- Author: Amy Breschini
The Master Gardener Program is currently accepting applications, with the deadline quickly approaching on November 19th. The Master Gardeners would like to welcome the public to an Open House in San Luis Obispo on November 4th, from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. This is an opportunity to find out more about the program, view the text books and curriculum, tour the demonstration garden and meet experienced Master Gardeners. The Master Gardener Program is a volunteer service organization sponsored by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). The purpose of the program is to extend research-based information produced by the University of California, focusing on sustainable gardening and landscape practices for the home gardener.
Master Gardeners are community members who love gardening and are enthusiastic to share this with others. After an initial group interview process, volunteers are trained by Cooperative Extension experts in horticulture and plant science. The classes cover a range of gardening topics including basic botany, plant propagation, soils and composting, plant and insect identification and control strategies, and diagnosing plant problems.
In return for the instruction the Master Gardener candidates commit to volunteer 50 hours of their time in the year following training, and 12 additional continuing education hours. Continuing education programs, field trips, and garden tours help the Master Gardeners fulfill their required education credits.
The 2011 training program will be held in San Luis Obispo on Thursdays from February 17 through June 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information contact the UCCE Master Gardeners, 2156 Sierra Way, Ste C, San Luis Obispo at 781-5939 on Monday and Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m., in Arroyo Grande at 473-7190 on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon, or in Templeton at 434-4105 on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Application available online: http://groups.ucanr.org/slomg/ or email mgsanluisobispo@ucdavis.edu.
Please see the links attached below for Applications, Open House info and general info!
- Author: Amy Breschini
UCCE MASTER GARDENER ADVICE TO GROW BY WORKSHOP
Held: JUNE 19, 2010
Selecting the right subtropical tree for your climate: Some varieties are more tolerant of our “cooler” conditions during the foggy summer months. Varieties that require a lot of heat may never ripen. Rule of thumb – the more acid in the fruit, the less cold tolerant.
CITRUS VARIETIES - see last page for San Luis Obispo County
Citrus for the Home Garden in Contra Costa County http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/434/32989.pdf
AVOCADO VARIETIES – see last page for San Luis Obispo County
California Rare Fruit Growers
http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/avocado.html
Select the best location in your yard and recognize micro-climates that occur even in small areas:
To protect your trees from frost.
Frost/Freeze Protection for Horticultural Crops – http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-705.html
Frost Protection for Citrus and Other Subtropicals http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8100.pdf
To plant the tree and suggested spacings:
Avocados: http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/Fruits_&_Nuts/Avocado/
Citrus: http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/Fruits_&_Nuts/Citrus/
Water needs and irrigation of citrus and avocado:
Mature trees in warmest months will need 60 gallons of water/week.
Watering citrus: http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/CULTURAL/citruswatering.html
Citrus for the Home Garden in Contra Costa County http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/434/32989.pdf
Watering avocado http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/CULTURAL/avocadowater.html
Weed Management for citrus and avocado:
Both citrus and avocado are very shallow rooted – only hand weeding and mulch underneath trees
Weed identification and control measures: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/menu.weeds.html
Fertilizer requirements for citrus and avocado
Suggested application rates of nitrogen - Divide into 2 or 3 applications
- 1st year: 1 tablespoon nitrogen fertilizer 3 times per year, per tree.
- 2nd year: 0.25 lb actual nitrogen per tree
- 3rd year: 0.5lb actual nitrogen per tree
- 4th year: 0.75lb actual nitrogen per tree
- 5th year:1 lb actual nitrogen each year
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1 pound of actual nitrogen equals about 5 lb of ammonium sulfate (21% nitrogen) per year, or 100 lb of composted cow manure each year. Organic fertilizers such as manure, bloodmeal, etc. could be applied in the fall under the tree canopy.
Pest identification, including methods of reducing pest populations using the least toxic methods.
Avocados - http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/avocados.html
Citrus - http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/citrus.html
Subtropical Fruits for San Luis Obispo County
SUBTROPICAL FRUITS |
Coastal Gardens |
Inland Gardens |
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AVOCADO |
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Gwen |
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Duke |
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Hass or Lamb Hass |
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Jim |
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Fuerte |
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Stewart |
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Reed |
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Pinkerton |
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Wurtz (Littlecado) or Holiday are dwarf varieties |
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LEMON |
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Eureka |
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Lisbon |
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Variegated Pink |
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Improved Meyer |
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LIME |
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Bearss |
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MANDARIN |
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Tango |
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Fairchild |
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Pixie |
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Gold Nugget |
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Kinnow (seeded) |
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Owari Satsuma |
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Gold Nugget |
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Dancy (seeded |
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ORANGE |
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Robertson Navel |
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Washington Navel (protected areas) |
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Valencia MidKnight |
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Skaggs Bonanza |
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Trovita (indoors too!) |
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Cara Cara |
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Lane Late |
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GUAVA (FEIJOA) |
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Coolidge (pineapple type) |
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Cattley (strawberry type) |
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For printable version of this handout, click on the attached documents below:
/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>/h2>/h2>/h2>/span>Handout Citrus and Avocado
ANR 8001 Budding Grafting Avocado
ANR 8100 Frost Protection
AVOCADO Fruit Facts
Guide to Planting an Avocad..
Questions and Answers to Citrus Management2489
Citrus for the Home Gardener
Citrus in Contra Costa 2007