Find garden inspiration in May with UCCE Yolo Master Gardeners – Winters Express

Starting A Vegetable Garden

Vegetables are a very rewarding hobby and those homegrown vegetables taste so much better than anything you can buy from the supermarket.

Varities, Zones, Seeds

Vegetables thrive in rich soil that’s well drained and has plenty of organic matter mixed in. Soil tests can help you understand what nutrients you need to boost the fertility of your existing soil, if needed.

By Denise Cottrell, Master Gardener of Yolo County
Special to the Express

As you busy yourself with spring planting, I have a question for you. Have you considered adding California native plants to your garden? A mix of native and non-native plants in your garden can improve opportunities for a diversity of pollinator species.

Once established, many native plants need minimal irrigation beyond normal rainfall. Natives help save water, require lower maintenance, and provide important habitats for birds, butterflies, moths, and beneficial insects.

If you need some inspiration and ideas about planting California native plants, visit the Winters Community Library Teaching Garden. The garden, managed by UCCE Yolo Master Gardeners is open to the public during library hours. When you visit, if you happen upon the volunteer Master Gardeners tending to the garden, they would be happy to answer your questions and provide information about the garden.

If you have a specific garden query, you can ask a Master Gardener, in person, on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Master Gardener table at the Davis Farmers Market, located between the Rose Garden and the Sensory Garden. The Davis Farmers Market is held at Central Park, located at 4th and C Streets.

In West Sacramento, the UCCE Yolo County Master Gardeners will also be able to answer your gardening questions at their twice-monthly gardening Question and Answer Desk, held at Lowes, 2250 Lake Washington Blvd., on the first and third Saturday of the month, from 10 a.m. to noon. The May dates are May 6 and May 20.

If you would like to “dig” a little deeper into a specific topic, the UCCE Yolo Master Gardeners also provide workshops and talks which are free and open to the public. The events for May are listed below.

Kitchen Garden Chat will be held on Saturday, May 6, from 10–11 a.m., on Zoom (https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/98028723763). Kitchen Garden Chat meets monthly and provides tips for the edible garden. In addition to providing information on general edible garden care for the month of May, this month’s talk will also provide tips for container vegetable gardening.

If you happen to see some unwanted pests in your garden, attend this talk to learn how to control spring pests. This is the workshop to attend if have a question about edible gardens. UCCE Master Gardener Treva Valentine, always provides time for a question-and-answer period during her talks.

The Yolo Master Gardener/Yolo Library Garden Workshops meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, on Zoom. Correct Use of Pesticides in Urban Environment is the topic for the Yolo Master Gardener/Yolo Library Workshop to be held via Zoom (https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/81855490863) on Thursday, May 11, from 3–4 p.m., Led by Liberty B. Galvin, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in Horticulture & Agronomy, Weed Science, at UC Davis.

Attendees will learn important information about pesticide use. “Pesticides” refers to both herbicides and insecticides. This workshop will cover both organic and chemical-based pesticides. This presentation will cover how to keep yourself and others safe while using pesticides. It will cover the “signal words” found on a pesticide label, mixing requirements, proper application rate and methods, safe reentry interval into the application area, and container disposal.

Gardening For Year-Round Meals meets on the second Saturday of the month and provides information on year-round gardening. Attend this workshop on May 13, from 11–12 p.m., at Grace Garden located at the United Methodist Church (1620 Anderson Rd., Davis) to learn about a wide variety of gardening tips and information The topics for this month will cover everything from starting seeds outdoors and worm composting to growing fresh herbs and how to use them. In addition, if you are curious about planting and enjoying edible flowers, this is the workshop to help get you started.

It Is Not It Is Not Too Early to Plan Your Winter Vegetable Garden is the topic for the second Yolo Master Gardener/Yolo Library Workshop. Join in via Zoom (https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/85423146057) on Thursday, May 25 from 3–4 p.m. and hear experienced UCCE Yolo County Master Gardener Mike Kluk describe the “how” and “when” to grow a successful winter vegetable garden.

It may seem counterintuitive; however, the end of May is not too early to decide where in your garden your winter vegetables will go, place whatever seed orders you want to order and secure other materials you may need. In addition, growing vegetables in the winter is easier than in the summer: watering needs are less, and pests are fewer. If you would like more information on the Yolo Master Gardener/Yolo Library Workshops contact Jennifer Baumbach at jmbaumbach@ucanr.edu or Joan Tuss at Joan.Tuss@yolocounty.org to receive Zoom links for this and future workshops.

Learn more about the UCCE Master Gardeners of Yolo Co. at yolomg.ucanr.edu. For further information about events or for information about a specific garden issue please call the Master Gardener hotline at 530-666-8736 or email mgyolo@ucdavis.edu.

Source: wintersexpress.com