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The Digging ForkA Davis Garden Newsletter

May - June 2008

May June

Planting

see

Plant notes

Warm season vegetables:eggplant, sweet and chile

peppers, tomatillo, sweetpotato slips, tomato, basil

Warm season annuals:

coleus, petunia, lobelia,moss rose, celosia,impatiens and more

Perennials: all, butespecially frost tender

plantsWarm season bulbs

Warm season annuals

Perennials

Can still plant, but need tokeep plants well watered

until they are established.

Seeding

directly

into the

garden

see

Plant notes

Warm season vegetables:

beans (dry, snap, lima,yard long), cucumber,corn (all kinds), melon,okra, pumpkin, soybeans,summer/winter squash,watermelon, peanuts

Warm season annualssunflowers, tithonia,zinnias, scarlet runner

bean, cosmos and more

Warm season vegetables

beans (dry, snap),corn (sweet and baby),okra, melons, pumpkin,summer/winter squash.

(Snap beans & summer squashoften have disease problems,

a second planting willprolong the season)

Warm season annuals:see May

Fertilize Lawns as neededRoses after bloom

Lawns as needed

Look for nutrientdeficiencies especiallyiron and nitrogen.

Pest &

Disease

Control

Snails, slugs and earwigsdamage use baits or traps.Emerging seedlings andtransplants are the mostvulnerable!

Aphids. Can spray off withwater and watch for lady

beetle & parasitic wasps

Scale. Keep ants undercontrol with ant stakes andrub off scale insects

See May.

Taskssee

Plant notes

Prune deciduous shrubs andvines after they flower.They will soon start setting

buds for next spring.

Spring garden cleanupbegins. Cut back springblooming perennials, pullout cool season annuals,cut bulb foliage whenyellowing. Good time todig and mulch.

Thin stone fruits, covercherry trees (bird control)

Weed control continues!!Many plants benefit from

support: dahlias, peppers,tomatoes, eggplant, etc.Add stakes and/or cageswhen planting.

Lift ranunculus-leave dirton them and store in cool

place in open container

Spring garden cleanupcontinues (see May)

Stake dahlias and other tallplants that need support

Weed control continues!!

Tall, fall bloomers likemums, asters, perennialsunflowers, etc. can becut to 12 in late June toencourage branching andreduce plant height. This

may delay the bloomtime.

Water Water deeply andinfrequently to encouragedeep roots!!

Water compost piles.

This is the month of thehighest water needs due to

rapid plant growth and

warmer temperatures.

Water as needed.Deep water trees andshrubs.

silver sage Darcy sage

More SalviasIts May and that means once again it is time

to plant Salvias. The nurseries should have a goodselection and the last chance of frost is passed allowingfrost sensitive species to get established and thrive.With over 900 species of Salvias existing in the world,it can be difficult to narrow down to a few to plant inthe garden. Many salvias can add fragrance, attracthummingbirds and are happy with low water. Thesequalities can help in your selection.

Many salvias are known for their fragrance such asthe popular herb, garden sage, but others are equal ifnot more aromatic. If fragrance is a must in yourgarden here are several ideas. Grape-scented salviahas a wonderful grape scent when in flower earlyspring. Some people describe it as grape cool-aid.Two California native salvias, hummingbird sageand Cleveland sage have intense aromatic leaves thatcan be smelled from afar on hot days. White sage

leaves have been used for centuries for smudging whilepineapple sage leaves have a hint of pineapple andedible red flowers.

If summer watering is not possible or is sporadic,some salvias will thrive from this absence of water.Not surprisingly, these salvias are native to areas wheresummer rains are rare such as California, South Africaand Mexico. Good drainage during our winters isrequired, so planting in raised beds or on a slightmound can help. Brown flowering Salvia Africana-lutea, the California natives Cleveland sage and blacksage are good choices. Silver sage with fuzzy, whitish

leaves is also a lovely drought tolerant plant that makesa statement in the garden. White sage, discussedabove, is another great candidate for dry gardens.

Looking to attract hummingbirds to the garden?Salvias can lure them spring through fall. Mosthummingbirds prefer orange to red flowers but are alsoattracted to other hues. Darcy sage blooms late insummer until the first big frost with an abundance oforange-red flowers. Salvia microphylla is anothermagnet for hummingbirds. Of course thehummingbird and pineapple sages are also good

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choices. The blue flowered anise-scented sage alsoadds a great splash of blue to the garden.

