- Author: Melissa G. Womack
Here are seven tips on how to protect your plants from freezing temperatures in California:
- Water your plants. Make sure your plants (not succulents) are hydrated before a freeze. Water the soil around the base of the plant, this will help to insulate the plant and keep it from freezing.
- Cover your plants. Use blankets, fitted bed sheets, or frost cloths to cover your vulnerable plants. Make sure the cover reaches all the way to the ground and is securely fastened to prevent cold air from seeping in. Do not use plastic covers, as they can trap moisture and damage the plant. Make sure to remove the covering when the temperature rises.
- Add warmth for your plants. Use incandescent miniature lights (not the LED type) to provide warmth and raise the temperature around your plants. Position a 100–150 watt light in the center of the tree and cover the plant with a sheet.
- Bring potted plants indoors. If you have potted plants, move them to a sheltered area (ie. Porch, indoors, under an awning), when temperatures are expected to drop. If possible, cluster potted plants close together in a sheltered spot close to the house. If plants are brought indoors, place them near a window that gets sunlight.
- Mulch your plants. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of your plants. This will help to insulate the roots and keep the soil warm.
- Prune your plants. Prune any dead or damaged branches from your plants before a freeze. This will help to prevent further damage from occurring.
- Monitor the weather. Stay up-to-date on the latest weather forecasts and take action if freezing temperatures are expected. If possible, move your plants to a warmer location or cover them before the freeze sets in.
It's important to note that different plants have different levels of cold tolerance. Some plants are more susceptible to freezing temperatures than others. If you're unsure about how to protect a particular plant, consult with your local UC Master Gardener Program for advice, mg.ucanr.edu/FindUs.
By taking these steps to protect your plants from freezing temperatures, you can help ensure that they stay healthy and vibrant year-round. With a little extra care, you can keep your garden looking beautiful no matter what the weather brings. Stay warm this week!
Additional Resources:
Frost Protection for Citrus and other Subtropicals (UC ANR publication 8100)
https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8100.pdf
UC Master Gardener Program of Marin County, Problems, Extreme Conditions – Frost
https://marinmg.ucanr.edu/PROBLEMS/EXTREME_CONDITIONS/Frost_853/
- Author: Lynn Wunderlich
"Beautiful acidity" in the later red varieties was the common theme as the cooler August and September temperatures
Although some foothill Zinfandel remained unsold, a continuing trend following last year's Zinfandel dive, demand for Cedarville's organic fruit is up. "Buyers are very interested in our Zin", Jonathan said, "and some winemakers in the area are showing a renewed interest in Cab. as well, which is so great to see".
Other than in frosted locations, yields came in at average to slightly above, although crop estimates may have been misleading early on.
Challenges of the season included a high powdery mildew index in the cooler, higher elevations (perhaps the price paid for the payoff in slower ripening later), and mites, especially in some Zinfandel blocks and often brought on by heat and drought conditions. Some growers buck the miticide train and choose to use biological control to combat mite outbreaks. "We've been releasing 6 spotted thrips for years", Ann Kraemer, Shake Ridge Vineyards and Yorba Wines, told me. 6 spotted thrips is a generalist predator, which means it will prey on any soft bodied insect it can, including leafhopper nymphs. It has the ability to get under the webbing of spider mites to attack them, making it an excellent mite predator!
Concern about smoke due to the Ferguson and Mendocino Complex fires made for an "oppressive" July-when some days air particulate matter counts were deemed unsafe to work and crews were sent home early-all blew away by August as clear skies ushered in the first whites.
As we made it through her vineyard blocks, Ann made one more keen observation. "There were fewer birds this year. My owl boxes are empty and even when putting out netting I noticed there didn't seem to be as many birds as usual." One (unproven) theory: the high summer smoke affected the bird population, causing them to fly less or leave.
Now that the fruit is almost all in, let's hope the rainy season comes, and our owls return, soon.
- Author: Marissa Palin
The study also included researchers from Arcadia Biosciences and Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, India.
The finding is particularly important to the nearly $2 billion lettuce industries of California and Arizona, which together produce more than 90 percent of the nation's lettuce.
"Discovery of the genes will enable plant breeders to develop lettuce varieties that can better germinate and grow to maturity under high temperatures," said the study's lead author Kent Bradford, a professor of plant sciences and director of the UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center.
"And because this mechanism that inhibits hot-weather germination in lettuce seeds appears to be quite common in many plant species, we suspect that other crops also could be modified to improve their germination," he said. "This could be increasingly important as global temperatures are predicted to rise."
With California temperatures predicted to rise by 2.7F by 2050, this study could prove to be extremely vital to California agriculture.