What's Growin' On Archives - Page 111 of 137

Random cherry tomato volunteers suspiciously in the location of a recent potluck table.

Volunteer Tomatoes – Nature’s Slap in the Face

There is either a great blessing or a humbling cruelty to the fact that volunteer tomatoes grow bigger, faster and stronger than cultivated varieties. By volunteer, I mean the little sprouts that pushed out of the soil all on their own, not planted by me, not planted in rich garden soil, and not necessarily in full sun or even near any source of water. Yet despite these conditions, nature prevails.

I have two, possibly three volunteer tomatoes that popped up in the most unwitting locations. Observe specimen number 1:
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Post author:Christy
Post published:April 28, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:3 Comments

Lumpy Tangerines are Good Eating

Right now at the Farmers' Market, tasty citrus abounds. Here's the latest post about Golden Nugget Tangerines on Mar Vista's Bounty Hunter:

Don't Judge this Tangerine by its Cover

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Post author:Christy
Post published:April 20, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:0 Comments

New Tools – Christmas in…April

The tell-tale credit card statement reveals that yours truly has been shopping for gardening tools. It's spring - can you blame me?

While up north at the San Francisco Garden Show I stumbled upon the Lee Valley Tools booth. Oh dear, be still my heart. Before I knew it, my hands were wrapped around a Clarington Forge digging fork. Sturdy, rugged, hand-made, and for those of us who appreciate a good tool when we see one, beautiful. It was the easiest sale of the day. It ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:April 13, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

Gardenerd is Mar Vista’s Bounty Hunter

Gardenerd's Christy Wilhelmi became a columnist for Mar Vista Patch.com this week writing the weekly Farmer's Market report, Mar Vista's Bounty Hunter. If you love the Mar Vista Farmer's Market like we do, you can sign up on Patch.com to get the latest news about what's fresh at the Farmer's Market delivered right to your inbox.

This week's story is all about the strawberries. Even if you don't live in the Los Angeles area, you'll find some great tips about ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:April 12, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:0 Comments

Growing Kale – Ironman of the Garden

There's a thing that happens when someone discovers kale for the first time. They become addicted to it. Well, maybe not addicted, but if their experience is anything like mine was, they can't get enough of it. My intro to kale was with Esalen's Raw Kale Salad and I've been growing kale ever since.

What kind of kale is best? It depends upon your preference. Many people like the color and texture of Italian kale, also known as Lacinato (laa-chee-nah-toe) or Dinosaur kale, and because it is not ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:April 6, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:4 Comments

The Truth about Seed Balls

You've seen the news clips about seed balls being dispensed from gum ball machines and tossed lazily amongst the weeds in vacant lots, but what ever happens to them? Do they indeed sprout and blossom into beautiful wildflowers? Do they spruce up a desolate parkway in the midst of bustling city life?

I needed to find out for myself. So I bought two packages of seed balls for the Test Garden.

One set of seed balls was designed for hummingbirds, with larkspur, ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:April 5, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:0 Comments

Field Trip – San Francisco Garden Show

Question: What's more fun than planting your spring garden?

Answer: Going to a garden show filled with gardeners and garden gear to get new ideas about what to plant in your spring garden.

I ventured up to San Francisco last week to take in a convention-center-full of ideas and gardening joys. To my delight, there was a clear focus on edible landscaping and home food-gardening that offered fresh insight for home growers. A few favorites jumped out, so let's get right to it:

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Post author:Christy
Post published:March 30, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

Romantic Notions of Roasted Vegetables

In my early years of cooking, I found that my attempts at roasting vegetables ended with deflated, soggy lumps that once resembled fresh veggies. Perhaps that is why I still hold romantic notions about serving amazingly caramelized, oven-roasted, Mediterranean fare cooked to perfection at elegant parties.

Well, it may not have been an elegant party - just a thrown-together dinner for two based on this romantic notion - but success was finally achieved in the roasted vegetable department.

First, the old stand-by - baked/roasted home grown potatoes: ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 23, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:1 Comment

Keeping Cucurbits “Cloche” By

Maybe I'm a little anxious. Maybe I'm just ahead of the game. Really, though, I think I'm just excited about the coming of spring to the point that I can't hold it in any longer. See, I planted squash and cucumbers - I KNOW, I know... it's early... I can't help it. It may still be blustery and chilly out there, but I've got a plan to make everything alright:

Cloches - home made cloches - will keep my cucurbits happy until the weather warms up.

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Post author:Christy
Post published:March 9, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:4 Comments

Dream Center Garden Progress

In September 2009, I started working on a project for the Dream Center in downtown Los Angeles. It's been a long road, gathering grant money and donated supplies, but the Dream Garden is shaping up to be a fine reality for the residents of the Dream Center.

Today a team of about 15 people planted the first batch of transplants into the garden. The excitement was palpable as we placed plants in each bed, according to a diagram I made ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 8, 2011
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:5 Comments