November Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.
~W. E. Johns
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The California Poppy was officially designated as the state flower in 1903. It is native to open, grassy areas in California and its surroundings. Early settlers and gold-rushers found it growing abundantly on hillsides and in flatlands. The gold color was evocative of the gold that brought so many people to the Golden State. They are drought tolerant plants and are not picky about soil. Seeds can be scattered now and will sprout with the rains. The blooms range in color from gold to orange, with occasional white specimens, and they are one of the first flowers to bloom in the early spring, or technically in late winter. After the blooms finish, the seeds will develop in a slender pod and are ready when the pod turns brown. If left on the plant, the pod will split open on its own and drop the seeds. California poppies are annual flowers but seem perennial because in addition to self-seeding, they can regrow from roots and lower stems. The good news is that they are good at recolonizing after fires, so we may be treated to particularly spectacular displays next poppy season.
Photo: California poppy, by Kathy Keatley Garvey
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This is a good time to plant onions for nice big bulbs. Onions are biennial plants which means that they are programmed to go to seed in their second year. If they are planted too early in the year and grow too large before cold weather hits, they can be tricked in the spring into acting as if they are in their second year. This means that they will go to seed soon and put their energy into reproducing themselves rather than into growing large bulbs. Ideally they should be no bigger than the thickness of a pencil when the cold weather causes them to go dormant. Plant onions from seeds if earlier in the fall or transplants if later. They do best in moist, well-drained soil. Harvest bulbs in the summer when the tops die back. You can plant green onions at any time and harvest them whenever they are about a quarter to half inch in diameter.
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Inspect Irrigation
Expect to do less watering as nature starts to take over. Cooler temperatures, shorter days, and rainfall will all keep soil and plants from drying out quickly. If we are getting sufficient rain, then little to no supplemental irrigation will be needed. Inspecting your irrigation now will leave you plenty of time to do any needed maintenance before the weather heats up again. Turn on each watering zone individually while you are there to watch. Check for any leaks in pipes or tubing. Make sure emitters are not clogged. Check the overhead sprinklers to find out if water is being distributed evenly. Do this by putting tuna or cat food cans throughout the area and seeing if they are uniformly filled. Watch for runoff which could indicate that the sprinklers are not aimed correctly or that they are watering for too long at once without giving time for the water to soak into the soil.
Photo: “Urban drool”, by Laura Monczynski
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Deciduous trees, including most fruit trees, lose their leaves seasonally, usually in the autumn. They enter a period of dormancy when they are not actively growing and there is little activity within the plant. This period between leaf drop in the fall and bud break in the spring is your opportunity to do a little maintenance on the trees. This is the time to apply dormant oil sprays to smother soft bodied insects such as scale, aphids, and mites. First inspect for pests that are overwintering on the trees, or remember pest and disease problems you noticed during the growing season. Then do any needed pruning so that you will not be spraying branches that will soon be removed. Mix the horticultural oil in a sprayer and apply it according to directions on the packaging. Never use more than what is prescribed. Although dormant oils may count as organic, it is still best to use them only when needed to address problems.
Photo: San Jose scale on a branch, by Richard E. Rice
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There is no such thing as a house plant. Plants did not evolve inside houses. Yet many plants that evolved in different parts of the world can do well in indoor environments. In fact, knowing where it evolved will give you clues to caring for it. If it evolved in a desert, like cactus, it will do best with sandy soil and little water. If it originated in a jungle and grew on tree branches, like orchids, it will grow well in bark with misting of the plant. If it grew on a forest floor it will not need a lot of light. Many of the plants designated as house plants are from the tropics or subtropics which have similarly warm, uniform temperatures as the inside of a house. If your plant did not come with instructions, do a little research on the native conditions of the plant when choosing a soil blend and a watering schedule. Plants in containers need periodic fertilizer because they use up nutrients for growing and possibly flowering. People are currently spending more time at home and houseplants are good for beautifying the surroundings and even improving air quality. Keep in mind that more indoor plants die from too much attention – usually overwatering – than from a little neglect.
Photo: Dracaena trifasciata, previously named Sansevieria trifasciata aka Snake Plant, by Cynthia McKinney
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Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
Photo: New succulent garden at Martial Cottle Park, by Judy Hecht
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University of California Master Gardener volunteers promote sustainable gardening practices and provide research-based horticultural information to home gardeners. Visit our website for more information including:
Have a gardening question? Contact our Help Desk (for Santa Clara County residents). Start by reviewing our plant problem diagnosis tips and then:
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