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Like a Moth to the Apple

A new question came in to Ask Gardenerd this week:

“Hi, My mom has a very good fuji apple tree, but we lose a lot of apples to worms. Is there a natural, organic, non-Monsanto something that would help deter pests? Thank you, -Michael”

I’m so glad that you are seeking an alternative method to prevent this problem! It’s so easy to grab a bottle off the shelf and start spraying. Let’s see what we can do to get you on the road
to apple tree salvation. …

Italy Travelogue: Farmers’ Markets Abroad

In the last few years, Los Angeles has seen an abundance of Farmers’ Markets popping up all over town. People are longing to get back to the way things used to be, by buying fresh local produce
straight from the farmer. Well, in Italy it still is the way it used to be, and nothing proves it more than a visit to a Farmers’ Market.

There are many towns, even cities, in Italy where supermarkets do not exist. Instead the locals get their food needs met by stopping at the baker on the …

When to Pick an Avocado

This week a question came in from a student at my Santa Monica College class:

“I am wondering what is the best time (or how do I know when) to pick an avocado [off a tree]. Thanks and I really learned a whole bunch in your class! Best, John”

Now I confess, I told John to send his question in to Ask Gardenerd because I didn’t know the answer. We joke around here at Gardenerd that if I can’t …

Harvesting Pomegranates

Do you ever wonder how the first person ever figured out how to do certain things? Like who figured out that rhubarb stalks are tasty eating, but the
leaves are poisonous? Or who figured out that soy beans have to be cooked in order to be digestible? If you’re wondering who figured out how to open a pomegranate without getting
red stains all over themselves, I can tell you – it was my friend Lynn Jordan.
…

Scale – Not the Weighing Kind

A question came in this week about scale:

“I have two large tree mallows (grown as shrubs) with a very heavy scale infestation. A local nursery recommends using a petroleum oil spray. Is there another effective, greener
solution?”

Yes, I can definitely suggest an alternative to petroleum sprays, but first – a little understanding about what scale is:

Scale is an insect, but it looks and behaves more like a mollusk. There are soft …

Olive Oil in Ojai

A quick weekend getaway was in order – some place warm and cozy, and filled with joyful memories. Ojai, CA fit the bill. It was the location
of our destination wedding five years ago. Laden with orange groves, olive and avocado trees, and lavender fields, Ojai (pronounced Oh-Hi) combines the small town feeling of local farmers with
the artist community of hippies. On a weekend with no plans, we found ourselves pretty busy.
…

Kumquats R Us

Let it be known that the kumquats are here. Lots of them. More than we know what to do with.

We planted a kumquat tree as an appetite suppressant for my husband. During “snack attack” moments, instead of opening the refrigerator, he wanders out to the front yard and eats a few kumquats. (He
also drinks grapefruit juice for the same reason). The flavor is so powerful – that combination of tart and sweet – that he desires nothing for several hours after …

Testing Sunlight

Here’s a recent question that came in last week:

“I have lots of shade but some sun in my front yard. Combination of city trees, large bushes I don’t want to part with etc. I seem to remember a device that one can put in a spot to determine
the amount of sun it gets per day. I want to try to incorporate veggies into the landscape and this would help tell me where. Do you know where I might find this and …