Ongoing research

Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Earthworms and Soil Productivity - 2000

There are 1,800 species of earthworms grouped into five families and distributed all over the world. Some grow as long as 3 feet, while others are only a few tenths of inches. We call them nightcrawlers, field worms, manure worms, red worms and some people just say "yuck.
View Page
Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Soil and Water Management - 2001

From rocks come soils. All soils were once part of rock, but with time and various physical and chemical processes of weathering, rock becomes unconsolidated into loose rock particles. It is from these particles that a soil may develop; it is called parent material.
View Page
Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Living with Fire

The very fact that avocados can be grown in hard to get to places means that the trees are also in areas that are subject to wildfire damage. Recently several hundred acres of avocado burned in the Fillmore/Santa Paula foothills. The fire was fanned by high winds and low humidity.
View Page
Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Frost Control/Freeze Damage

Here are some links to frost information, preparing for frost and managing frost damage to trees. Methods of Frost Protection Protecting Avocados from Frost Rehabilitation of Freeze-Damaged Citrus and Avocado Trees A Frost Primer http://ceventura.ucanr.
View Page
Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Methods of Frost Protection

Mature Orchards Only two general methods of protecting avocado groves have proved satisfactory - heaters and wind machines. A combination of these two also is used.
View Page
Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Protecting Avocados from Frost

Frost damage reduces tree growth and fruit yields. Thus, it presents a problem to the avocado grower who must develop and maintain high production to have a profitable business.
View Page
Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Soil and Plant Testing Labs in California - 1999

The following is a list of laboratories, which were/are active in plant- and soil-testing as of April 2000. I suggest you call the laboratory prior to submitting samples. Quite often samples must be taken, packaged and sent in a particular manner in order to obtain the best possible diagnosis.
View Page
Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Sources of Agricultural Chemicals & Supplies

The following list has been compiled for the convenience of growers. The names are listed in alphabetical order, and no endorsement of any individual is intended, either expressed or implied.
View Page
Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Pest Control

Amorbia Armored Scales Avocado Pest Management Avocado Brown Mite Avocado Thrips Branch and Twig Borer Brown Garden Snail Deer False Cinch Bug Fuller Rose Beetle Greenhouse Thrips June Beetles (Scarabs) Omnivorous Looper Orange Tortrix Persea Mite Rodents Six-spotted Mite Soft Scales Whiteflies Prec...
View Page