Contra Costa

Irrigation is not a set and forget' thing. Your watering schedule should be adjusted each season (at least four times each year) as water needs in the landscape vary greatly from season to season.

Q: Can I use the graywater from my washing machine to water my vegetable garden and fruit trees? A: There are two key considerations, discussed below, relating to the use of graywater in the garden: what is meant by the term graywater and on what plants to use it.

A poet once said, A weed is but an unloved flower. Sometimes though, a weed, an insect, or a four-legged critter can become a dangerous pest. In a state like California where so much of our economy is agriculturally based, these pests can wreak havoc.

Do your tomato plants suffer from lack of vigor, yellowing leaves, and poor fruit production? These symptoms are associated with many different problems, including lack of soil nutrients, excess salts in the soil or irrigation water, poor drainage or waterlogged soil, or a variety of plant diseases.

As tomato growers, we might consider any ailing tomato to have a disease. That would end up making this blog post really, really long.

It's July and the tomatoes in your garden are finally starting to ripen. One afternoon you notice the first ripe one is nearly ready to be picked.

Have you noticed tomatoes that have round, water-soaked spots on the bottom? Blossom end rot (BER) is a frustrating problem that can be quite common in vegetable gardens, as it can affect tomatoes, peppers, and squash. You might notice it after a few very hot days.

According to someone who knows such things, grapes are one of the most widely cultivated fruit crops in the world. Worldwide, there are over 10,000 different varieties, and whether one's interest is ambience, erosion control, raisins, jelly, table munchies, or wine, grapes nicely fit the bill.

When I first started growing tomatoes, I was reluctant and nervous about pruning my tomato plants for fear I would be doing it incorrectly. After 9 years of growing, I have learned that it is one of the best practices to include in your plant care.

Have you noticed burnt-looking blossoms and twigs on your apple, pear, or quince trees? This is likely caused by a bacterial infection, appropriately named fire blight.