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...
Realistic garden expectations
“Oh, good to see you have weeds too,” said my neighbor as we walked through my vegetable garden. I've felt just like that when visiting other gardens, haven't you? Here’s a fact that should give all of us a feeling of relief: In the best gardens and on the best farms...
Painting the trunks of fruit trees
I planted this pluot tree for my grandma a few weeks ago and made sure to paint its trunk to protect it from the sun; I hadn’t so protected a pluot tree that I planted for my mom eight years ago and look what happened. Pluot tree with sunburned trunk. I’ve seen a lot...
When to plant tomatoes in Southern California
My "reliable" gardening calendar for Southern California says to plant your first tomatoes after March 15. So why are these already in the ground in my garden, planted February 29? How early can you plant your first tomatoes? Do you realize how dry it has been the...
How tall can dinosaur kale get?
I planted this kale in late 2017, at about the same time that my daughter was born. She is now two years old. She can now run and climb rocks. The kale can’t even stand on its own; but it’s far taller than she is. Reaching to almost six feet here in late February...
The Fuerte avocado tree: a profile
I was speaking with an avocado farmer from South Africa, and he asked me about my favorite avocados to eat. That’s hard to answer, I started. But I told him that recently I’d had some Kahalu’u and Jan Boyce avocados that were very good. I turned it back to him,...
Growing fruits and vegetables for kids
First I grew fruits and vegetables for myself. Then I grew for my wife (Happy Valentine's Day!). Now my plantings are largely directed toward feeding our three children -- and the kids don’t like to eat the same stuff we do. Let me share what I’ve found our kids -- as...
Growing cilantro in Southern California
Cilantro is my favorite feral plant in the yard. It pops up in pathways, under fruit trees, over by the fence. And I do still plant some in my garden beds. Yearly routine I haven’t bought cilantro seed or plants for years because I’ve got a routine that keeps the...
Welcome
I'm Greg. My goal is to help others grow some food at home, with a focus on vegetables and fruits -- especially avocados -- in Southern California. I write a new "Yard Post" every Friday. My Gardening Calendar
List of all Yard Posts
Custom engraved garden signs
My Book
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