The accuracy of weather and climate forecasts
As I was thinking about how rainy and cold this winter has been for Southern California (and almost every other corner of California, especially Central California), I recalled that the National Weather Service issues "climate outlooks" at the start of every season,...
Pruning a door into your fruit tree
Recently while pruning fruit trees I have become focused on something new. It’s not size control, it’s not maximizing fruit production. It is creating easy access to the fruit that the tree produces. What is a door? Once a tree reaches a certain girth, it becomes...
Shiranui, Pixie, and Gold Nugget mandarin taste comparison
Mid-March is the perfect time to compare the eating qualities of these three excellent mandarins. For me in San Diego County, their harvest seasons all begin around February, and by now they are approaching the apex of their flavor potential. So let's pick, peel, and...
The Gold Nugget mandarin tree: a profile
“If I only had one citrus tree to live on for my entire life, this is it,” said our guide through the collection of about 1,000 varieties of citrus selected from around the world. That's quite a claim. But, coming from Ottillia “Toots” Bier, we would be wise to...
The Shiranui mandarin tree: a profile
Nothing about the story of Shiranui is straightforward. There is mystery and there is hype. Even my own Shiranui tree (above) is complicated. But let's start with the name. In stores, Shiranui mandarins are sold under the trademarked brand name "Sumo." You may have...
Rain Tank to driplines: a cheap and effective system
We had some visitors last week, and one asked about the rain tank near our garage. "What do you do with the water?" As I showed him how I could open the valve on the tank and water all of my vegetables at once, I recognized that it was an efficient system. It was...
What to do in a Southern California garden in March
March is citrus month. Almost every kind of citrus tastes good in March in Southern California. While some are still ripe, others are just starting to taste sweet. What I mean is, some are wrapping up their seasons now, like navel oranges and blood oranges and Kishu...
The Yard Posts food gardening calendar 2023
The new calendar is ready! See the order page here. What is this calendar? It helps Southern California food gardeners by listing for each month which vegetables to plant, how to care for different kinds of fruit trees, and guidance on watering. It’s based on my...
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