I get this question all the time: how do you know when broccoli is ready to harvest? The answer is in your fingertips. You can tell when to harvest broccoli by touching the head, or bud (that's what broccoli is, a cluster of flower buds), and squeezing. If the head is firm and tight, and about the diameter that is expected for the variety you've grown, it's ready to pick. If the head gives when you squeeze it, or there…
A question came in to Ask Gardenerd this week about fruit trees: "What peaches grow best and are most flavorful in Mar Vista? Also what types of plums/pluots? I live in west Mar Vista, CA. Thanks for your help and for the emails. - Reeba" Before you decide which fruit trees you want in your home orchard, you need to determine which trees you can actually grow. That is to say, which will produce fruit in your climate. Let's talk…
We love this question that came in to Ask Gardenerd this week: "I planted celery about 6 weeks ago (from the chopped off part of market celery) and it is doing well. The stalks are now about 1/2 inch thick. When do I wrap it and how to make the stalks turn white." - Audrey Bishop Thanks for your question, Audrey. Here's your answer: You've got time. Blanching, for those who aren't familiar, is the process of covering celery stalks…
A great question came into Ask Gardenerd this week: "Do you have any tips on getting rid of root rot nematodes? Thanks! - Max" There are natural ways to rid or drastically reduce your soil of pesky nematodes, Max. But first a clarifying question: when you say "root rot nematodes" did you mean "root knot nematodes?" Root rot is usually caused by something else, like a fungus or by critters like beetle grubs eating the roots. Root knot, on the…
A question came into Ask Gardenerd this week that I even asked myself last year: "First year planting swamp milkweed for Monarchs - just had two butterflies exit their cocoons this morning. Had five plants this year - going big next year. Question - lots of info on how to get plants started but nothing on end of season maintenance. Should we cut back the stems on the existing plants or do we just leave them? Not sure what to…
An eager gardenerd wrote into Ask Gardenerd last week asking, "What crops can I grow in low-light conditions (5 hours of sunlight)?" Since not everyone has access to full sun, we're guessing this question has come up at least a few times for our readers. Here's the answer: You're in luck! There are many low-light crops that will keep you eating all season long. With 5 hours of sunlight, you can grow all the greens, as well as many root…
A great question came in this week to Ask Gardenerd: "It's Yvette from Mar Vista!!! I have a BURNING QUESTION!!! We have a big big rainbow eucalyptus tree in our front yard that is causing big, big problems with our raised beds...the roots (mostly small tangly ones) keep invading and stealing all the water and nutrients from them and we had a horrible harvest...we want to put in a root barrier but we don't know anything about it. Might you…
It's time for a new YouTube video, and this one is about storing seeds to keep them vital for years. It's as simple as 1, 2, 3, and we'll walk you through it. Seeds lose viability if stored improperly. By storing them in the right way, you'll save money, and you'll be ready for survival after the zombie apocalypse when the time comes. Storing Seeds to Make them Last for Years See? It's pretty straight forward and simple. How do…
We've been busy making instructional videos, and the latest one is all about harvesting compost. Here you'll learn simple tricks and tools to get your compost from the bin to the garden bed in an efficient way. We've event added a few tips on what to do with the grubs you find in there, and a bit about compostable cutlery. As you probably know, compost is the most important ingredient in a healthy garden. You'll enrich your soil and enhance…
We've posted a new YouTube video about harvesting and storing leeks for winter. You'll find a neat trick for keeping leeks on hand all winter long. Learn the best way to choose which leeks to pick and how to keep a continuous supply growing. Tune into YouTube each week for a new garden tip, and be sure to subscribe if you haven't already. To learn more about growing leeks and what to do with them, check out these other blog…