Also this month, finish pruning frost damaged plants and replace any that bit the dust.
Plant citrus this month from containers. After planting, make a basin around the tree and water two or three times a week until well established. To protect trees from sunburn, wrap trunks in white cloth or newspapers, or apply a coat of white latex paint. Remember, citrus trees can be trimmed a bit when they are larger to keep them smaller for easier harvest of fruit. Watch out for those thorns, though!
Now for those vegetable gardeners among us - this is a great time for getting your garden growing. In addition to the things you may have planted previously, beans and cucumbers should be sown by mid-April, and set out eggplant, okra, peanut, squash, and sweet potato anytime this month. I usually grow only one zucchini due to the prolific nature of the thing, and one eggplant, one scaloppini squash. Also fun to grow are gourds, luffa sponge, Armenian cucumbers (long, twisting, mild tasting) and yard long beans. Scarlet runner beans are also very attractive as well as edible. If you have young children, grow some on 'teepees' made of bamboo or PVC pipe or another structure for them to play in. They can have the fun of picking and eating them as well. Sunflowers are another great crop if you can keep the birds from getting most of them. There are many beautiful types of sunflowers and they are a marvelous cut flower.
Tomatoes and peppers can still be set out. When planting tomatoes, pull off the lower leaves, especially if they are wilted and yellow, and lay the plant down in a sloping trench. This puts most of the stem in warmed soil with the top sticking out. The plant will put out roots all along the stem and the tomato will grow an upright stem. Good news for everyone who loves hot peppers - they love the heat in the low desert! Grow all kinds including the old stand-by, Anaheim Chile.
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