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Lemon Tree
Sometime ago, I wrote about my sad lemon tree that had blossoms and no leaves. Well now it has one green stem with 2 leaves and a small lemon, yes a lemon!
If you remember this is the tree that I consulted a citrus grower, looked on the IPM web site, and contacted Lance Walhem, who wrote a book on citrus, and they were stumped as to what was going on with it and so they could not give me any information on what I could do.
So I decided to let it be and only water it, when I watered my other citrus. I did not even give it any fertilizer as I was sure it would not survive, and it is still a very sad looking tree. I am not sure it is going to survive, but maybe the tree has made the decision to try and survive.
I will be surprised if the lemon it has stays and continues to grow to maturity, but for now it has a lemon.
The lemon on the sad tree. (photo by Betty Victor)
Heat wave takes a toll on San Joaquin Valley agriculture
Six consecutive days of San Joaquin Valley temperatures topping out over the 100-degree mark are impacting agricultural production, reported Bob Rodriguez in the Fresno Bee.
Rodriguez talked to UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors to learn about the recent hot weather's effect on tree crops and grape vines.
"Trees and plants just seem to shut down when it gets this hot," said Kevin Day, University of California Cooperative Extension advisor in Tulare County. "And the fruit just doesn't ripen."
Grape growers face similar challenges when the mercury rises.
"Instead of producing sugar and enlarging the berries, the vines just maintain," said Stephen Vasquez, UCCE advisor in Fresno County, viticulture.
The high temperature around the Valley is expected to be about 101 today. More pleasant weather begins Saturday, when temperatures return to normal for this time of year, the mid- to upper 90s.
When the weather gets really hot, grapes go into survival mode.
Oh, the Critters We Overlook
Oh, the critters we overlook. If you have flowering artichokes, expect to see honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees and syrphid...
Mayfly, from the family Baetidae, rests on a flowering artichoke. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Long tail of the mayfly, family Baetidae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Riverside supervisors to include UC Riverside on new ag trail map
The online and printed Ag Trail map will locate many of the county's 1,700 dairies, farms, ranches, wineries, farmers markets, historical and cultural points of interest and UC Riverside agricultural research facilities.
"The idea is to promote agriculture, to promote the purchase of our products," said Tom Freeman, spokesman for the county Economic Development Agency. "We would target international visitors, domestic guests and our own residents."
Officials are aiming to complete the map by February 2013.
Plant Protectants?
My husband and I don't golf, but we went on a hike in May that included some golf paths in its first few miles. As we were walking along, we came across this sign. I was amazed and had to stop and take a picture. (Okay maybe I needed a little rest on the hike as well) I had never heard of the term, plant protectants, before. Doesn't it make you feel all warm and cozy? Sounds a lot better than herbicides and insecticides doesn't it? The solicitous grounds crew is busy protecting the plants, not the grass has just been sprayed with something that may be dangerous to you. Just goes to show you that marketing is everything.
Plant protectants sign. (photo by Karen Metz)
