Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys

July, 2007
Regional Report

Watering Melons

Water and fertilize melons deeply once a week for juicy, fleshy fruits. Hold off irrigating about a week before they will fully ripen so their sugars will concentrate. Protect melons from snails and slugs by lifting the fruits onto cans, berry baskets, or boards. Also, spread crushed eggshells under each plant so deter snails and slugs. Set metal cans and aluminum pie pans next to fruits to reflect heat from the sun onto the fruits.

Pinching Herbs


Harvesting Onions and Garlic


Divide Crowded Iris


Mowing for a Healthy Lawn

Continue to mow lawns at 2 or 3 inches high to keep grass roots shaded. If your lawn gets very long, don't cut down to 2 or 3 inches in one pass or it will be susceptible to shock and sunburn; cut it once, then cut it again a day later. Also, keep your lawn mower blades sharp. Dull blades may require as much as three times the power of sharp blades to do the job, and they tear the edges of the blades, making the lawn more susceptible to stress and diseases. Catalog

Special Report - Garden to Table