Read more about the article Winter Harvest
Cool Season Crops

Winter Harvest

Continue ReadingWinter Harvest

After being gone for 10 days up the coast of California during what could be called the most beautiful summer-like winter weather Northern California has ever seen, my husband and I have returned to find the gardens thriving.  Some veggies are just coming into fullness, while others - like the Osaka Purple Mustard - are finishing up.  We came home to find a bright yellow flower shooting out the top of overgrown mustard greens (we couldn't possibly have kept up with the production of those giant leaves).  We also found tiny, bright white, waxy cauliflower heads starting to ...

LA Times Article on Victory Gardens

Continue ReadingLA Times Article on Victory Gardens

For those like me who don't get the paper, here is the recent article by Mary MacVean on the resurgence of Victory Gardens in Los Angeles.  It appeared in the Saturday, January 10th edition of the Home and Garden section of the Times.  Enjoy!


http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-victory10-2009jan10,0,7167635.story ...

An Ailing Meyer Lemon

Continue ReadingAn Ailing Meyer Lemon

A desperate plea came in this week that sounds like a 911 call:

"New meyer lemon dwarf tree doing poorly, yellow leaves, flowers dropped off. So sad....Help! Suggestions?"

You said the magic word - new.  I'm guessing that your lemon tree is suffering from transplant shock in some way.  It can take around 3 weeks for a plant to show signs of it,  but chances of survival are pretty good , especially in winter, if you address it right away.  Here's what I can say about it and other possible problems your tree might be suffering from:

Yellow leaves - There are a ...

Building a Recycled Compost Tumbler

Continue ReadingBuilding a Recycled Compost Tumbler

Someone from my home town wrote in recently:

"I am trying to track down a used food-grade barrel to make a compost tumbler. Do you have any idea where to check? I really want to reuse one and not buy new. I'm in 93065 zip code. (Simi Valley) Preferably it would be one with an lid that can open.Thanks for your help.  PS I live in a small space hence the need for a tumbler. Also I don't think I'll be churning very often so I'm avoiding a bucket composter."


I grew up in Simi ...

Planting a Nectarine Tree

Continue ReadingPlanting a Nectarine Tree

For those who have been tracking our landscaping project, you might recall there are 5 spaces for fruit trees in the front yard, and only 4 trees.  On Christmas Eve, the final addition arrived via FedEx (upside-down, despite the multiple appearances of "up" arrows all over the box, thank you very much).  Our Fantasia semi-dwarf nectarine arrived virtually safe and sound, with only a couple of broken branches.  Admittedly, I had never planted a bare root fruit tree before. I've killed a couple bare root roses in the past, so ...

End of content

No more pages to load