Ongoing research

How deep is too deep to drill rice in California? I’ll get the obvious answer out of the way first: it depends! If you’re thinking of trying out drill seeding in the future, there’s going to be a learning curve. Much like with water-seeded rice, your variety selection matters as much as the weather,…

 I’ve enjoyed gardening for years. I started by visiting my local garden center each spring and carefully selecting containers of already started plants. I quickly realized that I didn’t need 6 zucchini plants – seriously, with only 2 adults I could have been a cartoon for “gifting” the excess. I also…

 If you missed it, World Honey Bee Day was Aug. 16.But, frankly, it's a day that should be observed every day, not just the third Saturday in August.The celebrated day appears on the National Day Calender as "The day (that) recognizes both the honey bee and the beekeepers who tend the hives. It also…

Container Magic – Helpful How-to Tips on Planting Your Garden in a Container Container gardening is a fun and easy way to beautify a yard or small garden space. Containers are perfect for most environments and people of all gardening levels. They are portable and offer endless possibilities. Choose…

In California, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has a license and certification system which allows for professionals to apply pesticides as a part of their job duties. While everyone using pesticides must follow all directions on the pesticide label, as well as any additional state or local…

Understanding the when, why, and how of pruning tomatoes for the best yield To prune or not to prune tomatoes, that is a question that backyard tomato growers need to answer for themselves. Growing strong, healthy tomato plants increases the chance of getting a large crop of delicious tomatoes. The…

This article covers kissing bugs (also known as conenose bugs). They are an occasional summertime insect pest of sparsely-inhabited rural or suburban areas.