Advice To Grow By

For more information on becoming a Master Gardener click here. Application deadline is November 16th.

The San Joaquin Master Gardeners are excited about the Valley Gardener's Journal For Year-Round Blooms. This garden journal is now available for purchase and is great for any gardener. For more info click here!

In the Spotlight

When a frost is forecast

• Move potted plants to a warmer spot next to the house or under a patio cover, especially on the south side.

• Check that plants are well watered because dry plants are more susceptible to damage, and moist soil retains heat better than dry soil.

• Cover plants before sunset to capture ground heat radiating upward at night. Remove sheets, blankets and other covers daily if it is sunny and above freezing to allow soil to absorb heat.

• Add heat by using outdoor lights: hang 100 watt drop lights or holiday string lights to interior of plant. Use the old C7 or C9 large bulbs, not new LED lights which do not give off heat. Old style holiday lights that give off heat can provide up to 3° of protection. Use lights, extension cords, and multi-outlets or power strips that are rated for outdoor use and grounded (3-prong). Avoid connecting together more than three light strings in a line.

• Wrap trunks of tender trees if a hard freeze is expected, using towels, blankets, rags, or pipe insulation.

• Harvest ripe citrus fruit. Generally both green and ripe fruit are damaged below 30°, but there is some variation by species (refer to chart in UC ANR Publication 8100, Frost Protection for Citrus and Other Subtropicals).

For more information on what to do in preparation for a frost visit Farmer Freds November Frosts, Freezes Ahead? Probably

Did your peaches look like this last spring? If they did the time to treat this disease is approaching.

Peach leaf curl, also known as leaf curl, is a disease caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. Peach leaf curl affects the blossoms, fruit, leaves, and shoots of peaches, ornamental flowering peaches, and nectarines, and is one of the most common disease problems for backyard gardeners growing these trees. The distorted, reddened foliage that it causes is easily seen in spring. When severe, the disease can reduce fruit production substantially.

IDENTIFICATION AND DAMAGE

Peach leaf curl first appears in spring as reddish areas on developing leaves. These areas become thickened and puckered, causing leaves to curl and severely distort. The thickened areas turn yellowish and then grayish white, as velvety spores are produced on the surface by the leaf curl fungus. Later affected leaves turn yellow or brown and can remain on the tree or may fall off; they are replaced by a second set of leaves that develop more normally unless wet weather continues. The loss of leaves and the production of a second set result in decreased tree growth and fruit production. Defoliation in spring may expose branches to sunburn injury.

Click here for more information on peach leaf curl.

2012 Smart Garden Conference Presentations

Are you looking for the PowerPoint from a class that you attended? Click here to find all the presentations for the 2012 Smart Garden Conference. They will be up for a limited time only.

UC Garden Blogs

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Master Gardener Newsletter

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Whats Growing On - Calendar of events

Event Name	Date
Drops and Dollars- Saving Water- Saving Money	6/8/2013
Drops and Dollars- Saving Water- Saving Money	6/15/2013
Mow no More	7/13/2013
Mow no More	7/20/2013
Healthy Soil- Happy Plants	8/10/2013