What to Do in the Garden
Plants are growing quickly this month! Although we are seeing longer (and drier) days, temperatures can still vary unpredictably. Many California natives bloom this time of year, such as Pacific Coast iris, monkeyflower, poppies and lupin. Enjoy the wildflowers and fragrant foliage of your California native plant garden!
No surprise: It's another drought year. Watch for guidance about water usage in your water district when planning your garden. Perennials and California native plants require supplemental water their first year until they get established. Because of continued drought, adding mulch and compost to condition the soil to retain moisture is a must as we head toward summer.
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- In case you missed our class about spring pests, here is a link to the slide show presentation.
- Stay on top of the gophers as it is breeding season. You can catch multiple gophers in a single run. Managing the gopher population now pays dividends later in the year Here is a pocket gopher Pest Note.
- Because birds can be a problem, sow a generous amount of seed when direct seeding. You can opt to cover the area with reemay or other agri-fabric to exclude them--you can always thin seedlings later.
- Aphids adore crops such as cabbages, kales, collards and mustards. While mature plants can handle a light infestation, young plants can get overwhelmed quickly. Check plants for infestations twice a week. Tip: Take a flashlight tour of your garden at night to catch slugs, snails and other critters you might not see otherwise!
- Using insecticidal soap: Insecticidal soaps work by clogging the breathing holes along the sides of soft-bodied insects and is most effective on sedentary insects like aphids, mites, and mealybugs when their populations grow to intolerable levels. Spray in the evening to avoid hitting flying pollinators and beneficial insects.
- Remove weeds before they flower and set seed so the population remains manageable. For continued weed suppression, lay down cardboard on weeded paths and cover with several inches of woodchips.
- Adding compost and mulch to your garden will help retain moisture in the soil through the warm, dry months. Keep mulch at least 6" away from tree trunks. Read about benefits and drawbacks of different types of mulches. And don't miss our note about mulching tips.
- Local planting schedules are listed in Resources.
- It's time to start planting seed indoors for summer vegetables. In case you missed our class here is our presentation about starting your summer vegetable garden.
- Plant cool-season vegetables, such as cabbage, cauliflower, cabbage, fennel, kales, lettuce, peas, spinach, Swiss chard and Asian greens, through early spring. However, unseasonal warm temperatures may cause some vegetables (and herbs, such as cilantro) to bolt early. Look for slow-to-bolt varieties.
- In our area, you can plant beets, radishes and carrots nearly year-round. (During our warmest months, find a cooler spot in the garden.)
- Cabbages "head up" and become very firm when they are ready to harvest.
- Carrots and beets "shoulder up"--you'll see it poke out about the soil line. Carefully push the soil around the top of vegetable with your finger to see they are sizing up. It is important to thin if your plants are too crowded so the remaining plants size up properly, and to water consistently. Beet greens can be eaten and used like chard.
- Plant perennial vegetables such as artichokes.
- If you planted asparagus crowns, resist the urge to harvest spears the first year and harvest lightly the second year. They require 2-3 years to develop a strong root system. Persevere and your asparagus will feed your family for many years to come. .
Evergreen Tips
- If you are reusing planting containers, wash with mild soap and water to clean it. Disinfect planting containers with a 10% bleach solution, meaning 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
- Remove diseased plant material (or and discard them in your green waste can. Do not add diseased plant material to your home compost or leave them in your garden beds. Some pests and diseases can overwinter!
- Run your irrigation system and make repairs and seasonal adjustments.
- If you need help determining how to deal with pests or disease, please submit a help request with photos at our gardening advice line.
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Mulching Tips
In a drought year like this one, using some kind of mulch to protect the soil, reduce weeds, and retain water is VERY important. Mulching retains up to 80% of added moisture in the soil, so can significantly reduce garden water requirements.
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Mulching with fresh straw or wood chips, which contain a lot of carbon, on the surface of your soil can leach nitrogen OUT of the soil.
Straw (and wood) is composed mainly of carbon. Breaking down high-carbon plant material requires nitrogen. Plant growth also requires nitrogen. If your soil has too little nitrogen to begin with, your plants can actually be robbed of nutrients rather than fertilized by the straw mulch.
