarin orange-chicken salad is a combination of sweet, savory, fresh and crunchy, so spring. Cinco de Mayo calls for the oven baked soft tacos. In the oven the shells warm and become ever so slightly crispy. No standing over a skillet frying corn tortillas; just add margaritas for the cook, please! With so many social events centering on spring brunches the strawberry scones and the butter botanical cookies add the sweet touch. You can choose to add some edible petals to the cookies right before finish or sprinkles of lavender sugar to guarantee a memorable spring taste. The strawberry scones call for pantry ingredients and fresh strawberries drizzled with a simple glaze, no bakery needed. May these recipes make their way to your tables this spring season!

Crustless Spinach Quiche

Ingredients
½ cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tbsp olive oil
1 package (14 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
? cup finely chopped fully cooked ham
5 large eggs
3 cups shredded Muenster or Monterey Jack cheese
¼ tsp freshly ground pepper

In a large skillet, sauté onion and mushrooms in oil until tender. Add spinach and ham; cook and stir until the excess moisture is evaporated. Cool slightly. Beat eggs; add cheese and mix well. Stir in spinach mixture and pepper, blend well. Spread evenly into a greased 9-in. pie plate or quiche dish. Bake at 350? for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Serves 6

Mandarin Orange-Chicken Salad

Ingredients
SALAD
3 cup finely chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
2 cups shredded red cabbage
2 cups shredded chicken
¾ cup mandarin oranges, drained
1instant ramen noodle packet, crushed (flavor packet discarded)
¾ cup shredded carrot
½ cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
? cup sliced green onions
½ cup sliced almonds, peanuts, or cashews
DRESSING
3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp minced ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup vegetable oil

Lightly toast instant ramen noodles in a skillet or the oven. In a large bowl, toss together lettuce, red cabbage, chicken, mandarin oranges, crushed ramen noodles, carrots, red bell peppers, green onions, and sliced almonds. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, honey, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Slowly drizzle in vegetable oil, whisking constantly until emulsified. Before serving, drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine. 

Servings 8 as a side dish

Oven Baked Soft Tacos

Ingredients
1½ pounds lean ground beef
½ small yellow onion chopped
½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp taco seasoning
8 to 10 soft flour tortillas
Taco toppings of your choice:
lettuce
tomatoes
onion
sour cream
guacamole
shredded cheese
Queso
salsa
lime wedges

Preheat oven to 350 ?. Place ground beef in a large non-stick skillet. Add onion, garlic powder and taco seasoning to beef. Cook and crumble beef over medium-high heat, until no longer pink. Drain any grease. Meanwhile, fold flour tortillas in a taco shape and place side by side in a 9×13-inch baking pan (6 down the center and 2 on each side). Fill the tortillas with even amounts of beef mixture. Place pan in oven and bake 5 to 8 minutes or until shells are heated through. Carefully remove from oven and fill tacos with all your favorite taco toppings. Enjoy!

Makes 10 tacos

Strawberry Scones 

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour 
1 tbsp baking powder
3 tbsp granulated sugar
½ tsp salt
6 tbsp chilled unsalted butter, cut into tiny cubes
12 small strawberries, hulled and diced
¾ cup half and half
For the glaze
2 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup half and half
½ tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 ?. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender (or your hands) until mixture resembles crumbs. Toss in strawberries and coat lightly with the flour mixture. Add half and half and fold together gently until the mixture just begins to come together and forms a soft dough. It will be wet. Do not knead or over mix the dough. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and pat into a 1-inch-thick rectangle or circle. (If dough is very sticky, sprinkle with just a hint of flour.) Using a sharp knife, cut into 6 or 8 triangles. If using a wedged scone pan, after mixing just place dough by tablespoon into the greased pan and pat into shape. Place scones on prepared baking sheet and bake 16-18 minutes or until no longer wet, golden, and cooked through. Place a sheet of parchment on a work surface, then place a cooling rack over top of parchment. Remove scones from pan to cooling rack. Cool about 10 minutes. In the meantime, make glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, vanilla, and half and half until smooth. If glaze is too thick, add a bit more cream, if it's too thin, add more powdered sugar. Gently dunk the tops of the scones in the glaze or drizzle over the top. Glaze will firm up when scones are completely cool.

