We've moved!

To try and simplify things a little and to get with the times, we have integrated our blog and website! From now on you can find our blog here:

http://www.goodlifegarden.ucdavis.edu/blog/

Thanks so much for reading!
 

Does sprinkling tomato plants with seawater increase their nutritional value?

by Zuhayr Mallam, founder of the UC Davis Diabetes Advocacy and Awareness Group (DAAG). For more information about this group, visit their website.

Tomatoes are among the most popular items in American gardens today and are commonly used in many types of salads and sauces. They have an especially rich history at UC Davis (see the “square tomato” and other tomato research on campus) and thrive in the Sacramento Valley, due to the prime tomato-cultivating summer climate.

Image taken from the Gillaspy Lab webpage at Virginia Tech University

Tomatoes are high in antioxidants, which are thought to help fight cancer, prevent heart disease, slow aging, and confer a host of other health benefits. And although it has been long held that salt is harmful to soil, several studies conducted worldwide have shown that spraying tomato plants with diluted – approximately 10% saline – seawater can actually increase their nutritional value and taste! The salt in seawater is thought to produce stress in tomato plants, which respond by producing more antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and chlorogenic acid, as well as other taste-enhancing chemicals – albeit it makes the fruit somewhat smaller. Many are still concerned about salt causing soil degradation and rendering some seawater-treated tomatoes inedible, but scientists cite that plants thrive in balanced soil containing both macro– and micronutrients.

This theory is still much up in the air, but it is good food for thought. A major potential benefit of this method would be providing irrigation for crops in areas with freshwater restrictions and shortages as well as malnourishment.

Hmm… This may be an interesting opportunity for a summer science experiment! Let us know if you decide to give it a try.

As always, consult a medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle or diet!

"I saw the sign..."

...and it opened up my eyes... to all the different types of trellises involved in viticulture!

If you haven't gone by the garden recently, check out the new sign we've installed that provides some great information about the awesome teaching vineyard on the west side of the RMI.

If you can't make it to the garden, click here to view a larger pdf.
Or if you just want a few tidbits, here are some fun facts:

• There are eight different areas or "blocks" of grape vines in the new vineyard dedicated to different donors, trellising systems, and types of grapes.
• There are many different trellis types and trellising techniques based on a variety of factors such as grape variety, climate, and method of harvest.
• The Harry E. Jacob Variety Demonstration Block in the Teaching Vineyard is a reference collection featuring over 300 of the world's major grape varieties and is arranged by country, region and variety.
• Ampelography is the area of botany that identifies and classifies grapevines.  It means "grape vine identification" in Greek.  Students are trained in the Ampelography block which features examples of the most widely-planted wine grapes in California.
• The vineyard also includes a table grape block featuring current and historic grape varieties not used for wine such as Crimson Seedless, Autumn Royale, Malaga and Muscat of Alexandria.

And just in case you don't know:

Vi•ti•cul•ture - n. : the cultivation or culture of grapes
Enol•o•gy - n. :a science that deals with wine and wine making
(from the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology website)

Visit the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Program website for more info as well!

A Beautiful Friday in the Garden

APHID UPDATE: The aphids have now moved on to cabbage and chard and Pat is fighting what seems to be a losing battle! She said that with the advent of the warmer weather and sunshine that the aphid population seems to be exploding. Her advice: just be diligent and continue spraying with the Safer Soap as much as possible, as well as following the other tips from our previous post.   And pay attention to all of your tasty leafy veggies - not just kale- because they are definitely not immune either!

Yep... the aphids have gotten to the cabbage.  Now that's nasty!

This poor little kale plant was stunted from all of the aphid damage!

Other than the bad news on the aphid front, everything else in the garden is doing well and it is a beautiful sunny day! The artichokes are sprouting, the calendula adds a vibrant touch of orange all over the garden, and the newly planted radishes and nasturtiums are starting to sprout!  Enjoy some recent photos below and have a great weekend!

The calendula is spectacular right now!

Now I want a Greek salad!

 

Maybe the chard is starting to have an aphid problem too, but it is all over the garden and still looks delicious to me!

The purple hues of the kale and cabbage complement each other nicely, don't you think?

Pat is working diligently away at spraying the kale with the Safer Soap to rid it of aphids.

Go, Mr. Ladybug, go!  Eat those aphids so I can eat this delicious artichoke.

Ok so these aren't in the garden, but are so spectacular I had to share them anyway.  The tulip trees on campus are breathtaking right now!

Spring Gardening Tips

Spring is almost here!  The vernal equinox is on March 20 and marks the beginning of spring in the northern  hemisphere.  Here are some gardening tips to get ready for the season from "The Yolo Gardener" Spring 2011 Newsletter--a quarterly publication by the UC Yolo County Master Gardeners, by Master Gardener Linda Parsons. Thank you Linda for these great tips!

Yum!  Can't wait for peaches this year!  Make sure to get out there and trim and treat your fruit trees before buds swell.  Image from edenbrothers.com.

SPRING CLEANING

• Prune foliage and branches damaged by winter.  If you haven't yet pruned your roses and fruit trees this is the last month to get them ready for spring bloom.  Don't put it off any longer!
• Take care of weeds now before they take over.
• Remove old growth from perennials and dig and divide crowded plants. 

 FERTILIZING, COMPOSTING and MULCHING

• Begin cultivating your perennials - loosening soil once it is dry enough - and add soil amendments such as compost, peat moss and organic fertilizer. 
• Be sure to use fertilizer recommended for each plant type.  Too much nitrogen will make plants grow too quickly, producing weaker growth.
• Care for roses and fruit trees by adding rose food and soil amendments, as well as a cup of alfalfa pellets and two tablespoons Epsom salt to each rose plant.  This will help the roses produce more basal breaks (new growth) and chlorophyll.
• Mulch your garden to a depth of 3 inches to reduce weeds and require less watering.