May want to see another salvia article in The Digging

ForkMay-June 2007 issue.Good web site with lots of pictures:

http://www.californiagardens.com/Lists/salvia_list.htmSalvia book: Sages For Every Gardenby Betsy Clebsch

white sage hummingbird sage

Local classes and workshopsWoodland College Mini-courses:

Landscape Irrigation Systems May 9 to 17These courses are held Friday evenings and Saturdaymornings. For information 661-5720 www.yccd.edu

Master Gardener Educational WorkshopsSummer Pruning Fruit Trees Fruit Bush Culture

May 10, 9-11 am Woodland Community CollegeStarting Plants from Cuttings

June 14 9-10:30 am 70 Cottonwood, WoodlandWorkshops are free 666-8143http://ceyolo.ucdavis.edu/Gardening_and_Master_Gardening/

Woodland Library Rose ClubAll About Roses Saturday, May 10 1-5 pm

Woodland Public Library, Leake Room Cost $5Information Betty 662-6277

Davis Botanical SocietyButterflies, Native Plants, Invasive Weeds and YouSpeaker: Dr. Art ShapiroThursday, May 15, 7-8 pm Davis Public Library

Free. For more information 752-1091

Davis Central Park Gardens WorkshopsThe Magic of Mulch May 17, 9-10 amPlants to Attract Beneficial Insects to you Garden

May 17, 10:30-11:30

Identify Common Pests and Beneficial InsectsJune 7, 9-10 am

Water Wisely: How to Irrigate EffectivelyJune 7, 10:30-11:30

Free, more information http://www.centralparkgardens.org

City of Davis Worm and Garden CompostingFree compost bin by taking Davis Compost

Correspondence ClassInformation www.davisrecycling.org (530) 757-5686

Global Climate Change and Your BackyardCalifornia Center for Urban Horticulture May 30 and 31

$125(UCD Arboretum members), $150(general public)Information http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/events 752-6642

Plant sales and eventsUCD Arboretum

Lots of great guided tours and workshops coming up!!Email below to have a monthly reminder of events sent to youFor information 752-4880 www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu

Jepson Prairie Preserve Vernal Pool ToursSaturdays & Sundays, until May 11, 10 amInformation http://www.solanolandtrust.org (707) 432-0150

Davis Garden ClubHerbs - Rose Loveall, Morningsun Herb Farm May 19Garden Tea June 22For information 222-3052 www.davisgardenclub.org

Davis Flower ArrangersFlora Pacifica from Brookings, OregonTalk is about preserved and fresh wreaths and swags anddriftwood filled with succulents3101 Fifth St, Walnut Terrace Community Room. 756-6722

Plant Sales at The Gifted GardenerSaturday/Sunday May 3rd and 4th, May 17th and 18thSaturday/Sunday June 7th & 8th , June 14th & 15th9:30 am to 3 pm. 200 varieties of perennial plants.

18th and J Streets, Sacramento. Sales benefit local charities

Information GardenNotes@sbcglobal.net (916) 923-3745Friends of the Davis Library Book Sale

June 6 (noon-7 pm), 7 (10 am-5 pm), 8(10 am-3 pm)Often good finds on gardening books! Info. 758-4754

Pence Garden TourSunday May 4 12 noon to 5 pmFor information http://www.pencegallery.org/

Cleveland sage Allen Chickering tricolor sage

~ Garden Intern Needed ~For a few years now, Patricia has tried to have a paid intern one day a week.The intern learns about plants, garden maintenance, irrigation, propagation,etc. and Patricia gets a bit of help in the garden. Days and hours areflexible. If this sounds interesting to you, send an email to Patricia.

anise-scented sage Salvia African-lutea

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Plant notes!Here is more information about some plants mentioned in this newsletter.

Salvias:anise-scented sage Salvia guaranitica 4-5tall, sun to part shade.

Dies back to the ground each winter, but fast growing in spring.

black or honey sage Saliva mellifera Drought tolerant CA nativewith very fragrant foliage. Loose, floppy growth habit up to 3-5 high.White to pale lavender flowers, attracts bees . Does best in full sun andgood drainage.

Cleveland or CA blue sage Salvia clevelandii Woody CA nativeshrub 3-5 tall and wide with pale lavender flowers in early summer. Fullsun, good drainage needed. Cultivars include Winnifred Gilman andAllen Chickering.

Darcy or Galeana sage Salvia darcyi Red flowers bloom summeruntil frost. Does best in full sun. Dies completely to the ground in winter

but will grow back up to 3 in spring. Dont cut plant back till spring.

garden or common sage Salvia officinalis 1-4 tall, culinary. Manycultivars are ornamental as well, including Tricolor, Icterina,Purpurascens and Berggarten

grape-scented sage Salvia melissodora Woody shrub up to 6 highand 4 wide with lavender flowers spring until frost. Takes full sun andneeds good drainage. Native to Mexico. Attracts butterflies andhummingbirds.

hummingbird sage Salvia spathacea Evergreen 3 tall herbaceousplant. CA native with fuchsia colored flowers that bloom all spring.Prefers partial shade and humus soil. Spreads by underground rhizomes.

pineapple sage Salvia elegans Red flowers bloom in late summer untilfrost. Can reach 4-5 tall. Flowers are edible. Needs full sun. Cut plant

back in spring when new growth appears.

purple or gray sage Salvia leucophylla Arching, evergreen woodyCA native shrub. Flowers are pale purple and bloom in early to midspring. Plant reaches 3-5 tall and wide.

