A question came in from Karen at Ask Gardenerd this week: "During these very hot summer days, what's the best time of day to water my vegetable garden?" Irrigation is key during hot weather in climates where rain is scarce. Here in Los Angeles, where days are topping 108° in the Valley and other inland areas, and rain is non-existent, it's important to water regularly to keep plants happy. But when? It's a good question. Ideal watering times Watering is…
The last video in our Plants for Pollinators Series on YouTube is all about vegetables and fruits for bees. A diversity of crop varieties will give bees plenty to forage on during the summer when there is a dearth of flowering plants. Grow crops like peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, squash, beans, and melons to give bees something tasty to enjoy during the spring and summer. In fall and early spring, grow peas, cucumbers, lettuces and other greens and let them go…
Several questions came in all at once from David this week. He asks, "How do I get rid of flies that like to hang around in my back yard and bask in the sunlight? Also, why would my tomato plants not produce any fruit? The flowers just shrivel up and die. AND, what can I do to prevent the worms from eating my tomato's and apples? Thank you." Those are all great questions, David, with varied answers. Let's start with…
Today's post is from guest blogger, Maria Cannon. Maria has suffered from depression and anxiety, in addition to fibromyalgia, for years. Her hobbies--gardening, quilting, sewing, and knitting--play a major role in maintaining her mental health. She started Hobbyjr.org to help others use hobbies to help with their own problems. Take it away, Maria. For those living with chronic pain, it can seem like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Dealing with health issues every day is bad…
We garden as an act of freedom. Our founding fathers gardened for sustenance. Whether we grow our own food for survival or to enjoy beauty around us, we are free to do it in our backyards, front yards, parkways (thanks to folks like Ron Finley) and community gardens. Let's celebrate our food independence with pictures of the abundance. Enjoy your summer garden and the freedom it brings. Share some of your favorite "independence" veggies and fruits below.
Happy 4th of July! Are you sick of zucchini yet? Here at Gardenerd we strive to find new ways to use zucchini, many of which hide the ubiquitous fruit well. This is not one of those recipes. This one features zucchini in all its glory. Baked Parmesan Zucchini. We featured this recipe on last week's Tip of the Week podcast, but here's the real deal to back it up. They're tender-crisp and great for eating while outside in the garden…
400+ Tips for Organic Gardening Success
A troubling question came into Ask Gardenerd this week from Jennifer: "I'm a new gardener (4 years), and EVERY SINGLE YEAR, vine borers eat my zucchini plants. But I keep planting them because they are my favorite!! None of my friends have this problem. I don't understand. I've moved them in the garden, planted marigolds, used DE, used foil at the bases, done "surgery" on my plants...and nothing works. Every June they all die and I am devastated. What else…