- Author: Pamela M. Geisel
- Author: Chuck Ingels
This year was a tough year for the peaches and nectarines. It seemed that even though we sprayed with a copper oil spray and with a registered fungicide at the right time, the PLC was very noticeable on the trees this spring. Treating now is useless as is pulling off the infected leaves. Never the less, many people do it because it makes them feel better and they don't see the infected leaves anymore. Chuck Ingles on the other hand is trying to do something about it! He has been working on methods that home gardeners may use to thwart PCL withouit the use of the chemical recently removed from sale to home gardeners, specifically Lime Sulfur and the copper fungicide Microcop. The only fungicide products left for treating peach leaf curl are those containing lower levels of copper (such as Liqui-Cop), copper soap, and the non-copper synthetic fungicide chlorothalonil. Because the level of copper is quite low in these products they are not as effective as Microcop was. Chuck conducted the trial at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center demonstration orchard (and one tree in a private yard) to determine what works best for controlling peach leaf curl now that the most effective products are no longer available.
The treatments that Chuck used included: Lime sulfur, Liquicop, Concern Copper Soap Plus Oil, Agribon medium weight row cover fabric, Agribon plus Liquicop, Kelp Extract
The results: Compared to untreated branches, those treated with Liqui-Cop averaged about 70% control, copper soap 80% control, and Agribon by itself just under 60% control, but these treatments were not statistically different. Agribon generally kept the branches dry, although some moisture was evident after heavy rains. Two treatments provided nearly
complete control: (1) Agribon plus Liqui-Cop, and (2) lime sulfur (late fall) followed by Microcop (late winter). Maxicrop (kelp) did not work at all and substantially increased the severity on some of the branches.
Conclusion:
The two liquid copper products have fairly similar efficacy—they improved control and perhaps sufficiently, but still not great. The control achieved, although resulting in some unsightly damage, is probably enough to allow the tree to produce good shoot growth with enough healthy leaves to nourish the rapidly growing young fruit. Agribon likely allowed some rain to penetrate to the branches. It may be best held up with a post in the middle to allow rain to run off down the sloped sides rather than having a flat surface on top, but it must be fastened securely because of strong winds. Agribon plus Liqui-Cop worked quite well, probably because the fairly good control with Liqui-Cop was enhanced by drier conditions. The combination of lime sulfur (in late fall) followed by Microcop (in late winter) was highly effective, as expected. Normally only one of these products was used for both fall and winter applications, but insufficient product was available for both. Maxicrop (kelp), even sprayed eight times, provided no control at all.
For more details on Chuck Ingels Peach Leaf Curl Trials, go to the Sacramento County Website at: http://cesacramento.ucdavis.edu/Pomology/____Tree_Fruit_Crops/2012_Peach_Leaf_Curl_Trial_at_the_Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/
- Author: Pamela M. Geisel
- Contributor: Janet Hartin
A
s a long-term UCCE environmental horticulture advisor, I would like to express my appreciation to Master Gardener Program Director Pam Geisel and Program Representative James Sigala for providing outstanding statewide leadership.
In a mere six short years under Pam’s direction, the UC ANR Master Gardener program has received $ 300,000 in grants that provided support to the CA Garden Web; updates to the Backyard Orchard; the FAQ system; outreach materials such as posters and tips; sustainable landscape ‘train the trainer’ workshops and PowerPoint presentations; ‘Your Sustainable Backyard Training’ (in collaboration with CCUH); a SARE grant to support further sustainable landscape training; and, a recent ANR competitive grant to develop and extend training in edible landscapes across the state.
A great example of what the statewide Master Gardener office has accomplished is the formation and regular updating of timely information found on the CA Garden Web website (http://ucanr.org/sites/gardenweb). If you haven’t taken a look at it for awhile, it’s well worth a visit. The website serves as a portal for organizing and extending the University of California's vast collection of research-based information pertaining to home horticulture. Information focuses on sustainable gardening practices and includes how to select and maintain edibles as well as ornamentals. Be sure to take time to scroll down to the ‘Advice to Grow By – Ask Us!’ feature which includes questions and answers that you are very likely to encounter in your county.
