How I girdle avocado trees
Girdling is a technique that can be used to manipulate the growth, flowering, and fruiting of an avocado tree. I use it mostly to make a tree fruit every year rather than every other year. Various tools and versions of the technique have been developed by avocado...
Food rankings
What do you eat? What should you eat? This is a brief, food-for-thought post. Here I put something out there that I'd like to hear your thoughts on because you probably know more about food and think more about food than most people due to the fact that you are a...
September and October in Jacques’ garden
September got busy for us so Jacques and I toured his garden for ripe treats in early October. We tasted fruits that are mostly available in both months: September + October. But a few usually aren't ready until October (persimmons and macadamia nuts). As usual in...
Persimmons u-pick: Shoemaker Farm in Ramona, San Diego County
Shoemaker Farm (now called Ramona Fresh Fruits) will open for the 2025 persimmon picking season on Wednesday, October 29. The farm address is 18131 Traylor Road, Ramona 92065. Bring cash or Venmo to pay for your persimmons. Check for hours and updates at the Ramona...
Growing apples in Southern California
I continue to plant apple trees in my yard because my kids eat so many and they’re easy to grow. Yes, apples are very easy to grow in Southern California. Some of the best varieties even grow well here despite apples being associated with colder climates. In fact,...
A tour of John Schoustra’s innovative, organic, low-input, high-density avocado grove
You've never been to an avocado grove like John Schoustra's. At least I haven't. From afar, it's just avocado trees on some hills and it doesn't appear unique. But up close, and with a guide to explain what you are seeing, you realize that the grove is a petri dish of...
Growing dragon fruit in Southern California
When my friend Brad started growing dragon fruit some years back, his friend Simon told him not to bother with any variety except 8-S, which is also called Sugar Dragon. “I’ve tried all the other ones,” Simon told him. “Don’t bother. Just grow 8-S.” “But I have to try...
Removing avocados to prevent sunburn
Right on the coast this is less important, but inland you'll find it beneficial to thin the crop on certain branches of avocado trees. By inland, I mean roughly five miles or farther from the water, and by thin, I mean remove some of the avocados. Rather than describe...









Recent comments