jimster, the soil was purchased from a local nursery this season, formulated for raised beds. While the mix does include sandy loam, It has added compost as well. When I dig down into the soil, it has a nice fluffy texture and is not dry, but not wet either ... slightly damp, I'd say. The plants were fertilized with EB Stone organics for tomatoes and vegetables a week ago. I neglected to fertilize the soil when I planted the seeds.

wind.. high winds flap the leaves around.. and they shred themselves on their own thorns ... when jean suggested mechanical.. most of us read that to mean.. IGNORE IT ... there is nothing to do.. and as a newbie.. do understand.. that leaves take a heck of a beating over the season.. and do not look martha stewart perfect all year long ... the leaf is green.. and still functioning.. there is nothing for you to do.. nor worry about.. ken

Woolly whitefly. Common on citrus in your area. From Univ of CA http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7401.html Here is a link that might be useful: re whiteflies, including woolly

Hmm...that looks like what I thought was black citrus aphids on my Ponkan which I wrote about in another post. It is strange how it keeps going after that one tree. I keep spraying and cleaning it off with oil spray or soapy spray but it keeps reappearing. I hope it does not spread to my other trees. The new leaves are beginning to harden up on the tree now so I hope the bug will soon give up on it, but also am afraid it will start looking at the new growrh on my other trees. I treat them all with the sprays. I can't figure out where they are coming from as I don't see any ants nor what about it that attracts them to that particular tree. I have another Ponkan at the other end of the greenhouse and so far that is not attracting them. I think maybe that is because that tree gets a lot of air movement as it is nearer a fan. I keep suspecting my hibiscus may be the host as I usually keep them away from my other plants as they are notorious bug magnets, but even they seem bug free so far and not near this particular tree. Maybe they are in the soil of that particular tree, but I have even drenched the soil and I am still getting the black aphid or black fly back for now about 2 months. It is interesting to me that it likes that particular tree. Cory