Nursery pro Don Shor has been gardening and selling plants in Davis for more than three decades.
Join Don and co-host Lois Richter as they discuss and answer your questions on all things for the garden.
Submit a question (or a brag!) to DavisGardenShow@gmail.com
Podcast
Davis Garden Show, Sept. 16, 2021, Brassicas -- a one-plant wonderThu, 09/16/2021 - 12:00pm | Don Shor'Tis a time of CHANGE! Weather is cooler, season is later ... For some folks, it's time to cut down the cucumber vines and plant some brassicas. For others (like Don), there are still tomatoes ripening to harvest into October. What's your plan for a winter garden? Now is a good time to plant peas, lettuce, brassicas, and other cool seaon vegetablees. You can also plan to put "cover crops" on the portion of your summer garden that you don't plan to plant for the winter -- to keep down weeds and improve your soil. |
Davis Garden Show, Sept. 9, 2021, Houseplants and waterThu, 09/09/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorToday's topics:
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Davis Garden Show, Sept. 2, 2021, butterflies and hanging basketsThu, 09/02/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorMany, many questions this time! (Some carried over to the next show.) Gardening for butterflies, hanging baskets for coastal zones, time to plant brassicas (cabbage-family) and a winter garden, persimmon trees struggling to establish, tomatoes that didn't do well, and more. To send in questions, brags, comments, or commendations; write to Don Shor and Lois Richter at DavisGardenShow@gmail.com |
Davis Garden Show, Aug. 26, 2021, Tropical QuestionsThu, 08/26/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorToday we have more information about watering in a drought, plus:
and more. [Lois was on vacation, so Don wrote this terse description.] [Photo is of a cycad with its reproductive "cone" sprouting.] |
Davis Garden Show, August 19, 2021, More QuestionsThu, 08/19/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorLots of listener questions! some common invasive plants, pruning a peach, fruit problems with Honeycrisp apple, low water suggestions for a front yard, amaryllis bulbs, caladiums [shown], and more. |
Davis Garden Show, August 12, 2021: QuestionsThu, 08/12/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorLots of listener questions today! Wide-ranging answers keep returning to common themes: beneficial insects -vs- applying poisons, hosing things off -vs- applying poisons, saving bees and other beneficial insects -vs- applying imidacloprid (a neo-nicinoid systemic poison that makes flowers poisonous to pollinators), thwarting phytophthora by watering deeper but less often, and conserving water in this drought year. Specific discussions about: plants for a dry front landscape [with LOTS of ideas!]; Colocasia ["elephant ears"] and taro root [for poi] CAN grow here!; what ethylene gas is and what it does (ripening bananas and apples, strenghtening tree trunks) [including Don's suggestion for some kids' science fair projects!]; spider mites, predatious mites [which are small and red but are not chiggers!], and other beneficial insects; 'What causes leaf burn on maples?'; and more about phytophthora [a word which traslates as "plant death"]. |
Davis Garden Show August 05 2021, Plant DeathThu, 08/05/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorLots of science today! Phytophthora [fi-TOF-thir-a] is an organism [no longer considered a fungus] that has invaded world-wide. Many species exist. The one of concern in Davis and inland California attacks plants when ground conditions are HOT AND DAMP! (That is, high humidity and high temperature at the crown or roots for 48 hours.) Since we don't have rain here for eight months, the only way there can be enough moisture to allow Phytophthora to grow is if HUMANS apply water too often -- that is, they don't give the area time to dry out between waterings! Luckily, Don Shor has studied this organism extensively and helps us understand Phytophthora's life cycle and so learn how to reduce our risk. PS: That word "Phytophthora" literally translated to "plant death"!!! PPS: It's already here -- in the ground, on plant roots -- you can't avoid it if you garden. Even old, established trees can be killed by Phytophthora if the watering changes. This photo is Dr Milton Hildebrand standing beside a cork oak he planted in 1949. |
Davis Garden Show, July 29, 2021: Water 50% for ornamentals, 100% for food producersThu, 07/29/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorNEW, EASY WAY to figure out your drought watering! Don shared the research from the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources -- Center for Landscape & Urban Horticulture, showing how little water different plants can survive on. Not be happy, but survive. Lots of info about watering -- trees, shrubs, food plants, and beneficial insects. (Lois asked about making an insect watering hole with wet sand.) One listener writes about her "spider mite apacalypse" and wonders how to keep her melons alive until harvest. Why do plants look stressed the third year in the ground when "they did fine last year"? How much water a plant needs depends upon how big it is! So as a young plant grows bigger, you need to give it more water (either water longer or add another sprinkler head). "Grad Students Help with Soil" is the Davis Enterprise headline; "providing soil diagnosis [texture and pH test] and advice to gardeners" is the service; Saturdays (9:30-11:30) at Davis Farmers Market is the when/where. The service will continue every Saturday thru August 21. |
