Alfalfa is an important crop in California and the Delta. California ranks first in alfalfa production nationwide, and in the Delta, alfalfa is one of the top three crops by acreage, occupying approximately 10 percent of the land area.
California farmers grow a variety of dry beans, including baby and large limas, blackeyes, kidneys, and garbanzos, among others. Variety development, pest management, irrigation, and fertility are important production considerations.
Small grains are important crops in the Delta because they provide a winter rotation and generally have salinity tolerance. Variety selection, nitrogen fertility, and pest management are important considerations for small grains production.
Corn is one of the leading crops in the Delta by acreage. While most of the corn grown in California is for silage, most of the corn grown in the Delta is for grain.
Most of California's rice is grown in the Sacramento Valley, but production also occurs in the Delta region. Certain challenges, like cooler in-season conditions, and opportunities, like sequestering carbon in muck soils, are unique to Delta rice production.
On January 1 of this year a new law went into effect in California, greatly limiting the use of a pesticide class known as neonicotinoids. Originally developed in the 1980's, these pesticides became the most widely used class of insecticides in the world.
Companion planting and intercropping are two planting methods that include growing a variety of plants in close proximity. When we grow different types of vegetables, herbs, and flowers together, they can work together to create a healthier and more productive garden.
Whether today's temperature is low enough might seem like a funny question to ask, but if you are growing fruit trees or berries, it's important to wonder if it's cold enough. Sufficient cold temperatures can mean the difference between an abundant fruit crop or little-to-no flowers or fruit.
Our previous HORT COCO blog (December 17, 2024) focused on caring for live holiday plants, including live Christmas trees. This article will focus on how to plant and care for a live tree after the holidays.
Note: This was originally published in the Contra Costa Times. Q: I like to decorate my home at the holidays with poinsettias and other holiday plants, but they don't last very long.
