In the Garden

Preliminary rainfall records released by the National Weather Service (NWS) show Monterey with 2.8 inches of rainfall in May – the highest rainfall for the month since recordkeeping began in 1906. Monterey’s average for the month, based on the 30-year average of May rainfall recorded between 1981 and 2010, is 0.56 inches.

Santa Cruz received at least 3 inches of rain, more than three times the May average of 0.84 inches but not a record-breaker. The city recorded 5.5 inches of rainfall in May of 1915, and this year’s deluge ranked only in the top eight wettest Mays since 1906.

Hollister’s rainfall measured at least 1.27 inches for the month, compared to the 30-year May average of 0.4 inches.

These NWS rainfall numbers are incomplete because they were calculated at our request before the end of May, and the totals may shift slightly once a few missing daily data sets are collected and factored in.

Overall, Central Coast rainfall has been above average for the season, with a wintry weather pattern persisting much longer than usual.

On balance the soggy weather is good news for Central Coast gardeners, temporarily easing drought worries and treating both landscaped and natural areas to a good, long, rejuvenating drink. Many spring flowers are enjoying an extended bloom, both in gardens and in wildlands where spectacular “super-blooms” were reportedly visible from space.
  
On the downside, the late rain has decimated our region’s cherry crop and ruined many tons of fresh strawberries, in addition to delaying plantings of heat-loving summer vegetables. The prolonged dampness also increases the risk of fungus, blight and other garden plagues.

Despite the weather, coastal vegetable gardeners can increase the odds for a successful harvest by choosing short-season varieties of tomatoes, squashes, peppers and other warmth-loving summer favorites. Small vegetables, such as cherry tomatoes and lunchbox-size bell peppers, will ripen in fewer days and with less heat than beefsteak tomatoes and full-size peppers.

Prevent the spread of powdery mildew and tomato blight by promptly removing infected plants - dispose of them in the green waste bin instead of leaving them to compost in your yard. (You can put diseased plants in the green waste bin because the materials are composted at high temperatures which kill the pathogens. Home compost does not get hot enough to adequately kill pathogens.)
 
-  Maria Gaura, UC Master Gardener

Photo by Sean McAuliffe on Unsplash

Upcoming Classes

POPULAR! Learn about the fascinating varieties of succulents, planting techniques, soil selection, propagation by cuttings and divisions and ongoing care including watering, fertilizing and pest management. Everyone will get hands-on instruction planting succulents in a pot they can take home. Please bring a special container with a drain hole for your planting. Class includes a succulent swap, so everyone is invited to bring succulent cuttings to share with one another for our plantings and to take home.

Note: There is no cost for the class, but Quail Hollow Ranch collects $3 for use of the facility.

POPULAR! Designed for beginners and intermediate gardeners, this course will cover introductory topics including why to do it, why not do it, how to do it and what to plant. We will provide ways to add a single edible to your existing landscape, add edibles to container gardening, and creating a small 100 sq ft patch. 

Note: Seats are limited at Common Roots Farm (formerly Costanoa Commons). We recommend you sign up early for this class.

Anyone can learn to build a simple, versatile, stacking compost bin and we will show you how! In this hands-on demo, we will use wood from an old deck and save it from the landfill by repurposing it into a handsome container suitable for composting.

Note: Seats are limited at Common Roots Farm (formerly Costanoa Commons).

POPULAR! Designed for beginners and intermediate gardeners, this course will cover introductory topics including why to do it, why not do it, how to do it and what to plant. We will provide ways to add a single edible to your existing landscape, add edibles to container gardening, and creating a small 100 sq ft patch. 

Whether you are growing food or ornamental plants, singular specimens, mass plantings or trees, this class will cover the keys to keep your potted plants flourishing.

Home gardeners with small spaces, balconies or large yards can enjoy growing plants in a variety of vessels. Pair the right pot with the right plants and where to place it for optimal growth and vigor. You will learn to vary plant size, color and texture combinations within a container planting.

Do you want to control the pests and weeds in your garden without harmful chemicals? Learn how Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies can be used to control insects, weeds, vertebrate pests, and plant diseases while keeping health and environmental risks as low as possible. We will cover the basic steps of IPM which help you identify the pest and its impact, learn various control options available, and find the least toxic approach that will work. 

Become a UC Master Gardener