May Gardening In The Low Desert 2001

Tomatoes bloom this month but may not get pollinated so they won’t fruit, especially if nights are cool. In the early morning, gently hit the stems with a little stick. This spreads the pollen. You can also use tomato-bloom spray but use it with care and according to the instructions. Blossom end rot -- a small, water-soaked lesion will appear at the blossom-end of the fruit. This spot will grow larger, turning dark and sunken. This is caused by calcium deficiency and water stress resulting from irregular watering. Our desert soils aren’t usually deficient in calcium but tomatoes need careful watering practices. To help your tomatoes, apply gypsum to the soil, improve water management through regular deep watering, use a mulch to reduce evaporation and space tomatoes adequately to avoid water stress.

It is important to increase watering now. Unhealthy pale yellow old leaves with dark green veins usually signals chlorosis - most often from an iron deficiency and eucalyptus, gardenia, hibiscus, pyracantha, and rose are most susceptable. Chelated iron is the remedy but because desert soils are alkaline and contain plenty of lime, you should use a chelate suited to this type of soil. The recommended kind for most trees and shrubs in the desert is Fe EDDJA, sold as Sprint 138 Fe. Other kinds may not be as effective. Apply iron chelate two to six weeks after the flush of spring growth at the rate of 6 tablespoons per small shrub and 12 tablespoons per large shrub such as a dwarf citrus. Spread it around the drip line and water in well. Unfortunately, the same yellow condition on new leaves may indicate a dificiency in zinc or manganese and is very difficult to diagnose - even for the experts.

Good plants for the desert include sages, aloes, fairy duster, bougainvillea, hibiscus, oleander, acacias, mesquite trees, bottlebrush tree, bird of paradise, cape honeysuckle, lantana, verbena, desert lily, Easter lily vine and passion vine.

With hot weather on the way, pay careful attention to mulch, fertilizer and watering for a great display of flowers and good crops. Enjoy!!

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