Ongoing research

What Are Chill HoursChill hours are the cumulative number of hours of temperatures lower than 45°F that are required by deciduous fruit and nut trees for fruit production. The hours are tracked during the traditional dormant season, measured from November 1 to February 28/29. Available DataThe…

Preparing the BedAs early as possible in the spring, prepare a bed in our native clay soil when the soil moisture content allows a handful of soil to crumble easily. You may need to wait for the soil to dry out, or you may need to water if it’s too dry.Double dig the entire bed to a depth of 18 – 24…

IntroductionWhen facing serious drought, we can be water-wise and successful growing a food garden. Here are things to consider when planning a food garden during a drought and some suggestions for optimizing water usage.The first step in deciding to have a food garden is to determine if extra water beyond…

IntroductionAs drought conditions become increasingly likely over time, it’s essential that we all learn to use water more efficiently. Using grey water or recycled water can help to conserve our finite water resources.About Grey WaterGrey water is untreated, non-disinfected household wastewater that does…

Prepared/presented by UC Master Gardeners Janet Miller & Steven Griffin at the GET DRY Plant Sale & Workshop, September 2015.IntroductionIf you are planning a lawn conversion by sheet mulching and want to plant a drought tolerant garden in place of the lawn, you may want to install a drip irrigation…

by Emma Connery, UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator, March 5, 2011SummarySoil testing eliminates the over-use of fertilizers, thereby saving money and protecting the environment while maintaining good soil and plant health.Soil testing can save you money and protect the environmentQuestion: I am…

Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is a warm-season grass that is sometimes used for lawns. It tolerates high temperatures, needs full sun, and survives with low water. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most common weeds in our area and is difficult to control.  To identify bermudagrass, look for dense…

By Pat Hitchcock, UC Master Gardener of Napa County.  Last summer the Napa County Master Gardeners field-testing group agreed to try growing corn. I think I must have missed the meeting when this was decided as I have avoided growing corn for many years.   In my view, corn takes too much space…