That is why partially decomposed straw, or “spent hay”, is a good compromise. Alternatively, supplement soil nitrogen with fertilizer to provide enough for both the plants and the carbon-rich mulch.
RESOURCES
https://marinmg.ucanr.edu/BASICS/MULCH/
https://marinmg.ucanr.edu/BASICS/MULCH/Applying_Mulch/
Photo: Organic mulch. Photo credit: UCANR
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Pest Spotlight: Whiteflies
Whiteflies are tiny, sap-sucking insects that may become abundant in vegetable and ornamental plantings, especially during warm weather. They excrete sticky honeydew and cause yellowing or death of leaves.
Learn more about the different types of whiteflies and how to manage them
Photo: Whiteflies and eggs on the underside of a leaf.
Photo credit: Jack Kelly Clark. (UCANR)
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We offer online classes at no cost (unless otherwise noted), though donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Feel free to register for our online classes, even if you cannot attend live. All registered attendees receive a link to the online class recording along with a copy of the presentation and any handouts via email.
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Spring Plant Sale Starts April 18
Are you ready to get some new plants in the garden? Our online pop-up nursery opens April 18 and runs through May 1.
Your local, friendly UC Master Gardeners have been hard at work propagating a wide variety of plants across the tri-County area. Already our Salinas shadehouse is bursting at the seams with plants ready to go into the ground.
Garden-ready summer vegetables include greens, lettuces, onions, peppers, squash and heirloom and hard-to-find varieties of tomatoes. Our spring collection features several types of basils and culinary varieties of popular kitchen herbs for summer recipes and teas.
Drought-tolerant and water-wise plants, such as California natives and succulents, will also be available, along with annual and perennial pollinator plants to add biodiversity and attract beneficial insects to your garden.
Place your order online and schedule a pick up appointment in Salinas. We look forward to meeting you when you pick up your order!
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Container Gardening Basics
When: April 27, 5 - 6:30 pm (online)
Cost: Free. Donations appreciated.
Home gardeners with small spaces, balconies or large yards can enjoy growing plants in a variety of vessels. UC Master Gardeners Sue Procter and Anastatia Foster will cover container types and sizes, potting soils and amendments, light and water requirements, pruning and integrated pest management techniques to support a thriving container garden. 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.
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Container Gardening Basics & Beyond
When: April 30, 10:00 am - noon
Where: UC Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden - Watsonville
Cost: $30. Limited to 30 attendees.
In addition to the material covered in Container Gardening Basics, this in-person class addresses plant size, color and texture combinations within a container planting. Have you ever found a pot you would love to plant but could not because there was no drainage hole? Join us for a hole drilling demo to see how easily a drainage hole can be added to almost any pot.
This class take place at our demonstration garden in Watsonville and has a limit of 30 attendees.
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Vermiculture: Composting with Worms
When: May 4, 5-6:30 pm (online)
Cost: Free. Donations appreciated.
Do you know that with the help of red wiggler worms you can turn your kitchen scraps into homemade compost? Learn how you can recycle your food waste into a valuable resource for your garden from UC Master Gardener and UC Master Composter, Bridget Matz.
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2022 Garden Tour
When: Saturday, June 11, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz County (Live Oak to Aptos)
On this year's garden tour through mid-County Santa Cruz, we are highlighting gardens which are not only beautiful but are water-wise. Stay subscribed for more details and a sneak peek at some of the featured gardens!
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Do you have specific gardening questions? Ask a Master Gardener!
Visit our website to use online form to get Advice to Grow By!
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Planting Schedules: Santa Cruz County (PDF) | Monterey County (PDF)
Class Resources
Our collection of class resources features links to our online classes, presentations and handouts, including Irrigation Basics, Backyard Composting, California Native Plant Seed Collecting, Container Gardening with Veggies and more.
Soil Health: Introduction to Healthy Soil
Growing Berries: Growing Berries in Your Backyard
Growing Deciduous Fruit Trees: California Backyard Orchard | Fruit Tree Maintenance Calendar for Home Orchards
Growing Citrus: California Backyard Orchard: Citrus
Growing Vegetables: California Garden Web Guide to Growing Vegetables | Plant Diseases for Vegetables and Melons
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