Archive Nut, Prune and Olive Programs | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Fusarium Wilt

Fungus. Various host-specific forms of Fusarium oxysporum can kill infected plants. Hosts include asparagus, bean, cabbage, cantaloupe, pea, tomato, and watermelon. There are many varieties of host plants with resistance to Fusarium wilt.Like verticillium, causes leaf…

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UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties: Article

Weeds in My Cover Crop

March 20, 2025

By Atticus Rotoli

Here is a question that came to the gardening advice teamQ: I planted a cover crop in my community garden plot and left it longer than I should have. There are now weeds mixed in with the cover crop blend. I’m not sure what I should do. If there are weeds mixed in with the beneficial plants I’m guessing I…

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UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties: Article

Hold the Tomatoes!

March 20, 2025

By Jazmin Lopez

Spring is finally upon us and the weather has been absolutely gorgeous. All this sunshine & spring showers have me thinking about my vegetable garden. I already have some seeds in the ground, but I want to keep planting more.The other day while strolling through the local garden center my eyes…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Late Blight on Potatoes

Late blight of potato was responsible for the Irish potato famine of the late 1840s. Late blight is caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. Oomycetes are fungus-like organisms also called water molds, but they are not true fungi. CategoryFungiSigns/SymptomsLesions appear as small dark green water…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Peach Leaf Curl

Fungal disease that affects the blossoms, fruit, leaves, and shoots of peaches, ornamental flowering peaches, and nectarines. One of the most common disease problems for backyard gardeners growing these trees. When severe, the disease can reduce fruit production substantially. The loss of leaves and…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common disease on many types of plants and is prevalent in many areas of California. Infection occurs when fungus contacts a suitable host and environmental conditions are favorable. Infections spread as spores produced in these white patches move by wind and splashing rain to other…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Rust

Fungal disease named for the dry to gelatinous, orange, reddish, or yellowish fruiting bodies and spore masses that many species form on infected tissue. Rusts infect many hosts, including birch, cedar, cottonwood, cypress, fuchsia, hawthorn, juniper, pear, pine, poplar, rhododendron, and rose…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Sooty Mold

Grows on plants and other surfaces covered with honeydew, a sticky substance created by some certain insects. Doesn’t infect plants, but the mold can indirectly do damage by coating leaves to the point that sunlight can’t reach the leaf surface. Without adequate sunlight, the plant cannot effectively…

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UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties: Article

Our Annual Tomato Advisory: Is It Time to Plant?

March 20, 2025

By Atticus Rotoli

Tomatoes are the single most popular summer garden edible crop grown in the US. Vine-ripened tomatoes, juicy and flavorful and still sun-warm, often barely even resemble what is sold in our markets.However, because the climates can vary so much in our geographic region--from daily fog banks (cool…

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UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties: Article

Gardening Safely After the Moss Landing Battery Fire: What We Know

March 20, 2025

By Atticus Rotoli

Update 5/27/25 In response to the fire at Vistra's Moss Landing battery plant in January of this year a new data dashboard is now available online with data on environmental testing and monitoring. It will continue to be updated throughout clean-up operations.Moss Landing Battery Fire Dashboard …

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