Salvia African-lutea 3tall woody evergreen shrub from South Africa.Flowers emerge yellow and turn brownish-orange. Full sun and gooddrainage required.

Salvia microphylla Woody evergreens shrub 3-4 tall. Blooms in springand then again in summer. Does best in full sun. Many color variations of

pinks and reds.

silver sage Salvia argentea Has basal growth of fuzzy silver leaves.Flower stalk emerges and blooms in spring. Cut flower stalk off beforeseeds set to prolong plants life. Biennial or short lived perennial. Needsfull sun and good drainage.

white sage Salvia apiana 4-5 tall evergreen woody shrub with whiteto pale lavender flowers. Needs full sun and excellent drainage. Veryaromatic foliage used for smudging.

Warm season vegetables:basil Easy to find transplants in the nurseries. If there are many seedlings

in the pot, separate before planting. Protect seedlings from snails, slugsand earwigs with baits. Keep leaves picked to prevent flowering.

beans (snap, dry and lima) Best direct seeded in the garden as theygerminate and grow quickly. Snap beans can be bush or pole type. Pole

beans twine counter clockwise, important when helping on a trellis.

corn Wind pollinated so best planted in blocks (except baby corn thatnever gets pollinated). Leave suckers to increase photosynthesis as thereis no change in yield. Baby corn is usually a popcorn variety. A favoriteis Chires Baby available from Seeds of Change. Harvest when silksfirst appear and cob is in diameter. If this window is missed, the cobs

can be allowed to mature and dry for popcorn or decoration.cucumber Some think bitterness is caused by uneven watering, others

think it is genetically controlled. There are burpless, vine and bushcultivar. Tendrils grab onto a trellis, large tomato cages work well. Thefirst 10-20 flowers are male and dont produce cucumbers.

eggplant Plant when daily air temperature is above 70 deg. F. They needlots of sun and water! If plants are stressed, they wont set fruit.

peanut Spanish and Valencia types need shorter growing season thanVirginia types. The fertilized flower produces a peg that growsdownward into the soil which needs to be easy for the peg to penetrate.Can use raw supermarket peanuts for seed, shell before planting. Harvestwhole plant when leaves turn yellow, hang 2-3 weeks to dry.

peppers Afternoon shade best as peppers burn easily in our hot sun. Canalso plant peppers deep. Support plants, they break from heavy fruit.

tomatoes Plant deep with only a few leaves showing, roots will form onthe stem.

Garden record keepingWhen gardeners visit a garden, whether public or

private, there are questions that are often asked.-What is that plant?-When was it planted? How big will it get?-I want that plant! Where did you get it?

This is when the owner of the garden or tour guide relieson his/her memory or some sort of record keeping.

Keeping track of what is in the garden, when it wasplanted and other important information usually isnt onthe mind of most beginning gardeners. They are stilltrying to grow the plant successfully. However,keeping records can help you become a better gardener.For instance, if a plant isnt growing well and furtherresearch is needed you may need to know the plantsscientific name, as common names arent reliable. Thiswill help both with looking it up in a book or askinganother knowledgeable gardener.

Garden record keeping is as individual as gardens.There are many ways to keep the information you mayneed about the garden and/or plants. These include plant

labels, computer lists, binders of notes and gardenjournals.

Plant labels: copper, zinc (and replacement label), aluminum with wire,plastic (yellow with pencil, white with label maker, from nursery, smallwhite for seedlings) , laminated with wire holder (detail of wire), wooden

Plant Labels. One advantage to plant labels is that the plant name is with the plant in the garden. Other info,including date planted, size, flower color, maintenance needsand even where it came from can also be recorded. This isespecially nice when you have planted a plant you just metand are still getting to know. The disadvantages of plantmarkers is that they can get easily broken, lost (end up in thecompost pile) and/or the information disappears off themarker.

