What's Growin' On Archives - Page 76 of 141

Rare, but becoming more available, Glass Gem Popping Corn is one to grow in 2016.

Garden New Year’s Resolutions 2016

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions. High expectations at the beginning of the year often lead to disappointment in a short time, once life steps in to remind us why we didn’t check off those resolutions last year. I’d rather make a list of hopes and aspirations for the year instead. Then each accomplishment is a celebration when achieved. We had a very busy 2015 here at Gardenerd, so the goal for this year is balance. Here…

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 5, 2016
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

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,…

Post author:Christy
Post published:December 8, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:4 Comments

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…

Post author:Christy
Post published:December 2, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:7 Comments

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…

Post author:Christy
Post published:November 25, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
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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…

Post author:Christy
Post published:November 24, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
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Proven Winners plants came to the door one day.

Proven Winners Winner

Not to brag or anything, but apparently that's what I am: a Proven Winners winner. I won 8 plants from Proven Winners and a set of Corona pruners at the Garden Writers Association Symposium back in September. Rather than ship the plants in spring (which is what they usually do) I convinced Team Proven Winner that perennials are best planted in Southern California in the fall. They were game. So last week I opened the door to find a box…

Post author:Christy
Post published:November 18, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

The new raised beds are still in a little bit of shade, but in the sunniest part of the yard. Surrounded by fruit trees and native plants.

Design: Front Yard Veggie Garden

We've been hard at work helping people get rid of their lawns in favor of edible front yard landscapes instead. Our latest garden is located inland where temperatures are high in summer, but large trees create a lot of shade; two conditions less than ideal for growing food. This new front yard veggie garden works around all that. The homeowners, both rabbis, wanted to incorporate as many of the Seven Mystic Fruits of Israel into their garden as would fit.…

Post author:Christy
Post published:November 17, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:1 Comment

All-blue, russet and red potatoes are jewels from the garden.

The Martian and His Potatoes…and Mistakes

Everyone, I mean everyone told me, "You must see The Martian. He grows potatoes on Mars." So I went. It was well done, except for a couple things: 1) No one could possibly stay that positive in those circumstances, and 2) His potato-growing experiment most assuredly would have failed. Walking out of the theater, my husband asked how accurate the potato farming was. After counting on my fingers the errors made, his first words were, "They should've asked you." Let's…

Post author:Christy
Post published:November 10, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:4 Comments

Artichoke hearts sold fresh, floating in water.

Field Trip: More Italy!

There's nothing quite so exotic as a farmers market in a foreign country. You get to see the staples of the local diet on display. Here in the US, we see peppers and eggplant and tomatoes just like in Italy, but the varieties are different and there's so much more. Radicchio, fennel, porcini mushrooms and chestnuts are readily available at Italian farmers markets right now. Just remember, the rules there are different: don't touch the produce, tell the vendor what…

Post author:Christy
Post published:October 28, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
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Once those eggs hatch, the worm grows from tiny (above) to fat and juicy. They'll destroy your plants in a day.

Fall Planting is Here!

It's still hot here in Los Angeles, but there have been a few cooler days that we took advantage of to plant out our fall brassicas. If you're ready for fall planting, now is a good time. Seeds will germinate more quickly in warmer weather (if you keep the seed bed moist) and you'll be picking salad greens in no time. Here's what's growin' on right now in our Test Garden. Potatoes, onions, brassicas, spinach, celery and more: Seedlings grown…

Post author:Christy
Post published:October 27, 2015
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments