- Author: Linda Lewis Griffith
- Editor: Noni Todd
Pumpkins
By Linda Lewis Griffith UCCE Master Gardener
Planting Zone: All zones
Size: Variable
Bloom Season: Plants flower in summer, fruit ripens in fall
Exposure: Full sun
Water Needs: Water regularly but keep foliage dry to prevent disease
Narrative:Nothing says fall like a home-grown pumpkin. This member of the Cucurbitacea family is native to the Andes and related to gourds and melons. All are large, low-growing vines with yellow or orange blossoms. Male flowers are smaller, appear first and produce pollen. Larger female flowers produce the fruit.
Pumpkins vary widely in size. Miniature varieties, such as Jack Be Little and Munchkin, are used for decorations. White skinned Lumina is both novel and attractive, and is excellent for baking. Atlantic Giant tops the scale at 200 pounds. Pumpkins are easy and rewarding to grow. They do, however, require lots of space. An individual vine can cover 500 square feet. Plant seeds by June to have them ready for fall. They can be planted directly into the ground, or started in pots, then transplanted as the plants mature and the weather warms. Pumpkins do best in soil amended with compost or manure. Add a balanced fertilizer at planting time. Create a mound of soil, then plant three seeds one inch deep and one inch apart. After germination, thin to one seedling, ensuring the healthiest survives. If planting several mounds, space them three to four feet apart. Water daily at first. As vines mature and spread, switch to deep watering every five to seven days, allowing the soil surface to dry between watering. Avoid getting water on the foliage to prevent mildew and other disease. Fertilize monthly with one tablespoon vegetable fertilizer raked into the soil. As flowers set, bees will help pollinate the fruit. Consider planting herbs, ornamentals and other flowering vegetables nearby to attract bees and beneficial insects. To promote larger fruit, select one or two from each plant, removing all others on the vine. In late summer, slide wooden shingles or other materials to protect developing fruit from wet soil and rot. Leaves may wilt on extremely hot days but typically recover as the temperature cools at night. Depending on the variety, pumpkins are ready in 90 to 120 days. To harvest, use a sharp knife to cut the stem, leaving three to five inches. Avoid picking pumpkins up by the stem.
- Author: Ardis Neilsen
- Editor: Noni Todd
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Columbine By Ardis Neilsen UCCE Master Gardener
Common Name: Columbine Scientific Name: Aquilegia
Planting Zone: USDA zones 3-9
Size: six inches to four-feet tall; one to two-feet wide
Bloom Season: spring to summer, four to six weeks
Exposure: partial shade preferred , partly sunny in cooler climates
Pruning Needs: trim lightly |
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Water Needs: regular watering
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Columbine plants are considered to be garden charmers, boasting of lacey foliage and exquisitely-shaped airy flowers in varying colors, depending on the variety. Layers of color often occur from soft pastels to intense hues with white and yellow accents. Columbines have sepals and petals that frequently contrast in color which create a layered effect. It is a popular cutting flower and lasts about two weeks in floral arrangements.
Columbines belong to the Ranuculaceae (buttercup) family with over 60 species and many hybrids. This herbaceous perennial is hardy once established and is found in the wild throughout North America.
The plant's scientific name, Aquilegia, is derived from a Latin word “aquilia,” which translates to “eagle,” because its spurred flower petals resemble eagle's claws. Most columbine varieties have long spurs, which are long, narrow strips projecting from the back of its blooms. These spurs contain nectar and attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
Slender stems support the erect or nodding, bell-shaped blooms above its foliage. Columbines are frequently planted in cottage and rock gardens.
These plants live about three to four years, but produce seeds prolifically, so it could persist in your garden for years, if you decide not to deadhead the flowers and collect the seeds or let them fall to the ground. Cut back old stems for second crop of flowers. At the end of the growing season, cut stems once again to ground level. They should return next spring.
If you decide to grow columbine from seed, it is helpful to refrigerate the seeds for three to four weeks before planting. These plants thrive best in slightly acidic, well-drained, sandy, loamy, compost-enriched soil. They appreciate monthly liquid fertilizer feeding to promote healthy foliage and more blooms.
Columbine's colorful, graceful blooms will enliven any garden space whether in pots or borders. The hardest part is deciding which variety to grow - countless beautiful colors and exotic shapes abound.
- Author: Polly Nelson
- Editor: Noni Todd
Bougainvillea
By Polly Nelson UCCE Master Gardener
Nyctaginaceae
Planting area: Sunset 5, 6, 12-17, 21-24
Size: 15-30 feet if not diligently pruned, depending on variety
Bloom Season: Spring through Fall, year-round in some places
Exposure: Full sun
Pruning needs: At least yearly
Water needs: Moderate to regular
Snapshot: Spanish-themed architecture and bougainvillea plants are synonymous in frost-free areas of southwest California, although the plant is native to eastern South America. Richly colored petal-like bracts surround inconspicuous flowers that can be single or double types, depending on the variety. Colors range from deep shades of purple to red, and orange.
The rapidly growing vines have heart-shaped green leaves as well as long, needle-like thorns that line the stems. Vines grow well on trellises, arbors, fences, and walls.
Bougainvillea can be planted in-ground in well-draining soil; low-growing varieties do well in containers with sufficient drainage. Container-planted bougainvillea are easier to cover in regions where winter frost is a possibility.
