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May 2025Archived
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Fresno Gardening Green: Article

This week in the garden: May 1 - 7

May 1, 2026
Keep recent plantings well-watered and mulched. Sudden warming plus dry winds can stress plants.TasksUse a 3-inch layer of mulch around trees and shrubs to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and cool soil temperature. Keep mulch several inches back from the base of trees or shrubs to prevent damage to the…
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Savoy cabbage
Fresno Gardening Green: Article

Unusual weather pattern poses problems for plants

May 1, 2026
Weather forecasters are predicting a gradual shift beginning this month of the La Nina weather pattern in the Pacific ocean to an El Nino pattern with warmer temperatures and little if no rainfall in the Central Valley for most of 2026. We may well have already received all of the rainfall for this rain…
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Celebration Corner

April 30, 2026
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
 Zilberman elected AAAS fellowDavid Zilberman, professor of the graduate school within the UC Berkeley Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, has been elected as a 2025 fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).AAAS is the world’s largest general…
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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Preserve it! Series: Re-canning Commercially Canned Foods is Not Recommended

April 30, 2026
Buying large to break down into small is not practical and possibly unsafe. Buying large tins of canned foods, such as tomatoes and vegetables, can certainly save a lot of money, but not if you can’t consume the product before it spoils. Buying in bulk with the intention of breaking the contents (or…
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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Preserve it! Series: What are the Crystal Deposits on Pickled Asparagus?

April 30, 2026
That's rutin; weird looking, but perfectly safe to eat If you’ve ever canned your own pickled asparagus, you may have been surprised at some point to find little crystals deposited along the spears. These crystal formations are rutin, which is a pigment that occurs naturally in asparagus. Usually…
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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Preserve it! Series: Know Where to Find Helpful Preserving Advice

April 30, 2026
Safe Preserving Resources  There are many books and websites covering food preserving, but unfortunately not all of them provide good advice. Some sources provide processes or recipes that are downright dangerous. So where do you turn for research-based, reliable information? Or to find safe information…
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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Preserve it! Series: How to Make Safe, Personalized Salsa Recipes for Canning

April 30, 2026
Safe ingredient swaps for home-canned salsa Salsa contains a combination of high- or borderline high-acid ingredients (such as tomatoes or fruit) and low-acid ingredients (such as peppers, onions, or other vegetables). Acid in the form of vinegar or bottled lemon juice is added to ensure the appropriate…
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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Preserve it! Series: All Salt is Not the Same

April 30, 2026
Salt is salt is salt - except when it's more than salt Salt is an essential mineral for health and one of the five basic human tastes. It’s indispensible in the kitchen for many reasons beyond taste. Whether gathered from coastal or inland salt pans, evaporated from sea water, or mined from salt…
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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Preserve it! Series: Use Slow Cookers Safely

April 30, 2026
Slow cookers are safe devices when used correctly Slow cookers (aka “crock pots”) work by cooking food at a low temperature (generally between 170-280°F) for several hours. Direct heat from the pot, steam, and long cooking times combine to destroy bacteria, making foods safe to consume.Some specific…
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