It’s the end of the month, which means it’s garden
question-and-answer time. Remember, you may e-mail me questions at
ga*******@jp*.net
or you can mail garden questions in care of this
newspaper. For a faster, personal response, please include a
self-addressed, stamped envelope.
It’s the end of the month, which means it’s garden question-and-answer time. Remember, you may e-mail me questions at
ga*******@jp*.net
or you can mail garden questions in care of this newspaper. For a faster, personal response, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Q: I have a Meyer lemon tree that has had fruit for months, but the lemons do not ripen. What is the growing season before I can expect a ripe lemon?
– J. C., Morgan Hill
A: Meyer lemons are ideal for our climate, but they are not actually lemons. They are a cross between a lemon, a type of sweet orange and a mandarin.
While Meyers retain most of the characteristics of a lemon, they are a bit less acidic and less bitter, and they have more sweetness and a thinner skin.
To answer your question, Meyer lemons can remain on the tree for months before fully ripening. Since the fruit does not ripen in storage, harvesting should begin only when the fruit is fully mature and palatable. Immature fruit is green, and Meyer lemons changes to a yellow-orange color when ready to be picked.
The good news is that Meyer lemons also begin to produce fruit just two to three years after planting. Fruit has a very high juice content but also a much milder lemon flavor than true lemons.
Q: I have several fruit trees in my yard that have numerous suckers that keep sprouting from the base of the trunk. I’m constantly cutting them off, but they grow like weeds! Is there something I can spray to prevent this suckering habit?
– R.A., Gilroy
A: There is a product called Sucker Stopper that is a plant-growth regulator. When sprayed on emerging shoots, it inhibits the growing tip of the shoot. The bad news is that a 22-ounce, ready-to-use bottle costs $32. If the price hasn’t discouraged you, check out www.montereylawngarden.com for ordering instructions.
Q: Is there anything to prevent birds from getting my cherry crop? I have tried netting, but the birds become so entangled in it that I had to take it off. I tried perching an artificial owl in the tree, but the birds were too smart. Any suggestions?
– I.V., Hollister
A: I’m afraid netting is the only thing I know of that really works – unless you want to buy a commercial propane cannon that makes a loud boom every few minutes and will have your neighbors up in arms. You can try hanging old CDs or strips of Mylar in the tree, but it may not work any better than the artificial owl.
