Apparently we’ve written 1,000 posts on the Gardenerd Blog since 2006, not including monthly newsletters. That number sounds small compared to the wealth of information available in our archives. At the same time it’s huge and accounts for hours of typing, researching, and exploring this wondrous thing called organic vegetable gardening. Happy anniversary, Gardenerds! You got us here!
To celebrate the first post of our next thousand, let’s look at what’s happening in the winter garden in Southern California.
Anniversary Photos
Loquats are beginning to ripen. Tropical fruit in winter – crazy. It’s supposed to be 80 degrees all week here.Our first cauliflower in years. Winter was cold enough to produce a head. Maybe we’ll try again this fall.Blanching celery plant with newspaper. Tied into place (with foliage exposed on top) about 15 days before harvest to reduce bitterness and pungency.Yes, that’s a real-time tomato blossom in the January garden. One Missouri Pink tomato plant still thrives, so we left it. Fingers crossed for early tomatoes.Flowers sprout beneath a thick layer of mulch, a benefit of the slightest bit of rain. Love-in-a-Mist and California poppies.Winter lettuce patch is going strong. Time to sow new seeds for the spring round of salads.Shelling peas are ready for harvest, a few each day. We’re shelling and freezing them for later use.Tree kale cuttings we’re propagating since Bountiful Gardens (our source) closed its doors.Swallowtail caterpillar on curly parsley. They love it!
Spring is almost here. Let’s enjoy the winter while it lasts, but plan ahead for the coming season. Start seeds, tend compost piles, prep beds for planting. Thank you for reading the Gardenerd blog, and Happy gardening!
Many Congratulations! Happy to say we also have Swallowtail caterpillars on our Fennel.
Thanks Carrie and Mike. Glad to hear you are being graced with Swallowtails too!
CONGRATULATIONS
Aw shucks, thanks Mom and Dad.