Topics in Subtropics

For the first time since the great freeze of '89-90, we have experienced a little more than minor damage to our crops. Compared to the San Joaquin Valley, Ventura country escaped without major damage; although there were some areas harder hit like the Ojai Valley and some canyons near Santa Paula.

Mature Orchards Only two general methods of protecting avocado groves have proved satisfactory - heaters and wind machines. A combination of these two also is used.

TYPES OF INJURY Fruit Damage Fruit damage consists of frozen stems, frozen fibers inside the fruit, or frozen flesh and skin, depending on the temperatures and their duration. This damage appears slowly and is difficult to appraise accurately.

Growing Avocados on Different Spacing SLO 2/4/14 @ Extension Office 1-3 p.m. Ventura 2/5/14 @ Extension Office 9-11 a.m. Fallbrook 2/6/14 @ Fallbrook Public Utility District 9-11 a.m. High Density in the Field and Uniconazole SLO 4/1/14 T.B.A. 1-3 p.m. Ventura 4/2/14 T.B.A. 9-11 a.m.

Dr. Gordon Frankie at UC Berkeley is teaming with me in Ventura County to jointly work on a pollination study for avocados. Dr. Frankie is studying how to increase native bee pollinators in avocado orchards.