Five things to do in the garden this week:
1. This is an excellent time to propagate cactus and succulents, whether in the ground or containers. It’s a good idea to wait a week after detaching a cactus pad or leaf-bearing succulent stem for propagation purposes. This allows a protective layer of callus to form over the cut area. If you wish to insert your propagation pieces directly into the soil, refrain from watering for a week to give time for the callus to form.
2. When boysenberries, raspberries, and blackberries finish producing on a cane, cut it down to the ground. Shoots that did not bear this year can be left in place. Where harvested canes were cut down, new canes will emerge from the soil. Train all non-fruiting canes, old and new, along a fence or trellis for future crops.
3. Summer is when fire season begins in Southern California. Firescaping authority Douglas Kent advocates for three inorganic mulches that are “nonflammable, fairly inexpensive, and generally clean looking: crushed aggregate (gravel), decomposed granite (DG), and river rock.” Where organic mulches are concerned, he advises against their application within ten feet of a structure and encourages use of nourishing mulches, such as humus, as opposed to woody mulches that deter weeds but are slow to decompose and highly flammable.
4. If you are going away this summer and are concerned about keeping your indoor plants hydrated during your absence, consider the following measures. If the plant is small, cover it with a clear plastic bag that is sealed so no air can escape. Make sure the bag is propped up in some way so that the sides of the bag do not touch your plant’s foliage. Water that is transpired through foliage and evaporates from the soil surface will condense as water vapor on the inside of the bag, keeping the air humid around your plant, eliminating its need for irrigation. Alternatively, procure a self-watering container and place it out of direct sun to minimize your plant’s need for supplemental watering.
5. If you harvest unripe tree fruit that ripens only after being picked, make sure to keep it out of the refrigerator until ripening has occurred. Once fruit has ripened, you can extend its shelf life through refrigeration. Some fruit such as citrus will only ripen on the tree; after it is harvested, it should immediately be refrigerated to maximize its shelf life.
Please send questions and comments to Joshua@perfectplants.com.
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