Q: My son was on a desert camping trip and they saw some trees that he described as having “clusters of what looked like rattlesnake rattles” growing on them. Do you have any idea what they saw?
A: My best guess is that the trees he saw were Corkscrew Mesquite, Prosopis pubescens, and the rattle-like clusters are the seed pods.
Corkscrew Mesquite is an especially good tree for desert locations. It can survive with little water, although it will grow faster with deep but infrequent irrigation. Growth habit may be shrubby or tree-like, depending upon how you prune it.
The leaves are compound and the individual leaflets are small, giving the tree a fine texture. The stems and branches carry thorns and the bark is dark and somewhat shaggy.
Catkin-like spikes of yellow flowers appear in late spring to early summer and are followed by the distinctive seed pods that may persist for many months.
In the right setting, Corkscrew Mesquite could be quite a conversation piece.
Q: The fancy potted tuberous begonias I grew this year are beginning to decline. How should I winter them?
A: As the flowering season ends, gradually begin withholding water.
The plant will respond with yellowing, wilting, and drying leaves as it goes into dormancy. At this point you can safely cut off the shoots.
The tubers can either be stored in the pots — as long as the soil remains dry — or the tubers can be removed from the pots and stored in dry peat moss or vermiculite. Whichever way you choose to store the tubers, be sure to protect them from freezing temperatures.
When spring arrives, the tubers may be restarted in pots with fresh soil.
Q: We use a lot of spinach in salads, so I planted some from seed in the spring, but it has not done well at all in our Riverside garden. Do you have any suggestions?
A: Spinach is pretty easy to grow, but it’s normally a cool season crop, not a warm season crop.
Those gardeners who live closer to the coast or in the mountains may be able to grow spinach during the summer months, but not those living in the inland valleys. Even when we have a mild summer, inland temperatures are still too warm for growing spinach well.
The weather will start to cool off any time now so it’s time to get ready to plant spinach. At this time of year, it will grow quickly.
You can choose to cut individual leaves as needed, or you can cut off entire plants.
If you choose to cut off entire plants, you might consider cutting it off at least 1 inch above the soil. Many times, the plant will regrow for later harvest. To ensure a steady supply of tender young leaves, you could make spinach plantings every few weeks throughout the winter. As long as you maintain your soil’s fertility, especially the nitrogen that is essential for leaf growth, I’m sure you will have a successful spinach crop.
Ottillia “Toots” Bier has been a UC Cooperative Extension master gardener since 1980. Send comments and questions to features@pressenterprise.com.
