What's Growin' On Archives - Page 73 of 141

Slice shallots thin. Pieces should be evenly sized if possible.

Preserving Shallots

Shallots are a luxury. They're expensive and they don't store for long. So we grow them ourselves. But when it's time to harvest, that last part (about not storing for long) becomes an issue. Enter our solar food dryer. Preserving shallots is easy when you dehydrate them. Dried shallots are perfect because they store all year long, they reconstitute easily in most dishes and they pass for fresh in flavor. Whether you use dried shallots in scrambled eggs, soups, or…

Post author:Christy
Post published:June 21, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:3 Comments

Blue Beauty tomato shows true blue. We just fed the tomatoes with compost tea.

Wordless Wednesday: Summer Gardening Never Stops

Summer Solstice is almost here. The garden still needs attention, and evidence of the rewards close at hand are everywhere. Time to feed, weed and guide your plants along into summer. Summer Gardening The garden doesn't go on vacation even if we do. Give your garden a little love this summer and it will keep going while you're gone.

Post author:Christy
Post published:June 15, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
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Droppings and munching are a clear sign you have tomato hornworms.

YouTube: How to Find Tomato Hornworms

You know it's summer when you see holes in your tomatoes. Tomato hornworms can ruin a perfectly good tomato plant (and experience). We're here to show you how to find them amid the chaos of tomato foliage. There's a trick. Watch below as we demonstrate (or at least try) to hunt for tomato worms in our latest YouTube video: How To Find Tomato Hornworms Finding pests takes diligence. Check your plants regularly to stop critters before they do too much…

Post author:Christy
Post published:June 14, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:3 Comments

Christy the Riveter models Rosie's Workwear professional overalls.

Review: Rosie’s Workwear

I first spotted Rosie's Workwear overalls at the Heirloom Expo several years ago. The company has a great concept: work overalls made for women in the spirit of Rosie the Riveter. The display rack featured feminine colors, stylish overalls and coveralls in durable fabrics. I talked myself out of buying a pair every year. I'm really good at that. Fast forward to April 2016, when Rosie's contacted me to ask if I would review their newest product, the professional-grade overall.…

Post author:Christy
Post published:May 24, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:3 Comments

Cobweb Spiderwort is an unusual and macabre water-wise plant.

Field Trip: Dallas Arboretum

We traveled to Texas last week to help a friend sort out her landscape design for her new home. While there, we took in the sites including the Dallas Arboretum. It gave us a chance to see what's growin' on in Texas between thunderstorms. North Texas is still suffering from drought, I am told, but the Dallas area was lush and green from plentiful spring rains. I was curious to see what plants grow well in Texas. The Arboretum helped…

Post author:Christy
Post published:May 18, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:1 Comment

The photo from which the book's title came. Read the book to find out where and when it was taken.

Review: From Cows to Concrete

An author must support her fellow wordsmiths, especially when a book takes 7 years to produce from concept to publication. Rachel Surls, of UC Cooperative Extensions' Master Gardener program, and Judith Gerber, a friend in the LA garden scene and author of Farming in Torrance and the South Bay, have painstakingly researched and documented the history of agriculture in Los Angeles in their new book, From Cows to Concrete: The Rise and Fall of Farming in Los Angeles. I had…

Post author:Christy
Post published:May 17, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:1 Comment

Mittens the supercat protects the garden from vermin.

Wordless Wednesday: May Gardening

Keep planting until there's no more space! This Wordless Wednesday is brought to you by ambition and hope. Two great qualities to have when gardening in spring. It's time to plant, and enjoy your garden as it grows. Happy gardening!

Post author:Christy
Post published:May 11, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
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The bees enjoyed the flowers of bolting kale and mustard greens.

Field 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…

Post author:Christy
Post published:May 10, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

May flowers are here! Let's enjoy them.

May 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.…

Post author:Christy
Post published:May 4, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

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

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…

Post author:Christy
Post published:April 27, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:4 Comments