  PLANTING

• Start your plant selection: 
• Pansies, violas, Dianthus, Iceland poppies, primroses and plant candytuft are all early blooming annuals.  
• Bulbs, corns and tubers like cannas, begonias, lilies and dahlias can be planted now.
• Some good shade plant selections include astilbe, columbine, coral bells, Dicentra, Foxglove, Hostas, Nepeta, Pulmonaria and ferns.



Primroses are one of the earliest spring flowers, and are often a common sight at Victorian cottage-style gardens. Image from hortmag.com




• A good drought tolerant selection can include Russian sage, Muhlenbergia, rabbit's tail grass, Buddleia, echinacea, rudbeckia and gallardia.
• Remember to lightly fertilize and mulch after planting!  Plants will do better if they are planted at or slightly above grade.

Rabbit or bunny's tail grass is a great drought-tolerant selection, and it's cute!  Image from lilacsandroses.blogspot.com.

DISEASE AND PEST CONTROL

• Due to above average rainfall, there are going to be more insects and diseases this year, so keep an eye out for early fungal diseases and aphids.
• March is your last opportunity to spray fruit trees with dormant (lime-sulfur) spray before buds swell to get rid of wintering fungus and spores.
• Check plants regularly (especially roses) for black spot, rust and mildew.  Also check for slugs, snails and earwigs, as well as aphids, mites thrips and scale with the advent of warmer weather.  Keep these harmful insects in check by planting yarrow, alyssum, feverfew, dill, parsley, coriander, penstemon and asters to attract beneficial insects.
• Visit ipm.ucdavis.edu if you want to use commercial pesticides.

LAWN CARE

• Check your irrigation system to make sure your lawn is getting enough water.  Increase the water amount as the days get longer and warmer.
• Re-seed thin areas and begin your fertilizing and mowing schedule.  Try applying a light topcoat of compost to improve lawn growth and health.

 MAINTENANCE

• Stake tall growing perennials and vegetables before they start bending over in late spring.
• Later on in the season thin fruit trees, leaving four to five inches in between each fruit to help remaining fruit mature properly and to keep branches from being over-weighted which can cause splitting.
• Deadhead spent flowers to ensure a long blooming season.
• Plant containers with annuals and herbs.

To read the unabridged version of this article go to their website and download the Spring 2011 newsletter here.  You can also sign up to receive this newsletter by entering your email address at the top of this page.

FREE Gardening Classes from Local Experts!

Gardeners and wannebe gardeners!  Mark your calendars!  Here is a list of FREE classes being offered by our local area Master Gardeners!  I can taste the freshly picked produce now...yum!

SOLANO COUNTY
Worm Composting
Date: March 17, 2011
Time: 7 - 8 PM
Location:  Vacaville Library Cultural Center
1020 Ulatis Drive
Vacaville, CA
more info...

Vegetable Gardening Seminar
Highlights: How to start a vegetable garden with information on seeds, transplanting, irrigation, double-digging and composting.
Date: March 26, 2011
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
Location:
Benicia Community Garden
E. 2nd St. and Military East
Benicia, CA
(Behind the Heritage Presbyterian Church)
more info...

Sustainable Landscaping Seminar
Date: April 16, 2011
Time: 1 - 3:30 PM
Location:
Solano Community College
Horticulture Building 1000
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Fairfield, CA
more info...

YOLO COUNTY
Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Workshop 
Highlights:  Plant sale, basic vegetable gardening & tomato growing tips
Date: April 2, 2011
Time: 9 AM to 1 PM
Location:
Woodland Community College Horticultural Center
2300 East Gibson Road
Woodland, CA
more info...

Got Allergies?  Plants to Consider Using in Your Garden
Date: April 9, 2011
Time: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location:
Meet at the Central Park Gardens in Davis at 4th and C Streets
more info...

Backyard and Worm Composting
Date: April 16, 2011
Time: 9 AM - 11 AM
Location:
Woodland Community College Horticultural Center
2300 East Gibson Road
Woodland, CA
more info...
Still need more information about any of these events?  Contact the Master Gardener secretary at 530-666-8143.

2011 is the Year of the Vegetable!

 2011 has been named Year of the Vegetable by Mr. George Ball, president of the W. Atlee Burpee Company.  (The cynic in me thinks, well isn't that convenient...you sell vegetable seeds, so why not make every year "Year of the Vegetable," right?)  But I read on to become inspired!  Here is a quote from the newsletter:

Eighteen years ago as president of the American Horticultural Society, [Mr. George Ball] initiated a successful children's gardening program. He now wants to inspire all of America to at least develop a starter garden. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control shows that only 26 percent of Americans eat at least three servings of vegetable a day. With child obesity at an all-time high, Mr. Ball advocates a nutritional diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. It has been found that kids who grow vegetables alongside their parents eat them regularly and with gusto.

Not too shabby, eh?  My nephew is five and I don't believe he has ever willingly eaten a vegetable.  My sister sneaks vegetable nutrients into his 'milkshakes' in the morning.  This has kept him incredibly healthy, active, fit, and smart as a whip, but I wonder if he would be more into eating his veggies if he grew some on his own.  I'm going to get him started on this project when I go down to SoCal for a visit in April.

Do you have kids who grow their own fruits and vegetables?  Do you agree with Mr. Ball's assessment?  Tell us your stories!