- Author: Melissa G. Womack
Almost any home gardener will tell you that one of the most versatile and rewarding plants to grow in a summer edible garden is a tomato. In fact, a 2023 study by the National Gardening Association revealed that 86 percent of gardeners grow tomatoes. It is understandable that the tomato plant is a popular home vegetable garden staple, tomatoes offer thousands of different varieties options and flavors. Plus, nothing beats the bursting flavor of a ripe tomato straight from the garden.
When properly cared for, a single tomato plant can produce 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kg) or more of fruit. As with any gardening journey, sometimes there can be obstacles or challenges to overcome. If tomato yields aren't what was expected, or the fruit is damaged, it could be due to a number of abiotic disorders, diseases or pesky pests.
Abiotic disorders result from non-living causes and are often environmental, for example: unfavorable soil conditions, too much or too little water, extreme temperature, physical or chemical injuries, and other issues that can harm or kill a plant. Using research-based information from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) publication, Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden.
Here are five of the most common abiotic disorders of tomatoes and how to address them:
- Sunburn or Sunscald: Yes, just like humans tomatoes can also suffer from sunburns because of overexposure to the sun. Sunburnorsunscald occurs on the side of the fruit exposed to the sun, which turns brown and becomes leathery in texture. Solutions:
- Maintain the plant canopy to produce adequate leaf cover for the fruit.
- Avoid overpruning.
- Provide partial shade during peaks sunlight hours.
- Leaf Roll: You might find that the older leaves on your plant suddenly roll upward and inward, becoming stiff, brittle and tough to the touch. This is typically caused by high light intensity and moist soil, especially in staked and heavily pruned plants. Solutions:
- Choose less-susceptible varieties.
- Maintain even soil moisture.
- Provide partial shade during peaks sunlight hours.
- Blossom End Rot: This condition appears as a water-soaked spot at the blossom end of the fruit, which enlarges and darkens, creating a sunken, leathery appearance. It's more prevalent in sandy soils and is primarily caused by calcium nutrition imbalance and inconsistent water levels. Solutions:
- Maintain even soil moisture.
- Amend planting area with compost to improve water retention.
- Avoid heavy applications of high-nitrogen fertilizer.
- Soils deficient in calcium may be amended with gypsum.
- Fruit Cracks and Catfacing: Rapid growth during high temperatures and excessive soil moisture can lead to circular concentric cracks around the stem end, radial cracks shooting out from the stem, and malformation and cracking at the blossom end, a phenomenon known as ‘catfacing'. Solution:
- Keep soil evenly moist.
- Maintain good leaf cover or provide partial shade during hours of most intense sunlight.
- Mulch around the plant 3 to 7 inches deep to maintain soil moisture and temperature.
- Solar Yellowing and Green Shoulders: This problem is marked by the tomato turning yellow or yellow-orange instead of the normal red color, with the upper part of the fruit stubbornly staying green even though the lower part appears red and ripe. It's a result of high temperatures and intense light. Solutions:
- Maintian plant vigor to produce adequate leaf cover.
- Avoid overpruning.
- Provide partial shade during hours of most intense sunlight.
A variety of insects and pests can cause other damage to tomato plants. Some examples of common pests, include: hornworms, tomato fruitworms, tomato pinworms, stink bugs, white flies, and leafminers. For information about identifying and managing pests in your edible garden visit the UC Integrated Pest Management (UC IPM) website, ipm.ucanr.edu.
Navigating the ups and downs of growing tomatoes might seem daunting, but don't forget, every seasoned gardener has been in your shoes once. We've explored the common abiotic diseases and challenges you might encounter in your tomato-growing journey, and hopefully armed you with solutions to keep these issues at bay.
If you have additional questions or need more help, don't hesitate to reach out to your local UC Master Gardener Program. We have a team of volunteers trained and eager to help you have a bountiful harvest! mg.ucanr.edu/FindUs
Source: Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden Publication 8159 http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8159.pdf
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
As parents across the country start preparing for the next school year, the UC Master Gardeners of Placer County are demonstrating the extraordinary impact that school gardens can have on the community. UC Master Gardeners' dedication to nurturing a love for science and gardening in the youth shows us that every seed sown in these school gardens represents not just a plant but a life lesson, a commitment to sustainability, and a step towards a healthier future.