Davis Garden Show, July 22, 2021: Tree roots, watering, and redwoodsThu, 07/22/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorWatering in a drought. Reducing lawn water while keeping your trees alive. Root distribution of trees, "circle watering" strategy. Coast redwoods in interior California. Many redwoods were planted in Davis years ago; should we add new ones now? What might we substitute for them? What's wrong with these struggling tomato plants? Compacting soils can cause problems. "Mulch is for on top, not underground." And more answers to listeners' questions. Submit yours for inclusion in a future show by emailing Don Shor and Lois Richter at DavisGardenShow@gmail.com |
Davis Garden Show July 15 2021, Summer PruningThu, 07/15/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorDon Shor and Lois Richter talk about July pests -- what 's around now and how to handle things -- and lots about fruit trees -- including broken branches, thinning possibilties, reduced size method, and summer pruning. From that Facebook @ re feeding squirrels -- just don't! And, of course, we talk about the GLORIOUSLY WONDERFUL WEATHER this week. |
Comments
Don and Lois,
Hi! I have some suggestions for last minute gifts that your listeners may be interested in. CafePress.com has beautiful as well as humorous t-shirts. This includes t-shirts for gardeners includeing special ones for Master Gardeners. They start at $9. These are both in mens' and womens' styles and sizes. Eric just reminded me that our local botanic garden, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, has great holiday gifts too in their gift shop. He suggested I mention that public gardens in your area likely do the same thing. He also suggested that I mention the possibility of classes for the public to attend at your local public gardens. RSABG has these. Just something you might find of interest, I am a volunteer at RSABG, though I have not volunteered as much recently as I used to. You learn a lot volunteering. Thank you again for answering my questions. You both are great.
-Robin of Southern California
Hi! Thank you for answering my last question. I found your answers very helpful and useful. I am currently relistening to the podcast where Eric called in. Hopefully one day I will do that too and then you can hear my voice. As far my question, i would like to know more about the 'Princess Maxine' rose. Eric bought it for me, but I can not find any information about it. What catagory of rose is it. Anything else you can tell me would also be helpful and useful. Roses are my specialty, but this has me stumped. It has lovely tiny light pink blooms. I have a picture of it, however it is not very clear. By the way, i am now working with Eric. He has hired me and i so enjoy working with him. Something else you might find interesting to know, Eric taps my mind for plant and gardening information, but I can not answer everything. So your answers are beneficial to the both of us. i am so excited that you answered my last question, that i look forward to your answer to my new question. your garden radio show is the best gardening radio show out there!
Robin, Southern California
Hi! This is my first time writing to you, but I have been listening to your podcasts for a few months. I have a question about Irises for you, however I should mention that Eric in Southern California who has been e-mailing you is someone I know very closely.In fact he is the person who introduced me to your podcasts. I love it that you bring his questions onto your show. I feel such pride. As for my question, how do you get Irises (gladiolus too) to bloom again? I have a large pot where I have most of my bulbs planted. They all grow lovely leaves, but haven't flowered in several years. Thefreesias bloom year after year, but not the irises or gladiolus. I have them planted in a mix of potting soil and I now use Spray and Grow to fertilize.
Sincerely,
Robin Winderman
rkicker@rocketmail.com
Hi Robin,
We discussed your iris/gladiolus question on today's show (9/30). We always enjoy Eric's questions; he gives us lots of ideas for seasonal topics.
Thanks for the note,
Don
Hi, I work at a Garden Center and recently our company has begun to carry an Imidicloprid product (Bayer) for use on fruit trees and vegetables. My knee jerk reaction is horror. I know you'll be able to give me the real skinny, am I over reacting or is this a really bad idea? LOVE your show, "Hi Lois!: Greatly appreciated. Lori, San Luis Obispo County, CA