Servings 8 scones if cut, 16 using a mini scone pan

 

Botanical Flower Butter Cookies

Ingredients
½ cup (1 stick) of butter, softened, not melted
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1½ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp almond extract
Lavender sugar and/or botanical edible flowers

Preheat oven to 375?. In a Large bowl, beat butter until light. Beat in egg and extracts. In a medium bowl stir together the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Add contents of dry ingredients into the wet on low until the dough comes together. You do not have to chill the dough. On a floured surface or between 2 pieces of parchment paper roll dough into a 12-inch diameter circle that is ? inch thick. Dip cookie cutters in flour before each use. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet. At around 5 minutes sprinkle with lavender sugar or place an edible flower petal on just before removing from the oven. Cookies take 6-8 minutes to bake or until very lightly browned. They will continue cooking when removed.

Servings 2 dozen, depends on cookie cutter size

 

As a reader of Garden Notes, you are probably interested in finding useful, factual, and inspiring information about all aspects of gardening. You may already be familiar with the extensive Gardening Resources on the main UC Master Gardener Program website, but maybe not with the excellent resources available from our neighboring counties. Although some of the articles are not specific to the climate in San Joaquin County, most are general enough to be useful to multiple regions. Below are some examples and links to the resources in nearby counties. 

Stanislaus County
Just south of us, Stanislaus County Master Gardeners have created The Stanislaus Sprout weekly blog. Recent posts include:

• Get a Head Start on Your Garden by Starting Your Vegetable Seeds Indoors,
• Show Your Neighborhood Birds Some Love: Grow Native Plants, and
• Questions about caring for your fruit trees? We have answers!

The Stanislaus County Master Gardeners YouTube channel is filled with helpful gardening videos. Topics include citrus varieties, monarch butterflies, bats, the fruit bush method of pruning, and more.

Sacramento County
To our north, the Sacramento County Master Gardeners have a plethora of helpful resources in the Publications section of their website. Garden Notes articles are available on a variety of topics:

• Save Water in your Garden and Landscape,
• Wildlife Habitat Resources, and
• How to Grow Sunflowers.

Their other publication, Environmental Horticulture Notes, includes:

• Composting for the Home Gardener,
• Growing Melons in Sacramento, and
• Guidelines for the Home Vineyard.

The UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County YouTube channel includes videos on topics ranging from blueberry pruning to landscape redesign to growing veggies year round on your patio. One interesting and comprehensive video, Building Resilient Gardens, features Karrie Reid in her capacity as the environmental horticulture advisor for the UC Cooperative Extension.

The Fair Oaks Horticultural Center,  which encompasses a water-efficient landscape demonstration, an orchard, a table grape vineyard, berries, a vegetable garden, and an edible landscape area, is their site for workshops and open garden days. 

Alameda County
The UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County posts a blog, Over the Fence, with a variety of articles such as “How to Tell What's Digging and Eating in Your Garden”, “Soldiers in Our Garden”, and one that all gardeners can relate to: “Mistakes Were Made.”

Contra Costa County
The UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa is quite active, with Facebook pages in English and Spanish, webinars, and events. Their quarterly newsletter, News to Grow By has recent articles on:

• The Benefits of Urban Trees and Why the Best Time to Plant One is Today,
• Smart Controllers, and
• Growing Citrus in Pots.

You may also be interested in their classes, both in person and online, which can be found on their Webinars and Programing link, and the Plant Sales at their demonstration garden in Walnut Creek and at the Civic Center Library in Richmond. They tend two other demonstration gardens, the Richmond Dry Garden and the Rivertown Garden in Antioch.

Contra Costa's YouTube channel has videos on Growing a Milkweed Garden, Gardening with Native Plants, and Seasonal Prep for Your Home Vegetable Garden, among others. 

We truly have an abundance of gardening resources nearby, with both in-person and online classes and publications at our fingertips. A convenient way to stay connected with these resources is to sign up for their newsletters—you may find just the information or inspiration you need for more productive and enjoyable gardening.