Every three years, UC Master Gardener Programs across the state have an opportunity to showcase their incredible projects, with the goal of inspiring others on how gardening can transform people and communities. The award-winning second-place project, "Engagement + Education + Enthusiasm = School Garden Success!" has touched the lives of numerous young learners in Placer County.
Over the last few years, the UC Master Gardeners of Placer County have provided valuable support to more than thirty schools. Last year they ramped up their support in seven of those schools by implementing a program to recruit principals and parent garden leads to revive or enhance school garden classes. In partnership with UC CalFresh Healthy Living, one of their focus areas was partnering with Title 1 schools where a high percentage of students are from low-income families. UC Master Gardener volunteers have created engaging, outdoor garden activities that go beyond traditional textbooks, sparking a love for nature and healthy living in students. The program delves into exciting topics like plant care, photosynthesis, the role of worms in soil creation, and the delicious benefits of eating fresh vegetables. Some of the delicious vegetables grown in school gardens are fresh spinach, lettuce, peas, fava beans, and carrots!
Additionally, parents are becoming an integral part of the project, fostering closer relationships between the schools and families. Parents' involvement ranges from assisting in classroom gardening sessions to leading discussions about nature, plant life, and sustainability. "The partnership with UC Master Gardeners of Placer County has been invaluable. It's inspired me to get more involved with the Parent Teacher Club and attend quarterly meetings. I am so much more involved with all of the parents and staff at Skyridge because of the inspiration and encouragement I have knowing the UC Master Gardeners are involved,” one parent remarked.
The rewards of this initiative are truly inspiring! “Our Larry Ford Outdoor Classroom and Garden is a focal point of teaching and learning on our campus. Our amazing team of Garden Docents, who are directly supported by Placer County [UC] Master Gardeners, have created a beautiful outdoor space for learning,” says Skyridge Elementary Principal Wright. “Students and staff enjoy visits that include academic lessons, planting seeds, harvesting crops, eating fresh vegetables, and taking a quiet break from the day to walk through the Mindfulness Maze. Providing opportunities for our students to learn in our Larry Ford Outdoor Classroom is a priority for our school community, and the [UC] Master Gardeners have become an instrumental piece in making that dream a reality.” Many students have started experimenting with new fruits and vegetables and gardening at home. Of the students surveyed, 53% ate a fruit or vegetable that they had never considered trying before, and 44% are now gardening at home.
The UC Master Gardener team is working to build valuable partnerships to continue expanding the number of school gardens across the county every year. By partnering with school boards, garden clubs, and community non-profits, they are working together to create a more sustainable, greener future for Placer County and its youth.
Congratulations to the UC Master Gardeners of Placer County for coming in second place in the Search for Excellence competition. Your hard work and dedication to excellence are truly commendable. Well done!
- Author: Skylar Peters
Congratulations to the UC Master Gardener Program of Riverside County on winning first place in the 2023 UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence competition. Their work within the Soboba Cultural Garden stood out as an extraordinary testament to the power of gardening in honoring cultural heritage and nurturing a vibrant community. The Search for Excellence competition takes place every three years and allows UC Master Gardeners to showcase their projects for a chance to win recognition and a cash prize. After careful consideration by the judges, three winners were selected with Riverside County taking the top prize, winning $1500.
The synergistic relationship behind this wonderful project all started with a simple misunderstanding. The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians had reached out to the Riverside University Health System for help with their garden. In return, a team was sent to the tribe's meeting. The Soboba tribe was surprised when they found the UC Master Gardeners of Riverside County at their meeting instead of the 4-H volunteers they had been expecting. Despite this misunderstanding, Joseph Ontiveros, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, asked the Master Gardener, MG, team for their help on the garden, and they enthusiastically agreed to join the project.
The goal of the Soboba Cultural Garden was and is still “To develop a cultivation system that is grounded in traditional tribal knowledge and connection to the land, while promoting food sovereignty and providing accessibility to health and wellness for its members.” Not only was the goal to provide food for the community but also to honor native plants, as well as medicinal herbs. The tribe had been gardening for countless generations here but needed some assistance getting back to the large crop yield they once had.