While the tremendous service the statewide Master Gardener program provides is evident up and down the state, it’s important to note that although UC ANR provides some hard funding to support the statewide Master Gardener office, support for the statewide MG office at the local level is crucial, as well. At our recent statewide Master Gardener steering committee meeting, we discussed priority needs at the statewide level such as the development of online training modules; several additional continuing education WebEx’s; updating the Volunteer Management System, and many other dynamic enhancements. We also discussed potential mutually beneficial strategies to provide funding support for both local programs and the statewide office. Stay tuned for updates on this important topic and ways in which your voice can be heard.
Warm Regards,
Janet Hartin
Environmental Horticulture Advisor
San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties
- Author: Pamela M. Geisel
The Statewide Master Gardener Program and our beloved programmers at UCANR Communication Services are beginning to work on a rebuild of our Volunteer Management System (VMS). Our hopes are to make it more like "Facebook" in terms of it sharing more news, photos and information with your fellow Master Gardeners and make it easier to integrate projects, calendars etc. as well as making the recertification system more intuitive and less clunky.
Recently, we sent out a survey to your MG Program Representative for key volunteers who manage and work on various aspects of the VMS. If you would like to provide additional input, please talk with your Program Representative and they will share the survey link with you or you can email the Statewide Master Gardener Program Office at pmelam@ucdavis.edu. We look forward to your input. Afterall...it is about you!...our valued volunteers.
- Author: Pamela M. Geisel
In a recent newsletter of the Western Plant Diagnostic Network, (WPDN) for First Detectors, a new pest of California was highlighted. This pest is the Bagrada Bug, Bagrada hilaris, Burmester 1835, Order Hemiptera, family Pentatomidae. Following is the text and a few pictures from the newsletter. The article was written by Richard, Hoenisch, Editor of WPDN First Detector Network.
The Bagrada Bug is a species of shield bug known by the common names bagrada bug, painted bug, and harlequin bug. It is native to much of eastern and southern Africa and parts of southern Europe and Asia. It is now known in CA and AZ, where it was first reported in 2008. It is a major pest insect of Brassica oleracea crops, including cabbage, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli, and related crucifers such as turnips, rape, and mustard. The adult and nymph of the species suck sap from the leaves of the plants, causing wilting, yellowing, and stunting of growth. Please see The Bagrada bug, a New Invasive Pest of Cole Crops in Arizona for a view of the damage. Besides crucifers, the bugs are known on papaya, sorghum, maize, potato, cotton, caper, pearl millet, and some legumes. Large numbers of the bug congregate on the plants and cause extensive damage. The adult bug is 5 to 
7 millimeters in length, shield-shaped, and black with white and orange markings. The female, which is larger than the male, lays up to 100 oval or barrel-shaped eggs on leaves or in soil beneath plants. The eggs are white when freshly deposited and turn orange over time. Within 8 days the first-instar nymph emerges. It is bright orange-red and turns darker as it develops, becoming mostly or predominantly black by the last instar. The bug made a sudden appearance in Los Angeles in June, 2008, its first sighting in the Western Hemisphere. It then moved into the cropland of the heavily agricultural Coachella and Imperial Valleys of California, doing damage to cole crops there, especially those grown organically. Dr. Gevork Arakelian, entomologist for Los Angeles County, says this insect has the potential to become a very serious pest. 
- Author: Pamela M. Geisel
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Happy Holidays and Happy Winter Solstice!
I love when the winter solstice comes because it means that we will be through the shortest day of the year. It means that now the days will begin to get longer and there will more time in the day for gardening! But seriously, as the end of the year rolls around, I want to take a moment to thank you all for your terrific volunteer efforts for the UC Master Gardener Program.
You have accomplished so much in your counties in reaching the public about sustainable landscape and gardening practices, raised money to support your programs and worked diligently to record all those hours in VMS J. We so appreciate the over 7 million dollars in value that your donated time is worth to UC.
Without you, we would not have contacted over 3 million people this year, written countless articles, taught more than 400 classes and hands-on workshops or helped thousands of individuals solve their home garden problems at the helpdesk.
Thank you for the gift of your time. It makes a difference in the lives of many Californians.
I personally want to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and a productive, fruitful new year. Warmest regards,
Pam Geisel, Director
Statewide Master Gardener Program
