Ongoing research

by David George A new East Contra Costa County Master Gardener demonstration garden is in the works! Funding approval was gained in February and work is now in progress for the garden on a portion of the Family Harvest Farm (FHF) grounds on Power Avenue in Pittsburg.

Let's not forget to take care of our gardens this summer in addition to all the fun activities we have planned, especially when temperatures are rising and our priceless landscape begins to get thirsty.

Otherwise, regular watering is essential. Your vegetable garden will need constant care in all areas of water, pest and weed control, and fertilizing. Find out what to stay on top of in the garden this month as UC Master Gardener hosts Katrina Kirkeby and Teena Spindler help you plan your month.

The man who pioneered the field of genetic engineering for food crops has died.

Save the dates! The seventh annual International Monarch Monitoring Blitz will take place Friday, July 28 through Sunday, Aug. 6.

Rachael Freeman Long grew up in Berkeley but was fascinated by farming. The UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor has spent the past 37 years doing research on crop production, pollination and pest control and collaborating with farmers.

I control most of my garden weeds by hoeing and pulling. This morning I was doing a quick once-over with the hoe before work when I was inspired by the abundance of purslane present in the garden to write a quick post on hoeing.

It seems like the simplest thing is the hardest. Recently, I was called out to evaluate why newly planted trees were failing at two sites and they both had a common problem. In one case, the trees had been planted too deeply at the beginning.

When is the best time to start tomatoes from seed? This has been an ongoing debate I've had with other gardeners. Debates like this are pretty common, and because so many of them come down to preferences alone there's often no right or wrong about them.

Where are all the monarchs? Not in our pollinator garden here in Vacaville. Milkweed? Check. Floral resources? Check. Praying mantids? No. (Haven't seen any, but they're out there!) Birds? Yes. (Nesting California scrub jays eat their fill of caterpillars, mainly Gulf Fritillary 'cats.) Shade? Yes.