Posts Tagged: A
The Genetics of Livestock Guardian Dogs (Past and Present)
Folks new to the world of working livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), whether they are producers or...
Love in a Mist
I have always had a love for wildflowers and cottage garden favorites. One in particular that I always enjoy during the summer months would be Nigella damascena ‘Miss Jekyll Dark Blue'. I first purchased this plant from Annie's Annuals in 2020, and since then, I've had blooms year after year. It has finely divided leaves that look delicate and airy, this particular variety is dark blue, growing between 1 and 2 feet high. I have also seen it in white. It was discovered in 1753 by Linnaeus and is in the Ranunculaceae family. It is native to Southern Europe, North Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. Its common names are Love in a Mist and Devil in a Bush. It will grow in poor soil conditions and needs very little water. It is easy to grow from plants or by seed. Once in your garden, it will reseed freely. It is a pretty blue flower that does well in fresh floral arrangements. After the flowers drop, it will form a beautiful, papery seed pod, which works well in dried floral pieces. I recently got to use the white variety in my wedding creations, and it held up beautifully! Give it a shot if you're into cottage garden flowers.
Nigella pods. photos by Heather Hamilton
Blue Nigella
White nigella in a centerpiece.
Irrigation Resources
In a recent meeting the topic of where to go for irrigation information came up. Well there's no substitute for attending a class in irrigation, such as offered at Cal Poly SLO (http://www.itrc.org/classes/iseclass.htm ,
but here's some written sources to get you started thinking.
http://ciwr.ucanr.edu/california_drought_expertise/droughttips/
http://www.salinitymanagement.org/Salinity%20Management%20Guide/ei/ei_1.html
http://www.avocadosource.com/tools/IrrigationCalculator.asp
http://lawr.ucdavis.edu/cooperative-extension/irrigation/manuals
http://lawr.ucdavis.edu/cooperative-extension/irrigation/drought-tips
http://biomet.ucdavis.edu/index.php/evapotranspiration-mainmenu-32
irrigation double line citrus
Beat the Heat with Shade Cloth
It's summertime! Our gardens are in full swing, tomatoes are beginning to ripen, berries are mostly done, and everything is lush and green. But beware, your plants can sunburn just like you. Sometimes we all need a little break from the heat, especially in the central and eastern portions of Contra Costa County where daytime temps regularly exceed 90 degrees.
Sunshine is necessary for plant growth, but too much can stress plants. Shade cloth (also called shade fabric) can block excessive sunshine and heat and will:
• Lower temperatures
• Reduce heat stress
• Prevent sunburn
• Reduce evaporation from the soil and the plant
• Reduce water needs
• Extend the growing season
• Expand the type of plants that can be grown
Selecting shade cloth
Shade cloth can block between 20% and 90% of the sun's rays reaching your garden beds, also called the transmission rate. A 30% shade cloth will reduce the sunlight reaching plants by 30% and will let 70% of the sun's rays in. The transmission rates will be shown on the product at the store. Delicate seedlings and cooler season plants (lettuce and spinach) will benefit from more shade (50–60% shade cloth), while sun-loving plants like fruits, tomatoes and peppers would do better with less blockage (20–40% shade cloth). Shade cloth is sold two ways: from a roll with a predetermined width and a length that you choose, or in pre-cut triangle and rectangle shapes. Shade cloth also comes in a variety of colors—black, brown, green, shades of beige, white, and sometimes less-common colors.
Installing shade cloth
Shade cloth can be installed several ways, depending on your garden layout. It can be spread over PVC hoops, also called hoop houses, or other PVC structures and secured with zip ties, ropes/twine, bungee cords, etc.
A triangle or rectangular piece can be installed like a sail attached to building edges or poles over the garden bed in a tent-like structure.
A DIY Frame can be made from fencing, vegetable cages, etc. and shade cloth can be draped and secured over the frame.
Be sure to attach shade cloth securely so that it does not flap or slide out of place because that can damage plants.
The vast majority of commercially available shade cloth is made from petroleum products like polypropylene or polyethylene. You may find shade cloth made from natural fibers such as jute, bamboo, sea grass, etc. but this is less common.
Give yourself and your plants a break from the heat this summer and for many summers to come by investing in some shade. It can help you use less water, prevent sunburn and heat stress, and extend your growing season. Enjoy your summer!
For more information about shade cloth in the garden, see this link: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=55005
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County (DLB)
Sage advice regarding Salvias
Here is this week's plant quiz: What plant genus has square branches, comes in an enormous variety...
flour-sage-7611960 1280 Pixabay
sage-2614273 1280 Pixabay
sage-3572718 1280 Pixabay