Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Got Fruit?
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
What to do in a Desert Garden in April?
There are tips on what to do in the desert garden this month from the
University of Arizona College of Agriculture Maricopa County Extension
There's also a lot of other helpful information and FAQ's on that website.
Another site of interest on what to do in the garden here in the low
desert is John Chapman's site.
Climate Information for April in Phoenix, Arizona
Rainfall:- Average: 0.22 inches
Record: 3.4 inches (1926)
Temperature (degrees F):
- Average High: 84.5 degrees
Lowest High: 52 degrees
Record High: 105 degrees (1989, 1992)
Average Low: 55.3 degrees
Highest Low: 77 degrees
Record Low: 35 degrees (1922)
Note: Rainfall and temperatures vary widely within the valley depending upon elevation and microclimate.
To Do List . . .Fruit and Nut Trees
Plant Citrus Trees - Young two to five year old trees transplant most successfully. Larger, older trees are more costly, harder to transplant without injury (to yourself and the tree), and suffer more from transplant shock. It will generally be three years after transplant before fruit production and that is the same whether you plant a 2 year old tree or a 10 year old tree. Go small! Thin deciduous fruit to 6 inch spacing. The earlier this is done after fruit set, the more size response will be expected in fruit remaining on the tree.
Give special attention to deciduous fruit trees, provide adequate soil moisture for fruit sizing in the late April and May period.
Apply nitrogen and zinc to pecan trees to produce normal size leaf growth and to enhance kernel development. Pecans also need more water than most other shade trees.
Frosty winter nipped your herb garden? It is usually safe to prune winter damage from your herb plants anytime after mid-March - perfect now, if you haven't yet taken care of this garden chore. Inspect your Basil, Lemon grass, Peppers, Mexican Tarragon and other frost sensitive plants closely, looking for new growth emerging on the lower half of the plant. Use sharp shears to cut the plant back by 1/3 to 1/2 or more, down to healthy new side shoots. Top dress the plants with new compost and water well for a fresh start. Small white balls of frothy foam may show up on the new growth of some of your herbs in spring, especially on Rosemary, Sage and other woody perennial herb plants. These 1/4 - 1/2 inch "balls" are the protective hiding place for the nymph of a relatively harmless insect called a "spittlebug" (Philaenus sp.) which feeds on the plant's sap and uses the foam to hide itself from predators. Spittlebugs are easily rinsed off your plants with your garden hose.
Often in Spring, we find a Dill or Fennel plant in our garden loaded with aphids and their sticky mess. Aphids usually occur at low levels that are not very harmful to the plant - merely rinse them off with your garden hose and wash your picked herbs well before cooking with them. Insecticides are not generally recommended on herbs, since they are used for cooking. A weaker plant may become heavily infested - either pull and discard the plant, or leave it in your garden as a source of food (aphids) to attract ladybird beetles and other beneficial insects.
As the weather warms and days lengthen, adjust your irrigation timer to water more frequently. Be sure to run your system long enough to wet the top two feet of soil. Deep, infrequent watering is much better than a daily sprinkle. Tree water use, desert types being the exception, increases rapidly during this period of leafing out and gradually higher air temperatures.
Allow your wildflowers to go to seed. They will produce a natural healthy feast for birds as well as reseeding themselves to come up again in your yard next year.
Make plans for Arbor Day, The Last Friday in April
Most woodpecker damage occurs during the period of breeding and territory establishment, February through June
Continue fertilizing established roses, liquid fertilizers can be added at 2 week intervals, follow the directions on the container.Begin fertilizing Bermuda grass lawns during late April or early May. Follow the directions on the container.Plant Seeds - Beans (Lima & Snap), Black eyed Peas, Carrots, Cucumbers, Jicama, Melons (Cantaloupe, Muskmelon), Okra, Green Onions, Peanuts, Radishes, Summer Squash, Sunflowers
Plant Transplants
- Jerusalem Artichokes
Include edible and cut flowers in your vegetable garden. In addition to adding beauty they will attract beneficial insect pollinators which will increase your fruit set.
Do not prune citrus except to remove dead or damaged wood and branches obstructing pathways, views, or structures. Do not use pre-emergent herbicides in an area in which you intend to plant seeds.
Do not plant seeded Bermuda until the soil warms up in mid to late May.
Frequently Asked Questions
Damage is Noticed on the Fruit
Citrus fruit drop - The shed of newly set fruit is a natural thinning worsened by hot weather and dry winds. There is no cause for concern.
Low fruit set on deciduous trees (apples, pears, peaches, apricots pears)
- May be the result of a mild winter with minimal chilling hours. Be sure to plant varieties with less than 400 hours of chilling required for fruit set.
Tomatoes have a large soft rot at the blossom end of the fruit
There are large bright red and black or all black bugs on my fruit
Damage is Noticed on the Leaves
Citrus leaf drop Leaf Drop on Carob, African Sumac, Pine and other evergreen trees
- This is a natural seasonal occurrence as the weather warms.
Leaves are abnormally yellow but the veins are still green
Citrus leaves are curled and/or the fruit is slightly scarred.
Leaves of vegetables (particularly cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower etc.) being eaten by slug, cabbage looper, or birds.
There are lots of aphids, tiny insects, on my plants
A shiny little bug is destroying Mexican Evening Primrose, Dichondra, or vegetables
Something is devouring the grape leaves, only the veins remain.
There is a gray or white powdery substance on plants
Seedlings and bedding plants wilt and die suddenly
Damage is Noticed on the Stem or Trunk
There are lots of aphids, tiny insects, on my plants Saguaro cactus has large black patches that are oozing and smell terrible
Damage is Noticed on the Roots Cultural \ Environmental Questions Low fruit set on deciduous trees (apples, pears, peaches, apricots pears) - May be the result of a mild winter with minimal chilling hours. Be sure to plant varieties with less than 400 hours of chilling required for fruit set.
Tomatoes have a large soft rot at the blossom end of the fruit
Citrus fruit drop
- The shed of newly set fruit is a natural thinning worsened by hot weather and dry winds. There is no cause for concern.
Leaf Drop on Carob, African Sumac, Pine and other evergreen trees
- This is a natural seasonal occurrence as the weather warms.
Leaves are abnormally yellow but the veins are still green
Insect/Pest Questions There are large bright red and black or all black bugs on my fruit Citrus leaves are curled and/or the fruit is slightly scarred.
Leaves of vegetables (particularly cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower etc.) being eaten by slug, cabbage looper, or birds.
There are lots of aphids, tiny insects, on my plants
A shiny little bug is destroying Mexican Evening Primrose, Dichondra, or vegetables
Something is devouring the grape leaves, only the veins remain.
There are hundreds of small gray bugs in the yard, some are even coming in the house
Disease Questions There is a gray or white powdery substance on plants Seedlings and bedding plants wilt and die suddenly
Saguaro cactus has large black patches that are oozing and smell terrible
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