Wordless Wednesday Christy Bok Choy
Bok choy is ready! You can harvest individual leaves or the whole plant. This one was beginning to flower so we picked the whole thing.

Podcast: Year-End Thoughts with Christy

Continue ReadingPodcast: Year-End Thoughts with Christy

We've had great guests on the Gardenerd Tip of the Week Podcast this year. In our last episode of 2021, Christy shares her year-end thoughts from the year.

The All New Gardenerd Tip Of the Week Podcast

Continue ReadingThe All New Gardenerd Tip Of the Week Podcast

Spring brings a renewed sense of hope to our daily lives. We spring clean, we clear out the cobwebs; out with the old, in with the new. Such is the case with the Gardenerd Tip of the Week Podcast. For 10 years, we posted a weekly tip in 2-minutes or less. We ranked in the Top 5 gardening podcasts the entire time. It was fun, but after 10 years and 473 podcasts (and a book compiling all of those into…

golden Guardian marigolds
Golden Guardian marigolds reduce root-knot nematodes

Harvesting Seeds: Nematicidal Marigolds

Continue ReadingHarvesting Seeds: Nematicidal Marigolds

As you pull out your tomato plants this fall, check the roots for galls. These are lumpy swellings that indicate that you might have nematodes living in your soil that are stunting the tomato plant's growth. (You can learn more about it from our Got Nematodes podcast)

We had that problem last year so we planted Golden Guardian Marigolds, the roots of which contain a toxin that kills harmful nematodes. Now it's time to harvest the seeds and turn the crop under so it can do its job.
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Raita: a Tasty Cucumber Side Dish

Continue ReadingRaita: a Tasty Cucumber Side Dish

Low-level panic strikes when the pile of cucumbers from the garden starts to become overwhelming. What to do?  If you've already made "spa water" with cucumber and orange slices in a pitcher of water, and you've been scooping up hummus with sliced cucumbers every day, try an Indian side dish that will help dwindle down your supply.

Cucumber Raita (ra-yee-ta) is an Indian/Pakistani condiment made with yogurt that is usually used to cool the palate when eating spicy foods. It can have its own degree of spice, with mustard seeds or paprika, ...

Earwigs Don’t Wear Wigs

Continue ReadingEarwigs Don’t Wear Wigs

We get a lot of pest control questions at Ask Gardenerd. Here's one now:

"Hey Christy, Love your blog - thanks for all the great tips and pics!  I live in Culver City and a year ago I turned my whole back yard into a garden with raised beds. I'm loving it but have noticed lately I have TONS of earwigs. I think they're eating all my veggies, and strawberries for that matter. Any tips on getting rid of them?  Everything I read says to put out cardboard so they will congregate ...

Growing Grains in Small Spaces

Continue ReadingGrowing Grains in Small Spaces

A great question came in to Ask Gardenerd this week:

"I am looking to purchase a variety of grain seeds. Not bulk, not for production? Yet. My goal is start growing and saving seeds from planter pots, as my yard is xeriscaped and I am in the process of trying to sell my home. This way once I move I should have seeds for planting a small scale grain garden for personal use. Where can I find open-pollinated grain seeds that are not planting a whole flappin' acre at a time?"
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My, What Trellises You Have

Continue ReadingMy, What Trellises You Have

A question came in this week to Ask Gardenerd:

"I was cycling in Silverlake and saw your garden you've setup for a greyish building! It looked great!  I was especially intrigued by the interesting bean & tomato trellises you have. I know this is technically "consulting", but where can I get my hands on some of those for my garden?"

You must mean the Dream Center Garden that I've been working on for over a year now. We planted 24 tomatoes and nearly 100 peas in just ...

Keeping Cucurbits “Cloche” By

Continue ReadingKeeping 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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