Pruning, Planting and Protecting, Oh My! January is a very busy month in California and other mild winter gardens! So put away those holiday decorations, oil up those pruning tools and get outside in the crispy January air! Here’s what to do in January: Pruning Roses don’t really go dormant in mild winter areas, but […]
Navel Oranges Ready to Harvest
Harvesting, Storing, and Using Navel Oranges Just when there isn’t much fruit to harvest in the garden, the navel oranges are ripe! Nothing says ‘California’ like a bowl full of bright oranges on your counter! Especially if you have East Coast relatives visiting over the holidays! If you are lucky enough to have an orange […]
Strawberry Pot Veggie Garden
Short on Space? Strawberry pots are a great way to get lots of plants in a small space. Suggested combos: – Tomato with herbs (shown) – Blueberry bush with strawberries – Peas or beans (use 3 bamboo poles as teepee trellis) with lettuce – Bell pepper with arugula and spinach Or any number of combos! […]
Strawberries! Bareroot Planting Time!
It’s that ‘bare root’ time of year in Southern California! Roses, fruit trees, and yes, even strawberries, are available this time of year in the ‘bare root’ stage. Why plant bare root? – The plants are somewhat dormant so they are less subject to transplant shock. – There are more varieties available. – Best […]
Got Grapes?
Thompson Seedless Grapes Why grow grapes? They make a beautiful and lush addition to a patio cover or fence AND provide delicious fruit! If grown on a patio cover, the hanging fruit is stunning and so fun to watch mature! Are they hard to grow? No! If anything, they grow too well and require a […]
Bountiful Berries: Part 3 – Boysenberries
Harvest in May/June Flowering in April YUMMMM!!!!!! There is nothing more flavorful than a boysenberry picked at the peak of ripeness! And the only way to get them is to grow your own, because they are so fragile that growers have to pick them before they get to that stage. Fortunately, they are easy to […]
Bountiful Berries: Part 2, Blueberries
How to Grow Blueberries If you live in an area that has acidic soil, you can plant blueberries right in the ground. But if, like me, you live in an area that has alkaline soils, it’s best to grow blueberries in pots in an acidic potting soil. Five Simple Steps to Delicious Blueberries: 1. Choose […]
Bountiful Berries: Part 1, Strawberries
Strawberry plants produce blossoms, green, and mature fruit all at the same time. How did they get the name “strawberry”?In the ‘olden’ days, farmers mulched the plants with straw, not plastic like today. So they called the berries “straw” berries! Hot weather marks the end of the productive season for strawberries. The plants prefer moderate […]