Blog - Page 107 of 216

Gopher hole next to a Romanesco plant. Luckily the Romanesco got out alive.

Ask Gardenerd: What don’t Squirrels, Gophers and Rabbits Eat?

A question came into Ask Gardenerd last week: "What don't gophers, squirrels, and rabbits like, as I have no veggie luck. Renee" Oh, Renee, I wish I could say there is a food in the garden that these creatures don't like, but the truth is with very few exceptions they love them all. Some folks say the onion family wards away critters, but I've had gophers take down my leeks and onions from roots to green tips. Squirrels love my…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 24, 2015
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:4 Comments

Tomato Chooser

There are over 600 varieties of tomatoes out there. How do you know which options will work for you?

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 20, 2015
Post category:Blog
Post comments:0 Comments

Lilac Verbena, verbena lilacina

Wordless Wednesday: California Natives in Bloom

Everyone else's winter is California's spring. Check out these California natives in bloom. And not a California native, but certainly a trademark of California: More to come!

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 18, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
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Is gardening still possible with an injured hand?

How To Garden While Injured

It happens to everyone at some point, we get injured. Injury brings garden progress to a halt. All those plans for fruit tree pruning, rose pruning, turning compost piles, etc., stop dead while injuries heal. Or do they? I recently had a little roller disco accident while celebrating a friend's 40th birthday. I think it's needless to say, at this point, that "40th" and "roller disco" probably shouldn't be uttered in the same sentence. But it happened, and I've been…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 17, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:6 Comments

Bed Prep for Spring

Prepping your beds for spring is the most important task a gardener can do before planting..

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 13, 2015
Post category:Blog
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Keep Squirrels off My Fruit Trees

Squirrels will take a bite out of every single piece of fruit on your nectarine tree if they can. Here are some tips to keep them from getting their in the first place.

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 6, 2015
Post category:Blog
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Honey Nut from Renee's Seeds

New Seed Favorites for 2015

Now that we've finished combing through the pile of seed catalogs that came in the mail over the holidays, we've made our list of new seeds we'll be planting this spring. It's a Gardenerd tradition to share our new seed favorites for each year. Let 2015 be no exception. Several of our selections came to us via seed saving: Marina di Chioggia David King at the Seed Library of Los Angeles handed out wedges of Marina di Chioggia squash last…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 4, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

Rosalind broccoli ready to harvest

When to Harvest Broccoli?

I get this question all the time: how do you know when broccoli is ready to harvest? The answer is in your fingertips. You can tell when to harvest broccoli by touching the head, or bud (that's what broccoli is, a cluster of flower buds), and squeezing. If the head is firm and tight, and about the diameter that is expected for the variety you've grown, it's ready to pick. If the head gives when you squeeze it, or there…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 3, 2015
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:2 Comments

Make your own Seed Tape

This tip comes from Organic Gardening magazine and Jeff Cox’s book 100 Greatest Gardening Ideas.

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 30, 2015
Post category:Blog
Post comments:0 Comments

Seed heads start to emerge from grassy stalks.

Growing White Sonora Wheat

Every year we experiment with growing a new grain, not only to enjoy it in the kitchen, but to generate biomass for the compost bin. This year we chose White Sonora Wheat, and heirloom wheat. According to Slow Food USA, White Sonora is "one of the oldest surviving wheat varieties anywhere in North America. Predating the Red Fife and Turkish Red wheat." Even small space gardeners can grow grains. In our 4x4 bed, the yield isn't high enough for a…

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 28, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:10 Comments