- Author: Ben Faber
Protecting Avocados from Frost and Then What
The long-range forecast is for no or little rain in Southern California. A dry winter often means a cold winter. A winter when frost and freeze can occur, And over the years, it seems like if there is a freeze in Chile in their winter, we can get one here, but 6 months later. Chile had a freeze this year.
The following is an outline of how a grower can prepare for cold events. Some require considerable advance preparation – plant the right variety – and some can be instituted right away – protection of young trees with palm fronds. The guidelines here are specific to avocado, but for the most part apply to lemon and other cold sensitive...
- Author: Ben Faber
- Author: Ben Faber
The very fact that avocados can be grown in hard to get to places means that the trees are also in areas that are subject to wildfire damage. Recently several hundred acres of avocado burned in the foothills. The fire was fanned by high winds and low humidity.
Every year there are avocado trees that burn, either through careless attention to early morning fires that pickers build, wildfires or car accidents. A grower needs to be patient and observant to bring the trees back into production.
Although injury to foliage and young growth is visible within a few days of the fire, the full extent of the damage may not be known for several months or possibly the next growing season. In the case of severe injury,...
- Author: Ben Faber
So, this weekend we had some hot weather and the damage from that heat is apparent in all kinds of plants. Sycamores, cottonwoods and willow in the Santa Clara River bottom look torched. Redwoods in the landscape look like a new disease has hit them.
Even old coast live oak in Ojai have been toasted. Orchards have been hit also with been hit without exception. This has been a widespread weather phenomenon like a major freeze. And the trees should be treated as if they have been freeze damaged.
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=12275
So, what to do with the avocados and citrus that have...