To help the garden reach its full potential, the MG team joined in on the project. Jessica Valdez, a tribal archaeologist, and cultural resources specialist, and Eloyd Rodriguez, the Cultural Garden Specialist, became two invaluable members who joined the MG team in the project. While being mindful that they were guests and needed to integrate tribal traditions into the plan, the MG team got to work. The crew conducted weekly visits to the garden and kept journals to record progress and make seasonal planting goals. To meet the tribes' goals, the team had to first revitalize the garden's soil. During this process, the Master Gardeners taught the tribe as they implemented different healthy soil techniques such as soil tests, compost, manure, and vermiculture. The next step was updating the water system to not only save water but also to increase hydro percolation.
To ensure the protection of crops once they had grown, several Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices were implemented in the garden. The team decided to bring in natural predators to reduce plant pests and use more effective trapping techniques. Just as the tribe had requested, the MG team emphasized sustainable and organic gardening practices that coincided with the tribe's traditions and would benefit the garden in the present and future.
The results of the hard work at the Soboba Cultural Garden are astounding. Crop yield has increased almost three times since plan implementation, and more than one ton of produce is available to the tribe every year. This produce is given to the community with an emphasis on elders and also provides lunches at their preschool. The increased crop yield is a direct result of the now healthy soil in the garden where Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphate have all increased. Due to the new irrigation system, the garden has reduced its water usage by more than 56%. Most importantly, as was the goal of the tribe, the garden is currently 100% organic. Joe Ontiveros, the Garden's Administrator stated that “the technical assistance and guidance [Master Gardeners] give is the best” when asked about the impact of the team. The MG team has also learned much from the Soboba tribe including the observation of the land's pests and predators. Through pest and predator observations, the tribe learned to plant corn in late June since by then the squirrel population had been depleted by coyotes.
This wonderful partnership has not only resulted in improved garden yields but also resulted in the first application from a Soboba tribe member to become a UC Master Gardener volunteer in Riverside County. The improved garden has become a vital element of the celebration of Soboba Earth Day and receives visitors from all over trying to learn better gardening techniques. Cultural Garden Specialist, Eloyd Rodriguez says the success of this project makes him “feel very blessed and honored to be a part of [the] teamwork.” SFE judges were wowed by the wonderful story behind the project “From an accidental meeting to a bountiful harvest both in the food and relationships built.” Many members of the tribe have since been inspired to start home gardens of their own. The impact of this project is sure to inspire countless generations of not only Soboba tribe members but the greater gardening community.
Once again, congratulations to the UC Master Gardeners of Riverside County on this well-deserved recognition. We celebrate their remarkable work within the Soboba Cultural Garden and commend their unwavering commitment to excellence.
- Author: Lauren Snowden
I am thrilled to share the winners for the 2023 UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence competition. The exceptional projects that have risen to the top truly captivated the judges and inspired them with their innovation, engagement, and commitment to service. It is my pleasure to introduce you to the remarkable winners.
First Place- Riverside County, $1500 prize
Taking the coveted first-place position is the remarkable project from Riverside County - Soboba Cultural Garden: Connecting the Past with the Future. The project focuses on educating and assisting the establishment of successful and sustainable food gardens within Native American tribes. The Soboba Cultural Garden serves as a significant resource, providing nutritious food for the community and showcasing native plants and seasonal produce, all rooted in traditional tribal knowledge and promoting food sovereignty and wellness. The project has formed partnerships with various organizations and individuals, extending beyond the Soboba Cultural Resource Department. One of our judges enthusiastically remarked, “The Riverside MGs are modeling the very best in education - partnership, respect and hands-on teaching of quality material. Bravo!”
Congratulations to the passionate team behind this outstanding achievement!
Second Place-Placer County, $1000 prize
In second place, we have the incredible project from Placer County - Engagement+Education+Enthusiasm = School Garden Success! The project focuses on using school gardens as outdoor classrooms to provide science-based education, teaching students about planting, care, fresh vegetables, pollinators, soil, and photosynthesis. Their goals involve providing support for garden-related classes, establishing sustainable parent-led models, expanding to more schools serving low-income families, and building a community of partners focused on success. Well done to all those involved!