It is essential to leave the roots intact when planting or repotting, as they are sensitive to movement and disruption, and may not recover if overly-disturbed. One way to minimize shock when planting is to cut off the container bottom, then set both the plant and container in the designated planting hole. Slide the container up over the leaves of the plant, filling in with soil at the same time. Tie the vines to a sturdy support, such as a trellis.
Fertilize when growing season begins and again in early summer, with a balanced formula (5-5-5 or 10-10-10) diluted with water to half-strength, or monthly for container plants. Worm compost can be used to amend the soil and improve moisture retention. Follow label instructions to avoid over fertilizing. Fewer blossoms can result from of too much fertilizer, insufficient sun or heat, overwatering, or over pruning.
Prune to manage growth during the growing season. Prune more vigorously annually after the blooms fade to prevent excessive woody growth. Blooms are produced on new growth. Without support and occasional corrective pruning, bougainvillea become a broad, sprawling shrub, but active pruning can produce trees, or ornamental shapes.
Pests include aphids, mealybugs, caterpillars, slugs or snails. Hand-removal is recommended. Neem oil, used as directed, is an additional option.
- Author: Sharon Lovejoy
- Editor: Noni Todd
The Better Butter
By Sharon Lovejoy UCCE Master Food Preserver
The scent of spring fills every corner of my kitchen. Fragrant edible flowers and pungent herbs dry on screens and await their places of honor in fresh, homemade butter.
Although I love the image of sitting in the kitchen with a vintage wooden churn, the reality is with a food processor or mixer anyone can make flavored butters in just a few minutes. The results are beautiful and nothing store bought can compare with the fresh and complex tastes of a flavored butter made at home.
First get your flowers and herbs ready. Preserve edible flowers and herbs by picking them at their prime early in the morning after dew has dried. Rinse, pat dry, and spread in a single layer on screens, cookie sheet, or dehydrator, dry until brittle. Store dried flowers and herbs in a tin or lidded jar in a cool, dark cupboard until use.
Here is a recipe for making butter modified from Richard Helweg's The Complete Guide to Making Cheese, Butter, and Yogurt at Home:
1 pint (not ultra-pasteurized) cream
flaky sea salt, to taste
4 cups of ice water for washing the butter
Pour the cool (60 degrees) cream into your food processor or mixer. Turn the mixer or processor to low. Slowly increase the speed till peaks form. The consistency will change. Continue churning until the solids and liquids separate and form a clump if using a mixer. If using a food processor, the butter will look like grains of rice. Let sit for about 5 minutes and pour through a strainer. Then pour the strained liquid through a double layer of cheese cloth to catch the butter. If using a mixer, pour off liquid (buttermilk), push against solids with a spoon till liquid is removed. Save the liquid (buttermilk) by storing in the refrigerator and use for baking.
Place butter in a bowl and pour 1/2 cup of ice water over it. Press the butter with your fist until water clouds. Rinse. Discard water. Repeat until water is clear. Knead in edible flowers or herbs. Add salt if desired. Form patties, wrap with plastic and parchment paper labeled with date and ingredients. Refrigerate for two weeks or freeze for three months.
We are still here!
No in-person workshops for now, but you can visit our website at: http://cesanluisobipo.ucanr.edu/. E-mail us at slomfp@ucanr.edu, or call our helpline at: 805-781-1429. We also check pressure canner gauges at no cost. Contact us for more information
- Author: Ardis Neilsen
- Editor: Noni Todd
Breath of Heaven
By Ardis Neilsen UCCE Master Gardener
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Common Name: Pink Breath of Heaven
Scientific Name: Coleonema pulchellum or pulchrum
Planting Zone: Sunsetzones 7-9, 14-24
Size: 4-6feet tall, 4 -5 feet wide
Bloom Season: Spring to fall
Exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Pruning Needs: Trim lightly |
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Water Needs: Regular watering, drought tolerant once established
Crush the leaves and flowers of a “Breath of Heaven” (Pink) plant, and you will find out why this graceful evergreen shrub was given such an intriguing name. Its gentle fragrance is soft and clean, like a breath of fresh air.
Spring's arrival is announced when the petite, star-shaped pink flowers appear. They grow at the ends of the plant's slender branches, which are lined with green, feathery, heather-like leaves. Even though Breath of Heaven is a large shrub at full maturity, it has a light and airy feeling to it, as seen when its branches sway in unison with the wind.
This South African native looks delicate in appearance, but is surprisingly hardy. Well-suited for the Central Coast, it tolerates drought, wind, and salty coastal conditions. It is deer resistant and prefers slightly acidic, well-drained soil in addition to being cold hardy to 20° Fahrenheit.
Grow Breath of Heaven as a hedge, an accent plant in a garden bed, or in a large patio pot. This pollinator attracts hummingbirds and bees and fits in well with cottage or Mediterranean garden designs.
Pruning should be done after blooming to help the plant retain a desired size, but the shrub generally looks better and flowers more with little to no pruning, which encourages it to maintain its natural, wispy style. If a smaller plant is needed, look for a dwarf variety. Like most spring-blooming shrubs, its blossoms are on the new growth. Avoid cutting back to old wood, because the shrub will not produce new growth from the older, woody branches.
An added bonus is that the Breath of Heaven's wispy branches can be used as attractive filler in floral arrangements.
So add a little bit of heaven to your garden retreat. Breathe deeply to enjoy the refreshing scent of Breath of Heaven and watch it move gently with the wind.
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