Napa Master Gardener Column

I used to wonder why hard apples were growing on some of my oak trees. Then I learned they were not apples but nests for Andricus quercuscalifornicus, a tiny wasp that builds these galls as a nest for raising their young.

It's hard to believe that zucchini and pumpkins belong to the same plant family, but both are part of the cucurbit, or gourd, family of vegetables.

With the U.C. Master Gardeners of Napa County annual Tomato Fest & Sale coming up on Saturday, April 15, and tomato plants appearing in nurseries now, it's tempting to set out your tomatoes immediately. It is best to wait a few weeks until the nights are warmer.

For many locals, the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County's annual tomato sale is the true harbinger of spring. Details about the event on April 15 are at the end of this article. We are selling two dozen proven varieties this year, ranging from fat, red beefsteak to tiny, sweet cherries.

Spring is in the air and it is time to plant milkweed for the Monarch butterflies. Milkweed (Asclepias) provides food for the butterfly larvae, and its flowers provide nectar for the other pollinators in our area.