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Chris Smith amongst his okra

Podcast: The Whole Okra with Chris Smith

Chris Smith is obsessed with okra, and in our latest podcast we explore his new book on the endless possibilities of this oft-scorned fruit. The Whole Okra: A Seed To Stem Celebration, recounts Smith's endeavor to trial 72 varieties of okra in North Carolina. It is a "lighthearted but information-rich collection of okra history, lore, recipes, craft projects, growing advice, and more". Chris Smith amongst his okra We chat about his homestead, his fascination with pressing seeds for oil, and…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 21, 2019
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

Magenta tree spinach (Chenopodium giganteum) spotted at the Santa Monica Main Street Community Garden. It's both edible and beautiful!

Wordless Wednesday: Spring Delights

Spring delights are already abundant here in Los Angeles. Step outside and you're greeted with the fragrance of wisteria overhead, or the wild Painted Lady butterfly migration all around. Loquats are ripening, artichokes are sending up buds, and the SuperBloom is showcasing southern California like never before. Here are some photos to inspire you on the first day of spring. Loquats are ready! These delicate fruits don't store or ship well, so grow your own! Wisteria buds open, scenting the…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 20, 2019
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:1 Comment

Ask Gardenerd: Green Worms on My Brassicas

We get questions like this one from Jody all the time: "Last year I ripped everything out of my garden, put fresh soil in and decided rather last minute to do an edible landscape. It was beyond anything I could have expected or hoped for, but what really was trouble was the white butterflies infesting/laying eggs/green worms in my cabbage, broccoli and kale.

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 13, 2019
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
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Image by violetta from Pixabay

Ask Gardenerd: Guinea Pig Poop?

Eric K. writes Ask Gardenerd this week about using guinea pig poop in the garden: "Can I use guinea pig poop as fertilizer for tomatoes? And since we have a never-ending supply, can I keep dumping it into the soil all summer long, or is there a point at which it's just too much?

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 12, 2019
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:12 Comments

Podcast: Fun with Plants with Amy Stewart

This week's podcast features a conversation with Amy Stewart, the New York Times best selling author of Wicked Plants, Flower Confidential, and The Drunken Botanist. We chat about her latest novel series, The Kopp Sisters, and Amy shares some of her favorite plants to grow for cocktails. Amy Stewart, image courtesy of Delightful Eye Photography Gardening & Writing Hand in Hand Our conversation reveals that her passion for writing came first, followed by gardening. She later found gardening to be…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 7, 2019
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
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Black Magic kale sprouts under grow lights.

Wordless Wednesday: Start Your Engines!

The time has come to plant your garden, whether indoors or out. Start seeds, amend soils, and bring dreams into reality this month. Soon you'll taste the rewards of today's toil. But it's not really toil, it's a labor of love. May this Wordless Wednesday inspire your gardening activities this week. Barry's Crazy Cherry tomato sprouts under grow lights. Black Magic kale sprouts under grow lights. It's bred to be durable in hot weather. Using the link helps Gardenerd make…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 6, 2019
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:1 Comment

Kale of all sorts grow under grow lights for 16 hours per day.

Spindly Seedlings under Grow Lights?

This week we received two questions about the same problem: spindly or stunted seedlings under grow lights. One gardenerd said her seedlings were still leggy, even though she situated the grow light 2-3" above the leaves. The other gardenerd said her seedlings were just not growing.

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 27, 2019
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:1 Comment

Aphids are the major reason why our kale meets its end in March. Time for something new.

YouTube: Battling Aphids without Bug Spray

Our latest video is timely as the winter gardening season winds down. Some crops grow tired at the end of the season, as indicated by massive aphid infestations on greens like kale, chard, and spinach.

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 26, 2019
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:4 Comments

Erica Wohldmann shows off her foraged stash.

Podcast: Foraging with Erica Wohldmann

My guest this week is Erica Wohldmann, professor of Psychology at Cal State University Northridge and avid forager of urban and wild places. She spent 6 months gathering food and medicine in the forest to live off, without spending a single dollar on meals. She shares her knowledge and philosophy with us today. Erica Wohldmann shows off her foraged stash. Foraging in Urban and Wild Places Erica talks about what to look for when foraging for mushrooms in the forests.…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 21, 2019
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

Our pomegranate tree leafed out this week. So exciting!

Wordless Wednesday: Signs of Spring

With recent rain storms, the garden is going gangbusters. Signs of spring are everywhere. Here's some inspiration for what is to come regardless of whether you're gardening now, or your garden is knee deep under snow. A bee with full pollen pockets inspects a bok choy flower. Our pomegranate tree leafed out this week. So exciting! We cut down our cover crop, chopped it up, and covered it with compost. It will be ready to plant 3 weeks later. It's…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 13, 2019
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments