Take Cover
Cover crops not only fix nitrogen, but help sequester carbon in soils.
Ground turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties.
Ask Gardenerd: Growing Turmeric
An interesting question came in to Ask Gardenerd this week: "My friend and I both live in central South Carolina. Last year we planted turmeric plants in our yards. Now we realize that we need to know how and when to harvest these plants. What should they look like? Do they need to be stored for a time before using the root? (like some potatoes and onions). Please give us some general ideas and tips. Thank you. Evelyn" We love…
A mixture of lettuces and kale, planted from nursery transplants, allow residents to see the difference between starting from seed and buying from the nursery.
Design: Therapeutic Garden For Recovery
Every once in awhile we get to be part of something big. Build a garden that really makes a difference. This is one of those gardens. For those who've never heard about "horticultural therapy," take a look at the latest garden we installed in October. It's a therapeutic garden for recovery. Horticultural therapy is all about engaging people in the act of gardening to improve well-being. We garden for health, well-being, and sanity, right? Horticultural therapy goes a little farther,…
Gifts from the Garden
Garden-made gifts take time, but if you start now they'll be ready in time for the holidays.
Multicolored carrots include Yellowstone, Cosmic Purple and Scarlet Nantes
Yes, Virginia, There is a Winter Garden
So many people are shocked to discover that you can grow food in winter. In many places, where the ground freezes, it is more challenging but still possible. In warm-winter climates like Los Angeles, it's a piece of cake. Folks flock to Hollywood from other parts of the country, for stardom, yes, but mainly for the weather. If you've never grown a winter garden, let's start now. It's December, and for colder locations it's too late to plant, so take…
Where's Gardenerd? In a Hinau tree (Elaeocarpus dentatus) at a local park.
Where’s Gardenerd: Spring in New Zealand!
Imagine our joy when we saw the first photos documenting Where's Gardenerd popping up in New Zealand last week. Perfect timing because it's spring in the Southern Hemisphere, and gardens are going gangbusters there. David Scully took the challenge and ran with it. He took Gardenerd to local parks and rivers to share with us armchair travelers the flora and fauna of New Zealand. He posted his adventures on Instagram through his feed @David_Suclly. Check this out: Apparently a Dragon…
Pruning Bulbs and Grasses
Time to do some Fall cleaning to help support the coming months
In progress. Hauling in the mammoth raised beds.
Design: Tall Beds for Deep Roots
We recently completed a new garden installation in Sherman Oaks, CA, where a homeowner wanted tall raised beds to remind her of her garden in Oregon. Stately, tall beds with plenty of root space for veggies to grow big and strong. Gardenerd was happy to oblige. The space was already mapped out with a foundation of decomposed granite. So we knew drainage would be great. Located near the family pool, the garden would be out of the way enough to…
Parsnips, carrots, a purple sweet potato and Yukon potato
Thanksgiving Dishes from the Garden
In a pinch about what to make this Thanksgiving? Let Gardenerd help you. We've got a stash of recipes using all your favorite fall-harvest crops. Revisit a few Gardenerd Gazettes and you'll have more than enough for your Thanksgiving table. When it comes to Thanksgiving dishes it's really about the sides. Roasted veggies, garlicky greens, new potatoes, sweet potatoes! Check out these recipes to fill your menu with color and home-grown goodness. Root Vegetable Jambalaya – okay, not at all…
Save the Tomatoes?
Tomatoes need temperatures above 70 degrees to set fruit.