Read more about the article Field Trip: Huntington Herb Garden
The bees enjoyed the flowers of bolting kale and mustard greens.

Field Trip: Huntington Herb Garden

Continue ReadingField Trip: Huntington Herb Garden

Spring is a beautiful time to visit botanical gardens, and Southern California does not disappoint. The Huntington Library and Gardens is off the charts in May with flora and fauna. We took a visit to the Huntington Herb Garden after tea last weekend to see what's growin' on. Perennial herbs including Rosemary and thyme form clear boundaries for this formal garden. Annual crops fill in the spaces in between. The end of the season can be as beautiful as the…

Read more about the article May To-Dos
May flowers are here! Let's enjoy them.

May To-Dos

Continue ReadingMay To-Dos

It's May, everyone! We love the garden in May. It really gets going right about now, which means there's no time to rest. If you haven't planted spring or summer crops yet, now is the time. If they're already in the ground, we're here to help you keep them happy. Here's your list of May To-dos: May To-Dos Deadhead spent flowers to keep them producing through spring. Hand-pollinate squash plants in the morning before flowers shrivel up. By 9 a.m.…

Read more about the article Ask Gardenerd: How to Harvest and Store Red Onions
Our home grown red onion

Ask Gardenerd: How to Harvest and Store Red Onions

Continue ReadingAsk Gardenerd: How to Harvest and Store Red Onions

A timely question came in to Ask Gardenerd this week: "How do you harvest and store red onions? - Pete" Hi Pete, great question. It's that time of year, if you planted bulb onions in the fall, to harvest them for storage. If you're just planting them now, you'll harvest in late summer or fall. Red, yellow and white bulb onions all follow the same rules when it comes to harvesting and storing. Let's look at how to harvest them…

Read more about the article Thinning Fruit on Apple Trees
Tiny Fuji apples from our first harvest. Didn't thin - how else can you fit 7 apples in one hand?

Thinning Fruit on Apple Trees

Continue ReadingThinning Fruit on Apple Trees

Every gardener does it. We get so excited about impending fruit that we don't do what's best for the tree. We see all those tiny blossoms, then tiny orbs, and we stop using our rational brain in hopes of more, more, more. Thinning fruit from our fruit trees ensures larger fruit and a healthier tree. Young trees often become misshapen when they are laden down with more fruit than their branches can bear. So let's review techniques for thinning fruit…

Read more about the article New Toy: Compost Tea Sprayer
The unit comes with several tip options. We like the brass sprayer (beware of lead, though).

New Toy: Compost Tea Sprayer

Continue ReadingNew Toy: Compost Tea Sprayer

Last year after taking Dr. Elaine Ingham's Soil Food Web intensive, I ran out and purchased a piston-pump sprayer to take my compost tea to the next level. Compost tea is great for plant roots and soil health, but it also makes a great foliar feed (using said compost tea sprayer). Plants respond with a jump in growth, and a reduction in surface- or soil-born fungal infestations. Since tomato season is here, and blight is never far behind here in…

Read more about the article Where’s Gardenerd – New Orleans, Louisiana

Where’s Gardenerd – New Orleans, Louisiana

Continue ReadingWhere’s Gardenerd – New Orleans, Louisiana

Mr. Nerd made his way from Northern California to New Orleans this month, where he visited Eugene Arceneaux. Doesn't that name just scream New Orleans? We love to see the slices of cross-culture Mr. Nerd experiences on his travels. What's growing in Louisiana right now? Let's find out. Mr. Nerd kept Eugene company while Eugene planted his tomatoes, peppers, bush beans and more. He starts his seeds in seed trays, then transplants them to red Solo cups (roomy enough for…

Stopping Sow Bugs

Continue ReadingStopping Sow Bugs

Sow bugs can be beneficial to the garden (or at least your compost bin) because they till the soil and are part of the Soil food web. But they are a problem because they eat decaying matter. But they also love strawberries.

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