July Tips & Events for Santa Clara County | | “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. ”
~Audrey Hepburn | | |
These waterwise California native plant species and cultivars are showy and attractive to bees and butterflies. They share an unusual trait that is timely in the summer. Can you guess what it is? Pictured below from left to right (Calscape links):
| | Small Spaces Container Gardening | | If you’re short on gardening space, have poor soil, or must contend with critters like deer or gophers, have you considered growing vegetables and flowers in containers right on your balcony or patio? You can grow just about anything that grows in the ground in a container. We’ll show you how at our July 18 Grow a Garden Anywhere talk. Learn which plants thrive in containers, which container materials to choose, and how to master topics like watering, soil selection, and basic plant care. We’ll also cover practical gardening design tips to maximize your small space. Join us! | | Photo credit: Vaivirga / iStock | | Squash bugs are common pests that damage plants in the cucurbit family, such as pumpkin, watermelon, and squash. They feed on plants by using a straw-like mouthpart to pierce the surface and suck plant sap, causing water and nutrient loss. Look for adults and nymphs near the crown of the plant and under any protective cover. They will scatter when disturbed. Check for egg masses under leaves and destroy them. To reduce infestations, use row covers to protect young plants, remove old cucurbit plants after the harvest, and keep your garden free from debris and other overwintering sites. |
| Photo: An adult squash bug, by Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM |
| Deadheading means removing faded flowers and emergent seed pods from a plant by cutting the faded flower stem just above the first set of healthy leaves. Doing so can help keep your plants healthy and encourage some plants to rebloom. It redirects the plant’s energy from seed production to vegetative growth. You may not want to deadhead the plant if you want to keep some seeds for wildlife, allow seeds to spread and fill in other parts of your garden, or simply because you like the look of the dried flowers. |
| Photo: A hummingbird sage with flowers going to seed, by Ying Chen |
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If you plan to preserve your homegrown herbs, harvest them just before they flower, since flowering can sometimes make the leaves taste bitter. Harvest mid-morning on a sunny day after the dew has evaporated, when essential oils are most intense. New leaves at the tip of the plant contain the most concentrated flavor. Using clean scissors, snip stems just above a leaf or pair of leaves. Rinse herbs in cool water, shake to remove excess moisture, and pat them dry. You’re now ready to dry them or freeze them (see button link) — but save some to use fresh right now in your favorite summer recipes. | Photo credit: Timothé Durand / Unsplash | |
A bumper crop of tomatoes is every gardener’s reward — and challenge. Canning is a great solution, but tomatoes sit right at the edge of safe acidity for water-bath canning. Also, acidity can vary by variety, ripeness, and growing conditions in ways you can’t measure at home. To ensure safety, all tested recipes require adding an acidifier: typically bottled lemon juice (not fresh — store-bought has controlled, consistent acidity), 5% vinegar, or citric acid. Adding the right amount is simple and doesn’t noticeably affect flavor. Don’t skip acidification, even with recipes that worked fine in the past. | Photo: Canned pizza sauce made with homegrown tomatoes, by Mary Werthman | |
Quiz Answer: Summer Dry Plants
| | These plants are particularly well adapted to California’s dry summers and do not need summer irrigation once established. Watering on the root ball even during the height of summer can be enough to cause root rot. California natives rely on symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi that provide critical micronutrients and increase the absorptive capabilities of the plant’s roots. In exchange the fungi get carbon from the host native plant. Ill-timed watering creates favorable conditions for pathogens that can kill these mycorrhizae. This eventually causes the native plant to fail. | | Image: Nutrient exchanges and communication between a mycorrhizal fungus and plants, by Charlotte Roy, Salsero35, Nefronus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons | | More July Tips and To-Dos | | For more gardening tips and to-dos, visit the monthly tips archive on our website. It is perfect for browsing, and while you may recognize some of the content, you’re sure to find something new. It starts with to-dos for the month, just the thing to review before heading out to your garden. | |
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PADG Summer Vegetable and Fruit Trees: To Trim or Not To Trim, That Is the Question, Saturday, July 11, 10:00–11:30 am, Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto
Discover the Magic of Irises, Saturday, July 11, 10:30–11:45 am, Willow Glen Branch Library, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose
Don’t Squash That Bug! Recognizing Beneficial Insects in the Garden, Saturday, July 11, 11:00 am–12:30 pm, Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin Street, Mountain View
Unlock the Secrets of Seed Saving!, Saturday, July 11, 11:00 am–12:30 pm, Central Park Library,
2635 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara
Plant Clinic Online, Tuesday, July 14, 7:00–8:30 pm, Online
Growing Cool Season Vegetables Starting in Late Summer, Wednesday, July 15, 7:00–8:30 pm, Los Altos Library, 13 S San Antonio Road, Los Altos
Update on Asian Citrus Psyllid in California, Thursday, July 16, noon–1:00 pm, Online
MCP California Native and Succulent Sale, Saturday, July 18, 9:00 am–noon, Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose
MCP Starting Cool Season Vegetables From Seed, Saturday, July 18, 10:00–11:30 am, Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose
PADG Open Garden Saturdays, Saturday, July 18, 10:00 am–noon, Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto
Mysteries of Purple Veggies, Saturday, July 18, 10:30–11:30 am, Rose Garden Branch Library, 1580 Naglee Ave., San Jose
Container Confidence: Grow a Garden Anywhere!, Saturday, July 18, 11:00 am–noon, Campbell Library, 77 Harrison Avenue, Campbell
Learn to Compost To Improve Your Soil, Saturday, July 18, 11:00 am–12:30 pm, Milpitas Library, 160 North Main Street, Milpitas
STDG Top Habits of Happy and Successful Gardeners, Tips for Beginners, Saturday, July 18, 1:00–3:00 pm, Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, 433 Charles Street, Sunnyvale
GDG Discover the Magic of Irises, Sunday, July 19, 10:00–11:30 am, Guadalupe Community Garden, Asbury Street & Walnut Street, San Jose
Growing Your Own Cut Flower Garden, Sunday, July 19, 1:30–2:30 pm, Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto
PADG: What’s Wrong With My Tomatoes? Diagnosing Summer Vegetable Garden Problems, Saturday, August 1, 10:00–11:30 am, Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto
| | Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available. | | Interested in Composting? | | | | |
Composting produces soil-building organic materials for gardens. It also helps to divert organic waste from greenhouse gas-generating landfills. The University of California Cooperative Extension of Santa Clara County partners with cities and the county to offer composting education workshops to residents.
Check out these composting workshops on the Cooperative Extension website!
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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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