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. To submit a question (or a brag!) send to gmail.com for DavisGardenShow.
Podcast
Davis Garden Show, Sept. 30, 2021 -- Winter flowers and bulbsThu, 09/30/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorThings to plant in October, November ...
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Davis Garden Show, Sept. 23, 2021 -- LeucadendronsThu, 09/23/2021 - 12:00pm | Don ShorDo native bees, pollinators, and other beneficials NEED to have only NATIVE plants? No, for most. But yes for a few. The "Pipevine Swallowtail" butterfly needs the California pipevine for its larva to feed on (other pipevine species won't do). Monarch butterfly larva feed only on milkweed plants. But most local insects will be happy with many garden plants. Having a diversity of plant species is a good way to attract and help beneficial insects. What is "planting with natives?" If "native" means "originally existing in the local plant community," then we are extremely limited in Davis. If "native" means "native somewhere" (that is, it's not a hybrid), then anything goes! If "native" means "naturally occuring in some political region" such as California, then native-ness has no relationship to how well something will grow in my yard -- because California contains so many different climate zones. Perhaps it would be better to look for "locally adapted" plants -- species which originated in climates like ours (such as the Mediterranean, coastal Chile, parts of Australia, southern Africa, etc.), and so will grow well in OUR climate. Today's questions include: Should we be "pinching" broccoli? (Don doesn't.) That's bacterial Citrus Blast -- exacerbated by a few days of humid weather in August. Why Don's 32-year-old orchard is being taken out (lifespan of the trees vs. changing economics vs. climate expectations). How farmers decide what to plant where. And what some people expect to happen to our local climate in the next 20-50 years. |
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. |
Comments
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
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