Initially, they were full of flavor, large and succulent. But within three weeks they became less and less flavorful, finally tasteless. UC Master Gardener Bill Pierce advises deep-watering to get the soil wet to a minimum depth of 18 inches. Over 80 percent of the tree's roots are within the first 18 inches of soil. Then one irrigation will last up to 14 days, depending on your soil type.
Sandy soil requires more frequent irrigation than clay.
The Garden Detective column is compiled with the help and expertise of master gardeners at the UC Cooperative Extension. Send garden questions to The Garden Detective, California Life, P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA, 95852. Please include your name, address and a daytime telephone number. If you'd like a quicker response to your question, you can contact the University of California master gardeners in Sacramento County by calling 875-6913 weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. In El Dorado County, master gardeners are available weekdays 9 a.m. to noon, except holidays.