- Editor: Dean Dubbe
- Author: Cheryl Reynolds
- Author: Petr Kosina
Cilantro and parsley growers have something else to be happy about – The UC Statewide IPM Program just released new Pest Management Guidelines for Cilantro and Parsley.
Cilantro and parsley are herbs used both fresh and dry for preparation of many popular dishes in almost all parts of the world including California. Apart from their pleasant flavor, both plants are also known for a number of nutritional and health benefits.
In California, cilantro and parsley are grown commercially on more than 7,000 acres, primarily along the southern and central coast. Cilantro (also known as Chinese or Mexican parsley) and parsley are examples of specialty vegetable crops important in crop rotations and in contributing to California's overall agricultural diversity.
Although pest problems aren't too common for home gardeners growing cilantro or parsley, for commercial growers, crop damage due to insect pests and diseases may be devastating and cause important economic losses.The new UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines for cilantro and parsley provide pest and management information for insects pests (including beet armyworm, cabbage looper, and aphids), diseases (including apium virus Y, bacterial leaf spot, carrot motley dwarf, cilantro yellow blotch, Fusarium wilt, and septoria leaf spot), and nematodes. Because weed management costs can be very high in cilantro and parsley unless weed control programs are carefully planned and implemented, a comprehensive weed management section is also included.
Check out the new guidelines and other pest management information on the UC IPM website.
- Author: Paul McCollum
I thought you might be interested.
Paul
This email sent by Stephen at Terroir Seeds at P O Box 4995 Chino Valley, AZ 86323. |
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- Author: Paul McCollum
To all the lovely people,
Here is the garden to-do list for the month of April from the people at Organic Gardening. We have been blessed with some rain this week but we could use a lot more. Summer gardening this year is shaping up to be a challenge and conserving water will be the watchword. One person told me that when she turns on the hot water she saves the cold water until the water warms - she then uses the saved water to feed her potted plants on the patio and elsewhere. Good idea.
Please write with any garden questions.
Paul
April To-Do List for Zone 9
- If slugs and snails are decimating your plants, collect them in the evening, when you're most likely to spot them.
- Plant pumpkins, summer squash, melons, and other vegetables that thrive in heat.
- Every 2 weeks from now until late summer, plant small blocks of bush beans and sweet corn to extend the harvest until frost.
- Thin fruits on fruit trees to increase their size and keep branches from breaking.
- Plant summer bedding plants, such as petunias, lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum), wax begonias, and impatiens.
- Sow seeds of nasturtiums, marigolds, portulaca, amaranthus, salvias, vinca (Catharanthus roseus), sunflowers, and zinnias.
- Plant perennials like ornamental alliums, bellflowers (Campanula spp.), daisies, yarrow, daylilies, coreopsis, penstemon, perennial geraniums (Geranium spp.), iris, and statice.
April To-Do List for Zone 10
- Plant perennials so they can settle in before the summer heat arrives; give them plenty of water.
- Plant heat-loving bedding plants, such as vinca (Catharanthus roseus), strawflowers (Helichrysum bracteatum), blanket flowers (Gaillardia spp.), and gazanias.
- Plant roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), amaranth, and Malabar spinach (Basella alba) now through August; make sure you give the Malabar spinach some shade and extra water.
- Try some tropical edibles: Buy malanga, gingerroot, and others at the market. Cut them into pieces at least 1⁄2 inch long, and plant. Harvest from October through December.
- Trellis tropical cucurbits (luffa, chayote, Tahitian squash, and so on) on a fence, and reap the rewards this fall.
- Author: Paul McCollum
To all the lovely people,
Well, it's raining here in Aromas right now and we are praying that it will continue. Personally I have never experienced a drier season. I am pruning and grinding to make mulch and compost. I intend to grow our food garden but I know I will be doing as little watering as possible - as close to dry farming as I can get. I have compost tea for anyone who would like some as well as rose food. Enjoy the rain.
Paul
Northern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
February, 2014 Regional Report
Prune Evergreen Shrubs
Existing evergreen shrubs benefit from early season pruning. By thinning the growth from the center of the plant just before the active growing season, you increase air circulation and light. Plants will respond with a lush burst of growth in a few weeks. First remove any dead, diseased, or injured wood from the plant, then remove several branches instead of clipping the outside foliage with hedge shears. Prune by following the branch back to the main stem and removing it flush with the trunk.
Spray Dormant Plants
Smother overwintering insect eggs by spraying deciduous trees and shrubs with a dormant oil or copper/oil spray before new growth begins. Apply lime sulfur spray to roses or other deciduous plants that are susceptible to fungus problems. Always wear protective clothing, including gloves, boots, and goggles, when spraying. Don't apply spray on windy or rainy days.
Plant Cool-Season Crops
Plant peas, sweet peas, broccoli, cabbage, and lettuce. Guard them carefully when they first emerge from the soil. Hungry birds as well as snails and slugs just love to eat seedlings so protect emerging seedlings with a layer of netting and some sort of snail barrier.
Improve Garden Beds
It's almost planting season. This is the perfect opportunity to improve the existing soil in your garden beds by adding organic compost. It will improve any kind of garden soil, including clay and sand. Compost is available at garden centers and nursery supply stores, or even better, make your own from garden debris and kitchen scraps. If the soil is wet, simply lay the amendment on the surface to till in later when the soil is workable.
Begin Watering Indoor Cacti
If your indoor cactus plants have been on reduced rations for the winter months, now is the time to start watering again. You should begin to see some activity in the way of new growth beginning at the end of this month. As soon as you see the plants beginning to grow, start watering. You can fertilize lightly with fish emulsion to promote bloom.
- Editor: Teresa Garbini
- Author: Paul McCollum
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To all the lovely people, Here is a small list of garden reminders for you to consider. Please write if you any specific questions and we will do our best to give you an answer. Water is a serious concern this year so anything we can do to save water is good for all of us. Hand watering, mulching, and keeping the top 1" of soil loose will help conserve this precious resource. Paul
Plant Warm-Season CropsOnce the soil is warm, it's time to plant warm-season crops such as peppers and cucumbers. By using a black plastic landscape fabric under heat-loving plants, you will provide a few extra degrees of heat and the plants will produce more fruits. Fertilize Indoor PlantsLonger days have stimulated your indoor plants into active growth. Provide the nutrients they need for rapid growth by giving them a feeding with a slow-release fertilizer. The slow-release granules will deliver nutrients each time you water, ensuring healthy plants without overfeeding. Plant Giant Pumpkin SeedsNow is the ideal time to plant prize-winning pumpkins. Look for seeds of the 'Atlantic Giant' pumpkin. It has the genetics of a giant. Select a full-sun location with excellent soil. If soil is less than perfect, add organic compost and incorporate it to a depth of at least 24 inches. Protect young pumpkin plants from slugs and snails and you'll be off to a good start toward producing a prizewinner. Water RedwoodsRedwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) suffer from drought, and stressed trees are susceptible to attack from spider mites and other insects. Because redwoods have shallow roots, this large tree depends on summer fog absorbed through their needle-like leaves for water. To prevent water stress, install soaker hoses under the trees now and water for several hours once a week. Thin FruitTo ensure a harvest of large fruit, thin apples, pears, peaches, and nectarines to one fruit every 6 inches along a stem. It's time-consuming work but worth the effort. Fruit that is properly thinned will develop full size and flavor, while unthinned fruits will be small and tasteless. |