Third Place
In the spirit of celebration, we have not one, but two exceptional projects sharing the third-place spotlight.
El Dorado County, $500 prize
First, we have El Dorado County's Cross Pollination, Growing Abilities: Cultivating Independence and Community in the Garden. This project's commitment to inclusivity and empowerment of individuals with special needs through gardening is truly commendable. The judges expressed overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting the UC Master Gardeners' unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering environment where individuals of all abilities can thrive and acquire knowledge. Their dedication serves as an inspiration to others, showcasing the transformative impact of creating an inclusive learning space.
Sacramento County, $500 prize
Our second third-place winner is Sacramento County with their project titled Video Learning Reaches Larger Audiences. Through the power of technology and their dedication to community service, this project has effectively reached and inspired a wide audience, bringing the joys and benefits of gardening to even more individuals. The judges provided insightful comments, acknowledging the outstanding alignment of the project with its goals. They particularly appreciated the project's ability to simultaneously address external and internal objectives and commended the involvement of over 50 Master Gardeners in the creation of videos. The judges expressed gratitude for sharing the video production process through a clear and concise flow chart, recognizing it as a valuable contribution to the project's success.
To all the winners, a resounding congratulations! Your hard work, creativity, and unwavering passion have not gone unnoticed. You have inspired us all with your remarkable achievements. Stay tuned for more updates and inspiring stories as we delve into the winning projects. Let's celebrate the power of gardening and the remarkable individuals who make it all possible!
Thank you, judges
A heartfelt and special thank you goes out to our esteemed judges who generously devoted their time to reading, scoring, and learning about our program over the last four weeks. We are immensely grateful for your invaluable contributions, thank you for being an integral part of our journey towards excellence!
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
It's time to marry your love for gardening with your eye for photography in the UC Master Gardener 2023 Conference Photo Contest. This year's theme is broken down into five exciting categories that encompass the essence of gardening:
- Get Growing: Let's witness the fascinating journey of a plant's life, from a humble seed to a robust plant laden with fruits.
- Garden Lessons: Share the educational moments that illuminate the joy of teaching about gardening.
- Lovely Landscaping: With California's diverse growing zones offering endless creative opportunities, we'd love to see the outdoor artistry you've cultivated.
- Garden Fails: Garden misadventures remind us that it's okay to laugh at our mistakes. Showcase those humorous hiccups that add a sprinkle of fun to gardening.
- Garden Bounty: Harvest time is rewarding. Share those proud moments with your bountiful yields, from a single tomato to a basket of varied produce.
Excited to submit your photos? You can submit photos here: https://m.shortstack.page/nRCjrx
Judges from across the state, including program staff, volunteers, and community partners, will assess each entry based on its artistic quality and its alignment with the program's mission to promote sustainable gardening practices across California.
Now, onto the exciting part - the prizes! Each category winner will receive a $50 gift card (note grand prize winner is not eligible for both prizes). The first-place winner from each category will have a chance to compete at the statewide conference for the grand prize - a $75 gift card. (Please note that the grand prize winner is not eligible for both prizes.)
Participation in our photo contest is not limited to online submissions alone. We encourage you to engage with fellow participants and follow the contest's progress on social media using the hashtag #2023MGPhoto.
It's time to prepare your lenses and nurture your creativity! Let's spotlight the beauty of nature, the joy of gardening, and the uniqueness of each garden through your captivating photographs. Happy snapping, and best of luck!
Submit your photos: https://m.shortstack.page/nRCjrx
Contest Details at a Glance:
- Submissions accepted from June 15 to August 28, 2023
- Voting begins Sept. 4, 2023
- 1st place winners in each category receive $50 gift certificate, grand prize winner receives a $75 gift certificate and no longer eligible for the $50 prize
- All submissions must be the original work of the entrant
- Participants are free to submit multiple entries
- For more information, visit the Photo Contest Website
- View the Contest Rules
