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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 |
Why are coffee grounds used in the garden?
Some say coffee grounds in the garden and landscape repel cats, kill slugs, prevent weeds, aerate and acidify the soil, provide nitrogen, and attract earthworms. What is the truth?
Here’s a publication from Washington State University that examines the science behind using coffee grounds in gardens and landscapes and provides recommendations for home gardeners on how to use them appropriately.
A quick summary of some of the points made in the article: Spent coffee grounds have a nearly neutral pH and will not acidify the soil. While they are high in nitrogen, they need to be composted before plants can use the nutrients. Although there is no evidence that coffee grounds deter garden pests, you can still use them as mulch around your plants. Apply a thin layer on the ground, then cover them with a thicker layer of mulch to avoid compaction. Do not use them in areas where you are sprouting seeds. Some observations suggest that coffee grounds can reduce seed germination and stunt young plant growth.
October gardening tips
Persimmon season is here
Fall is the time when gorgeous orange persimmon orbs peak beneath leaves or showcase their beauty on bare branches. When the skin turns orange, they are fully ripe.
Flat-bottomed Fuyu persimmons stay fairly firm when ready and can be eaten raw like a crisp apple or sliced and cooked into an apple-style pie. Fruit that falls early may keep ripening on the counter despite the green skin. Heart-shaped Hachiya persimmons turn almost jelly-like inside when ripe. Best eaten raw: cut it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. You can also use them in baking.
If you eat an unripe Hachiya persimmon, you will gain a new understanding of the word “astringent.” To protect the persimmons from birds and squirrels, wrap the tree with bird netting or cover it with a structure made of chicken wire before the fruits are ripe.
More information: Persimmons, UC Integrated Pest Management
Winter soil health
Areas of the garden that are not actively planted still need protection to support soil life and prevent soil erosion. Cover crops are one option. Their roots break up the soil, and if they are legumes, like fava beans, they add essential nitrogen. Mulches hold in moisture, moderate soil temperature, and help prevent weeds from germinating. Unlike rocks and synthetic mulches, organic mulches like leaves, wood chips, or straw slowly break down, supporting beneficial soil organisms and adding nutrients to the soil. A top layer of an inch or two of compost will slowly work down into the soil, amending it with organic matter. You can also spread manure from herbivores over the soil. Even fresh manure, which could burn plants if applied directly, can be used over a bare area to decompose in place and be ready for the next planting season.
More Information: Keep your soil healthy
Plant garlic and shallots now
The time to plant most garlic and shallots is mid-October through the end of November. Fast-growing Dutch Red shallots can mature in just 90 days, so you can plant them again in late winter or early spring. Specialty growers guarantee disease-free stock and offer many more garlic varieties than you see at the grocery store, from beefy Chopaka Mountain to beautiful Rose de Lautrec.
UPCOMING GARDENING EVENTS
UC Master Gardener gardening events are taking place throughout the county this month. Here are a few, with more listed on our events page.
The Power of Compost in a Garden – Saturday, Oct. 10, Palo Alto
Planning Your Cool Vegetable Garden – Saturday, Oct. 10, Mountain View
Gardening with Nature: Native Plants for Pollinators – Tuesday, Oct. 13, Saratoga
Plant Clinic Online – Tuesday, Oct. 13, online
Pests on Palms and Other Trees – Thursday, Oct. 15, online
Growing California Natives in Your Garden – Saturday, Oct. 17, Cupertino
Open Garden Saturdays- Palo Alto – Saturday, Oct. 17, Palo Alto
Growing Asian Vegetables – Saturday, Oct. 17, San Jose
Planning a Simple Native Garden for Beginners – Saturday, Oct. 17, Sunnyvale
Open Garden Saturdays- Palo Alto – Saturday, Oct. 24, Palo Alto
Growing Great Garlic & Shallots – Saturday, Oct. 24, San Jose
Wild at Home: Crafting a Backyard Sanctuary for Birds, Bees, and Beyond – Saturday, Oct. 24, San Jose
Fruit Tree Basics – Thursday, Oct. 29, Sunnyvale
Open Garden Saturdays- Palo Alto – Saturday, Oct. 31, Palo Alto
Fall in Love with California Natives – Saturday, Nov. 7, Palo Alto
Choose the largest cloves and leave their natural papery wrappers on them. Plant them in moist, well-drained soil in a sunny location, pointy tips up, about one inch deep. Space cloves about four inches apart to leave room for large heads to develop. Our Oct. 24 class on planting garlic and shallots will give you more tips on planting, curing, and storing your harvest.
More information: How to grow garlic | How to grow shallots
When to pick pomegranates
Picking pomegranates at the right time is important because they don’t continue to ripen after harvest. Clues to watch for: a deepening color of the fruit, a metallic sound when tapped, and softening skin that can be scratched with gentle pressure. When harvesting, clip the stem close to the fruit instead of pulling it off the tree. This prevents open wounds that may rot. Pomegranates are susceptible to splitting when watered unevenly, so if you’ve reduced irrigation because of the drought, you may want to harvest them quickly once winter rains start.
More information: Pomegranates, California Rare Fruit Growers
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 Oct. 13 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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