How I open a pomegranate
My first memory of eating fruit involves being at the pomegranate tree and my mom saying something about red juice stains all over my shirt. I don’t recall how I opened that fruit, but here is how I open pomegranates today for my kids. First, score the peel in a...
Southern California food gardening calendar for 2021
The new calendars are on their way! Last year, I decided to print and sell the gardening calendars that I'd been making for myself for years. This year, I'm in the process of having a 2021 version printed, which will have all new photos and a few tiny tweaks to the...
Where to get avocado scion wood
"I wanted to ask about your avocado tree," I said. "Everybody wants to pick my avocados!" the man replied. We were standing in his driveway next to an old Fuerte. "I don't want any avocados, actually," I said. He looked disappointed. "I've been picking avocados off...
The easiest automatic irrigation
Some years back, I wanted to plant fruit trees in a new part of my yard, but there was only a faucet over there. I handwatered the trees at first, but when that work became too much I set up the easiest form of automatic irrigation. It consists of only five parts....
Fruit trees can bloom after stress
Aren’t fruit trees supposed to bloom in spring? Then why do some of mine have flowers here in October? My pluot trees have a few flowers (those on Flavor King pictured above). Also with a few flowers are my Pink Lady apple, Fan-stil pear, and Blenheim apricot. ...
Fertilizing vegetables with compost: pros and cons
October being one of the two transitional times in the vegetable garden in Southern California (March being the other), it is a month when I usually add compost to the beds. So compost is on my mind right now. I’ve been using compost to fertilize my vegetable gardens...
What to do in a Southern California garden in October
"Why are those leaves on the pistache tree yellow?" asked my three-year old son. "Soon they'll all be yellow -- and orange and red -- and then they'll fall. That's why they call this time of year Fall." Truth is, in Southern California it's mostly the leaves of...
Training young avocado trees
The good news is that even if you don’t train your young avocado tree to the perfect shape, the tree can still ultimately be healthy, balanced, and fruitful. I should know. I’ve got a number of mature avocado trees that perform well but that I wish I had trained...
Gardening Calendar 2021
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