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| Do you have a gardening question? The UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County can help. Our volunteers are part of the University of California’s Cooperative Extension program, and we are trained to use research-based information to educate our fellow residents on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices specific to our area. Our monthly “Ask a Master Gardener” column will answer your questions and offer tips. Have a question? Email lifestyle@embarcaderopublishing.com |
May gardening tips
Harvest fresh flowers from your garden
Bringing fresh-grown flowers indoors is one of gardening’s great pleasures. Use our cut flower planting chart to learn when to plant seeds and transplants that grow well in our area. To keep your flowers blooming all season, deadhead spent blossoms and pinch back new growth to encourage branching and more flowers. When it’s time to make a bouquet, harvest in the cool morning and cut stems at an angle. Immediately place the flowers in lukewarm water and let them rehydrate in a cool spot for several hours. Remove any foliage below the waterline to reduce decay and arrange in a clean vase. Enjoy the fragrance!
Feed citrus trees
Nitrogen is needed to maximize growth in young trees and support optimal fruit production in mature trees. A mature tree with a foliage diameter of 15 to 20 feet requires about 1 pound of actual nitrogen per year. Proportionally reduce this amount based on the area of the tree canopy for smaller trees. Divide the application into two or three times a year: January or February before bloom, early May and possibly a third application in June.
Do not over-fertilize, as this can cause excessive growth that makes trees more susceptible to disease. Late-season fertilization may impact fruit quality. If you see yellowing of citrus leaves, check for issues before applying fertilizer. Here’s more on how to fertilize citrus this month.
Pick and preserve late-season oranges
By now, you may still have a lot of navel oranges on the trees. Valencia oranges are harvested throughout the summer. For the rest, rather than leave them to rot or be eaten by rats, pick what is left soon. Even the ones that don’t fall will not stay good forever. The skin may start to ripple as the fruit inside dries and its quality suffers. You can store them in the refrigerator for several weeks but keep an eye out for mold.
You can freeze orange sections for later use in orange juice or smoothies, or you can make marmalade or other orange recipes if you have already eaten enough fresh oranges. Picking the remainder allows the tree to put more energy into the current blossoms, which will become next year’s fruit. Here are some ideas on preserving oranges – including how to dry orange peels plus a recipe for orange marmalade.
Direct-sow summer vegetables
Some of the larger summer vegetables can be planted from seed directly into the garden this month. These include watermelon, cantaloupe, corn, and summer and winter squash. They tend to have larger seeds, and a rule of thumb is to plant them at a depth of 2 to 3 times the seed’s diameter. If you have a seed packet, follow the instructions for planting depth, spacing, and thinning.
MAY GARDENING EVENTS
UC Master Gardener gardening events are taking place throughout the county this month. Here are some of them, with more listed on our events page.
Companion Planting: The Three Sisters Method – Wednesday, May 6, San Jose
PADG Grow Your Best Summer Garden: Tomatoes, Peppers, and More – Saturday, May 9, Palo Alto
Mysteries of Purple Veggies – Saturday, May 9, Santa Clara
Vegetables You Can Start from Seed Now – Saturday, May 9, Sunnyvale
Summer Vegetables – Tuesday, May 12, Mountain View
Plant Clinic Online – Tuesday, May 12, Online
MCP California Native Plant Sale – Saturday, May 16, San Jose
MCP Succulent Open House & Sale – Saturday, May 16, San Jose
MRDG How to Grow and Use Culinary Herbs – Saturday, May 16, Cupertino
The Monarch Butterfly Crisis: What’s Happening and How You Can Help – Saturday, May 16, San Jose
Summer Vegetable Success – Saturday, May 16, Milpitas
Planning a Simple Native Garden for Beginners – Sunday, May 17, Palo Alto
Test your Pest ID Knowledge – Thursday, May 21, Online
Managing Pests and Welcoming Beneficial Insects to your Garden – Saturday, May 23, San Jose
Plant Clinic Online – Tuesday, June 9, Online
These larger plants tend to grow quickly and out of reach of many pests that affect small, tender seedlings. Amend the soil and thoroughly water it before planting so the seeds are not washed away during watering. Drop the seeds in holes and cover them with soil, or push them down into the soil. Then water again. Keep a close eye on emerging seedlings and protect them from pests as needed. We are holding a class specifically on planting warm-season vegetables from seeds on May 9 at our Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden. Come join us!
Inspect roots before planting
If you’re adding plants to your garden this spring, check the roots before putting them into the ground. Two things are particularly important. First, look for circling roots, which can eventually strangle the plant. Straighten them out as much as possible and prune them if they are too dense to spread properly. Second, note where the roots start growing and plant at that depth, or slightly higher to allow for some settling. If planted too deeply, plant roots cannot get enough oxygen to grow and may suffocate and die. Planting too shallow can result in root damage from exposure and excessive drying.More Information: Fix Those Roots Before You Plant
Would you like to ask a UC Master Gardener about a plant problem? Submit questions to our Help Desk online. Join our Zoom Plant Clinic Online on May 12 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm where you can directly ask gardening questions to a Master Gardener.
You can also subscribe to our monthly Tips and Events newsletter. San Mateo residents can also find gardening advice on the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco website.
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