Ongoing research

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California Master Gardener Handbook Fruit Thinning 16.41
The Coastal Gardener : Article

Big Spring Payoff - Fruit Thinning

April 19, 2020
By Sherida J Phibbs
,Thinning Fruit will Result in Larger Fruit If you want larger fruit you will want to thin immature fruit in the early spring. Apple, Asian and European pear, apricot, peach, plum, kiwifruit, table olives and persimmon all benefit from fruit thinning.
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The Western Sunset Garden Book 2017 Third Edition
The Coastal Gardener : Article

Climate Zones & Microclimates

April 18, 2020
By Sherida J Phibbs
Do you know your planting zone? Selecting plants is not a one-plant-fits-all approach. Trees, shrubs, plants, vegetables, etc., all have their own climate requirement to grow and produce at their best.
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Female Cone
The Coastal Gardener : Article

Wollemia nobilis at Humboldt Botanical Garden

April 18, 2020
By Sherida J Phibbs
The Wollemia nobilis of Australia have been saved from the raging fires of Australia by special fire crews and air dropped fire retardant in a Top Secret operation.
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Cymbidium Orchid
The Coastal Gardener : Article

A Great Outdoor Orchid for our Coast

April 17, 2020
By Sherida J Phibbs
The Cymbidium (sym-BID-ee-um) orchids are known for their beautiful, long-lasting sprays of flowers and they do well outside. There are two main typesstandards and miniatures. Miniatures only grow where summer nights are above 70F.
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Cardamine californica
The Coastal Gardener : Article

Cardamine Edible - But Not So Tasty

April 17, 2020
By Sherida J Phibbs
Cardamine californica, or Milkmaids, is an herbaceous flowering perennial plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is native to western North America from Washington to Baja California. It is common in a variety of habitats including shady slopes, open woodlands and grasslands.
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AMW
UC Rice Blog: Article

Armyworm trapping season starts

April 17, 2020
By Luis Espino
As you know, we have been monitoring armyworm flights with pheromone traps across the valley since 2018. This year, the first set of traps were put out on 4/10 near Princeton, and today we put out a few more. We checked the first traps today, and we got an average of 2 moths per night per trap.
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crab spider 2
UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County: Article

Eat or Be Eaten

April 17, 2020
By Annemiek M Schilder
In this weekly blog, Dr. Annemiek Schilder, Director, UCCE Ventura County and Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center, shares her observations about the natural world across the seasons. As she says: "Gently observing your surroundings with curiosity will teach you some amazing things.
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