Heirloom tomatoes can inherit fungal problems

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• It’s best to eradicate rodents from your garden

  It’s best to eradicate rodents from your garden

  Q: How do I protect my garden from rodents? — Sean Capelli, San Luis Obispo

  A: Rodents make up a large portion of the mammalian population. Characterized by gnawing teeth and continually growing incisors, animals such as gophers, voles (also called meadow mice), and rats fall under the order Rodentia.

  Rodents are known less for their dental capabilities, however, and more for the nuisance that ensues when they and their brethren converge upon your garden. While many a garden vegetable has been left damaged or appropriated by these fuzzy pilferers, it is their reputation as disease carriers that necessitates some form of control.

• Picking plants with water conservation in mind

  Picking plants with water conservation in mind

  Q:I have a large empty area in my yard that I would like to landscape but I don't want to use a lot of water. What kind of plants should I be looking for? — Bill Widner, Arroyo Grande

  A: The easy answer to your question is California native plants that are drought tolerant. The harder part will be choosing from among the beautiful myriad of drought tolerant natives available to us here on the Central Coast.

  Whether brilliant reds of California fuchsia, delicate hues of yarrows, or flamboyant blue clusters of Ceanothus, many of our native ornamentals have beneficial features suited to home landscaping. As natives, they have evolved over thousands of years to be naturally adapted to our Mediterranean climate of cool wet winters and hot dry summers. Their physiology and deeply spreading root systems permit them to flourish without summer watering. They tolerate occasional pest predation, and they are generally resistant to disease.

• Tomato Extravaganza is an edible education

  Tomato Extravaganza is an edible education

  It’s high summer and how are your tomatoes doing? Wish you’d known which varieties give best results locally? Did you plant the best tasting varieties?

  Come, taste and find out. At their annual Tomato Extravaganza on Saturday, the Master Gardeners are celebrating the luscious red (or maybe striped or purple) tomato, queen of summer’s bounty. All things tomato will be the focus at the Seven Sisters demonstration garden at 2156 Sierra Way in San Luis Obispo.

  At this free “edible festival” you can taste ripe homegrown tomatoes and vote for your favorite. Basil is a perfect companion for tomatoes— and several varieties (Thai, cinnamon, purple, etc.) will also be part of the tasting.

• Pointers for permanently planting poinsettias

  Pointers for permanently planting poinsettias

  Q: My Christmas poinsettias usually look good well into the New Year. Will they bloom next year if I plant them in the garden? — Jan Hendrickson, Pismo Beach

  A: Old-fashioned California gardens often featured poinsettias, flowers that exemplified frost-free winters here. However, as people wanted more potted poinsettias for holidays, varieties were developed with large blooms and unusual colors. You may not have the perfect place to grow one outdoors, but they can bloom next year if left in their pots indoors, if you have the necessary time and space.

  During the holiday season place your plants in a bright light but out of direct sunlight and away from drafts. Do not subject them to extremes of temperature. They are happiest in daytime temperatures of around 70 degrees and nights not much lower than 60 degrees. Water them when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch and then water enough so excess water runs out the bottom of the pot.

• October gardening chores center on cleaning up

  October gardening chores center on cleaning up

  Q: What jobs should I be doing in my garden in October? — Tish Keely, Santa Margarita

  A: October is one of the most pleasant months in the garden. The temperature is generally mild, the soil is still warm, there are treasures to harvest and winter rains are, hopefully, on the way.

  This is a perfect time for a thorough garden cleanup.