Fall is here, cooler days are on the horizon and fall planting is well under way. (Full disclosure: I wrote this before election results came in so I'm assuming we'll all need a palette cleanser after all the stress.) Here are some highlights from the Gardenerd Test Garden this week.
Fall is here and it's time to change beds from summer to cool-weather crops. Peppers are hanging on, but kales and lettuces are making their way into the picture. Celebrate these transitions as fall planting time comes on. For help figuring out what to plant this fall, read our Fall Planting Guide (scroll down). Add compost to your beds, grab your seeds, and plant something!
The chickens are putting themselves to bed a little earlier every night, but I refuse to believe that summer is over. Temperatures will remain in the high 80's for at least another month here in Los Angeles. Soon we'll be starting seeds for fall, but right now it's harvest time. Enjoy this Wordless Wednesday as summer fades. Enjoy these final weeks of warm weather and sunshine. Fall will be here before you know it and cool season crops will…
It's hot, and the Dog Days of summer (July 3-Aug 11) promise to continue through the end of the month. Here's to keeping cool, and harvesting often. As I write this, one of our new hens is in the egg box for the first time. We await our first chocolate brown egg from our Cuckoo Maran. I'll post a picture if it happens today.
The garden is seeing a lot of action this summer. Winter squashes are setting fruit, corn is tasseling, and cucumbers are climbing trellises. The summer garden is ON, including the heat. Here's some inspiration to keep you going this summer. Water your plants early in the morning or after the heat of the sun has past in the afternoon. Soak roots deeply and use mulch everywhere. Your plants will reward you in return. Enjoy your summer garden and stay cool!
Summer Solstice is almost here, but since school is out and days are longer, it feels like summer already. It's time to watch plants grow, and to enjoy harvests from the garden. It's also time to tackle problems like pests, insufficient nutrients in soils, and diseases that set in right about now. Take action early to avoid compounding the problem and enjoy June Delights. Here's what's growin' on in the Gardenerd Test Garden. Enjoy the ups and downs of the…
Despite bouts with the flu, our recent bee loss, and discovering one of our new hens is a rooster, we're still hopeful about gardening as June approaches. Here are some photos to inspire you even in hard times. Setbacks are part of gardening. Even the smallest victories help keep us going. We're celebrating the harvest every day, and we're plugging away at the problems. Enjoy your garden no matter what is happening in life.
New growth brings hope of delicious rewards this spring. As the weather warms up, plants burst forth with young leaves, flowers, and foliage. It's also an early swarm season for bees; we've rescued 3 swarms so far from the same location in the Gardenerd Test Garden. Spring flourish, indeed! Enjoy these shots celebrating spring this week. Spring Flourish Never a dull moment here at Gardenerd. Happy spring gardening!
Busy times, people. Spring planting is on! We're planting gardens (our own and clients'). Squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, basil, and edamame are all going in the ground. Some from seed, some as transplants. It's that anxious waiting game to see what will sprout. What a great time to be alive! Enjoy these moments every day. Here's what's growin' on in our spring Test Garden these days. Get out there and plant something!
Spring is officially here! To celebrate, we're sharing some photos from the garden. Wisteria is blooming, hummingbirds are whizzing by, and flowers are attracting pollinators. It's a beautiful time to be still in the garden. Enjoy spring to its fullest! It's time to prep beds for planting. It's time to turn compost piles. It's time to get your hands in the dirt. Plant something (indoors or outside, whichever works for you). Eat salad greens, pick fruit, watch flowers bloom. Feel…