July Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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“The flower doesn’t dream of the bee. It blossoms and the bee comes.” ~ Mark Nepo
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Become a UC Master Gardener |
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Are you interested in becoming a Master Gardener? We are a group of passionate volunteers who enjoy educating the public with science-based horticultural research from UC. We’re looking for enthusiastic candidates to join us. Maybe that’s you!
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What Caused These Holes?
See the holes in these peppers? Can you guess what caused them? This problem, which sometimes also causes premature fruit drop, affects all kinds of peppers and chiles, but a recent local study showed the most problems with bell peppers. Read to the end to find the culprit.
Photo: University of California
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Don’t Fertilize during a Drought |
Fertilizing your lawn and landscape encourages lush new growth. That’s usually what we want, but not during a drought. That new growth requires extra water to support it. Plus if a plant is already drought-stressed, fertilizer may cause it more stress by stimulating growth that can’t be supported with limited water. In other cases, plants may slow or shut down growth under drought stress to conserve resources and will not use the fertilizer. |
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Did you know that zucchinis and other squash have male and female flowers? Male flowers have a long thin stem while female flowers have a small swelling behind them like a baby squash. The female flowers require pollen from the male flowers for squash to form. Usually, bees and other insects will do the job for you, but if you don’t have enough natural pollinators in your garden, you can do it yourself. Peel away the petals, then touch the male anther to the female stigma to transfer pollen, as shown in the photo.
Photo credit: E. Thralls, University of Florida
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Testing Soil Moisture Depth |
You know how long you water your garden, but do you know how deep the water is going? You don’t need an expensive moisture meter to check. A simple probe can help you find out. Use any item sturdy enough to push a foot or so into the soil, for example, a long screwdriver or metal rod. Push the probe directly into the soil using firm pressure. It will go through moist soil and stop when it hits the underlying dry soil, showing you how deep your water has penetrated. Watering deeply but infrequently is recommended. |
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Photo: Sample soil probes, GardenProfessors.com
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Photo credit: Karen Schaffer
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The Problem with Neem
Neem products are derived from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica. But most neem products on the market lack the active insecticidal ingredient azadirachtin. Neem oil, called “clarified hydrophobic extract of neem”, is still effective as horticultural oil for smothering juvenile insects and may be effective in suppressing powdery mildew. But it won’t be effective in cases where azadirachtin is required. Like any horticultural oil, neem oil can potentially damage plants by burning their foliage and should be sprayed at dawn or dusk to protect bees and other pollinators. When using any pesticide, it’s important to reach an accurate diagnosis first and understand that no product helps solve every plant problem. Neem is not a cure-all.
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There have been some dramatic news reports recently about jumping worms (short video overview) in California. The worms get their name from their thrashing behavior and are such voracious eaters that they degrade soil quality by turning it into coffee ground-like granules. While there’s only been one documented finding in California, the CDFA considers them a high risk to California’s agricultural and natural environments. Long-distance spread is possible through worm-contaminated soil and debris adhering to vehicles, bait used by anglers, nursery container stock, compost, and mulch. Report sightings to the CDFA.
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Photo: Elements to identify jumping worm, Oregon State
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Photo: Pepper weevil, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
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What Caused These Holes? — Answer
Pepper weevils made these holes. The pepper weevil is a small insect (about ⅛" long) but is a worldwide problem for pepper growers. It has been an increasing problem in Santa Clara County. Female weevils chew holes on buds or at the base of young fruit and then lay their eggs inside. The larvae develop inside the fruit causing damage and leaving excrement. Then they chew their way out making the exit holes seen in the photo above. To reduce the population, clean up and discard any dropped fruit and peppers with holes near the stem.
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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 (July 9), from 10–noon. Priority will be given to questions that are emailed in advance; instructions are in the Zoom registration confirmation. Registration required.
Managing Pests In Your Garden, Saturday, July 23, 1–3 pm, Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, Charles Street Garden, 433 Charles Street, Sunnyvale
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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? Ask us. We’re here to help!
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