November Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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"The sun tires of summer and sighs itself into autumn." ~Terri Guillemets |
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Become a UC Master Gardener |
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Do you want to make a difference in your community through garden education and garden-based projects? Now is the time to learn about becoming a Master Gardener.
There will be information sessions November 8 and 13 and the next training class will begin in March 2022. Visit our website to learn about our program and the application process.
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Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine
A large part of San Jose, Campbell, and eastern Los Gatos are affected by a new quarantine for the oriental fruit fly. To prevent the spread of fruit flies via infested homegrown fruits and vegetables, people living in the quarantine zone (map) are urged not to move fruits or vegetables off the property where they were grown. According to the CDFA, “fruits and vegetables may be consumed or processed (i.e., juiced, frozen, cooked, or ground in the garbage disposal) at the property of origin. If they are not consumed or processed, dispose of them by double-bagging them in plastic bags and putting the bags in the garbage bin for collection."
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Photo: Oriental fruit fly, ANR Repository, Jack Kelly Clark
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If you’re going to use a pesticide, it’s important to know when and how to apply it. A pesticide is any material used to control pests. This includes homemade concoctions with dish soap, hot peppers, or vinegar, as well as store-bought insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Following best practices will help keep you and the environment safe. For an in-depth look at pesticides, attend this UC webinar on Understanding Pesticides on Nov 18, 12 noon, or catch it later on the UC IPM YouTube channel.
Illustration: Examples of improper use of pesticides, Chris O'Connor
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I f you’re a warm-season gardener and won’t be using your tools during the winter, now is a good time to get your tools ready for the off-season. Check your yard to make sure you haven’t left anything outside. Then clean dirt and sap from your tools and coat steel surfaces (check with a magnet if you’re not sure) with a light coating of oil to prevent rust. If you can, sharpen pruners and loppers. We have a video showing how to clean and sharpen tools.
Photo: Garden tools
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Plant Garlic & Shallots
The time to plant garlic and shallots is now, from mid-October through the end of November. Fast-growing Dutch Red shallots can mature in just 90 days, so can be planted again in late winter or early spring. Specialty growers guarantee disease-free stock and offer many more garlic varieties than you see at the grocery store, from beefy Chopaka Mountain to beautiful Rose de Lautrec. There will be an in-person talk about growing them, as well as onions and leeks, at the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden on Nov 6, 10–11:30.
Photo: Garlic and shallots
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Winter Weeds
A s the weather cools in fall, one of the first weeds to sprout is also one of the most difficult to control: Oxalis pes-caprae, aka Bermuda buttercup. While it has cheerful yellow flowers in spring, this weed grows from a long-lived bulb and can quickly spread throughout planting beds, ground covers, and mulched areas, reproducing by small white bulblets that form along its stem. Once established it is extremely difficult to control. Look for it now and throughout the winter, carefully removing the plants and as many of the bulbs and bulblets as possible.
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Photo: Oxalis pes-caprae aka Bermuda buttercup, by Joseph DiTomaso, UC ANR
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Our monthly Plant Clinic Online is an opportunity to chat with a Master Gardener via Zoom to diagnose a plant problem. You can also listen and learn while other people ask questions. It takes place on the second Saturday of the month (November 13), from 10–noon. Priority will be given to questions that are emailed in advance; instructions are in the Zoom registration confirmation. Registration required. There will not be a Plant Clinic in December.
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Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
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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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