There are many types of plant labels and the type neededis often dictated by whether it is important to be able to readit easily when walking by or if it is ok to bend down to read

the label. Most are made of metal, plastic or wood.Information can be put on labels in many ways including #2 pencil, permanent marker, grease pencil, label makers,engraver, paint pen, or using laser computer printers. Pencilis the most permanent, but not easy to read. Permanentmarkers do fade, even those made for horticultural use.Grease pencils dont last forever. Label makers can produceplastic labels that adhere to either plastic or metal and areeasy to read and last many years.Zinc labels with galvanized legs. Patricias favorite are the10 inch rose markers. Use #2 pencil to write on both sides.The writing can be immediately erased and corrected butover time the pencil and metal react to make it verypermanent. It is possible to use a permanent marker to write

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over the pencil for easier reading. Our water, full of salts,may make the writing difficult to read, but a little spit orwater will solve the problem. The zinc label part can be purchased separately. A good source is Eon Industries(www.eonindustries.com 419-533-4961). Before using,spread the legs and crimp the label with pliers .Copper labels. These are similar to the above zinc labels butmore expensive. The copper can be indented with a pen.Aluminum identification markers. These are easily etched

on both sides with a pen or pencil. They can be wired,stapled, or nailed. The wire is really thin and can bereplaced with tie wire. These are especially useful forlabeling irrigation valves.Plastic. The disadvantage is that breakage is inevitable withexposure to sun. Pencil is the most permanent for marking,however a label maker or permanent marker is easier to read.Printing with a laser printer is another option.Wood. Similar to plastic in that they dont last foreverbecause they will eventually rot.Laminated plant labels. These are usually printed on paperand then laminated in a plastic sleeve which is easy to do atlocal copy shops. They are flexible in layout and

information and are easy to read but the plastic eventuallywill need to be replaced. 12 gauge galvanized wire can beused to make holders. A leather punch works well for holes.

Other types of record keeping. Another way to keeprecords is to use files or binders, garden journals or acomputer file for plant information. The advantage is that itis possible to keep more information than on a plant label.Many gardeners do both. Some methods are easier thanothers for transporting the information to the garden ornursery when needed.Binder or file. Many gardeners devote a page or two to each plant with information including where the plant was purchased, when planted, plant characteristics and

information for growing requirements. Photos, seed packages and observations can also be included. Forvegetables, harvest information is useful. The binder or filesystem might make sense divided by subject. Possibilitiesinclude trees and shrubs, flowers, vegetables , pest problems,plants you want to grow, garden maps, irrigation (layout andwatering schedules) weather information, general gardennotes, newspaper and magazine articles, useful websites,nursery information..Garden journals. Journals are often more about the gardenin general, what is blooming, weather trends and generalobservations rather than detailed information about plants.Many garden journals are available to purchase but areusually very structured and may not meet your specificneeds. Lee Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com 1-800-871-8158) has a 10 year garden journal, perfect for weatherinformation and just a couple observations daily. It is fun tosee how the garden changes over time and what is blooming.Computer records. Plant lists can be easily compiled usingthe computer. The Excel program allows for lots offlexibility, sorting, etc. It is easy to print a plant list andcarry it to the garden or nursery.Is there such a thing as recording too much information?

Absolutely!! It does take awhile for gardeners to figure

out just what information is useful. We dont want to

spend all our time recording useless information -- we

need time to enjoy our garden, too!

More gardening tips!Tomato control. Putting tomato cages around yourtomatoes is not good enough to keep them under control.Every few days, the tips of the branches need to be pushedinto the center of the cage to prevent them from growingoutside. Trying to weave the branches through the cageoften results in them breaking. It is a good idea to stakeyour cages to prevent them from tipping when plants get big

and heavy with fruit.

When to clean up bulb foliage.

Bulbs ready to clean up: tulips, daffodils, naked lady

Now is the time to start cleaning up the withering foliage of

many bulbs. Spring flowering bulbs of daffodils, tulips,freesia, Spanish bluebells, etc. and summer/fall flowering bulbs like naked ladies and spider lilies (flowers come upfirst and then the foliage grows during the winter) arestarting to yellow and flop over. There is no need to waituntil leaves are completely dead and brown. We want theleaves to photosynthesize and store energy in the bulbs butwhen the leaves start to decline, they can be cut or gentlywiggled out a few at a time. This is a great time to loosenthe ground around the bulbs with a digging fork. If you diga bulb up, just replant it. Summer annuals can now beplanted over and around the bulbs.

Do you have a red rose growing in your yellow one?Many roses are grafted onto hardy rootstock. Sprouts belowthe graft usually have red flowers, but also sometimes whiteand rootstock leaves are usually very different from thegraphed rose leaves. These rootstock sprouts need to be cutoff as they take energy away from the desired plant and ifignored can take over the grafted rose.

Staking dahlias is a personal preference. Some gardenersdont mind them flopping and growing among the other plants but others want straight stems for cutting An easyway to keep them upright is with a large tomato cage.

Newsletter created by:Marlene Simon -- UCD graduate in HorticulturePatricia Carpenter -- Gardening Coach (Design and Education),

with 35 years of Davis gardening experience.

The bi-monthly newsletter is free if received by email. If mailed,the cost is $15 per year. To be added to the subscription list or tounsubscribe, contact us at: TheDiggingFork@gmail.com

Ace Hardware now sells

Presto compost bins!!

The Digging Fork May-June2007 issue talks about turning yardwaste into compost using these bins.