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UC Gardening Blogs
A Moth's Nighttime Visit Turns Into Remembrances of Alice--and an Educational Video
Picture this: A Polyphemus silk moth, Antheraea polyphemus, flutters into the...
This image, taken May 2, shows the larva of the Polyphemus silk moth, Antheraea polyphemus. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)
On May 9, the caterpillar of the Polyphemus silk moth, Antheraea polyphemus, looked like this. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)
A beautiful Polyphemus silk moth, Antheraea polyphemus, eclosed on June 20. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)
July Miku 2021
Crepe Myrtles Blooming
Great news ON increased funding
Getting Back to Normal
Crepe myrtle. photo by Mike Gunther
Congrats to Our Star-Studded UC Davis Entomology Faculty
They say good news comes in threes. Sometimes it comes in fives! Congrats to the five UC Davis...
UC Davis distinguished professor Richard "Rick" Karban has researched plant communication in sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) on the east side of the Sierra since 1995.
Growing Citrus Seeds
Citrus trees grown from seed are usually used as rootstock, because they do not grow true to type, are not as prolific, and can take up to ten years before bearing fruit. But still, I thought it might be fun to try growing citrus seeds. So a couple of months ago I planted some yuzu seeds. To my delight, they sprouted. Hoping it just wasn't a fluke, I decided to plant some lemon seeds and they also sprouted.
It turns out growing citrus seeds is relatively easy. To grow citrus seeds, remove the seeds from citrus fruit. Be sure to remove any pulp that may be stuck to the seeds. Soak the seeds for at least 24 hours in a bowl of water to soften the seed coat. Discard any seeds that float.
Next, remove the seed coat. You can use manicure scissors or nail clippers to clip off the end of the seed to make it easier to remove the seed coat. I soaked my yuzu seeds for 3 days before using manicure scissors to help break the seed coat. But for my lemon seeds, I only had to soak them overnight before I could break off the seed coat using my fingernails.
Plant the seeds about half an inch deep in potting soil. Keep the soil moist. The seeds require temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and will germinate within two weeks.
As far as my citrus seedlings are concerned, I will eventually use them as rootstock so I can try my hand at grafting again. As for my yuzu seedlings, considering a few years ago when I purchased my then one-year-old yuzu tree it cost me approximately $50 after shipping, I plan on growing one or two of the seedlings as fruit trees. Even if they do not produce 100% true-to-type fruit, it will be worth it. Plus, the trees will provide me with a single positive memory of the first year of the pandemic.
Lemon - 1 mo. old seedling. photos by Kathy Low
Yuzu - 2 month old seedling.
Throw a Little Shade on Me, Please
Are you tired of the triple-digit temperatures? Wish someone would throw a breeze your way and...
A honey bee and a butterfly, a Western tiger swallowtail sharing some nectar on a Mexican sunflower in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
"This flower isn't big enough for both of us!" The Western tiger swallowtail lifts off, providing an umbrella—a little shade—on a triple-digit temperature day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
