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...
Hellen avocado: a profile
Below is my video profile of the Hellen variety of avocado. You can read my full profile of the Hellen variety here, where I share my experience with the Hellen tree and its characteristics also. Interested in buying an avocado tree or finding scion wood to graft? See...
August in Jacques’ garden
The funniest thing about touring Jacques' garden each month is that when I arrive he always says, "There's not much to eat this month, but we'll see what we can find." . . . and this month I had to allow the video to be a bit longer than usual because there was so...
“Autumnal springtime”
Right around the corner is “the autumnal springtime,” according to Edward Wickson. Spring in autumn? Sounds like nonsense. But hear Wickson explain: “Spring is defined as ‘the one of the four seasons when plants begin to grow.’” And therefore, California has two...
Growing cucumbers in Southern California
Even on a hot summer day, I can go into the yard and pick a cucumber and bite into it and feel cooled and refreshed. How does that work? There’s no other vegetable quite like a cuke. I need to have them in my summer garden. Here’s how I go about accomplishing that....
Young avocado trees cannot handle competition
In June of 2023, I planted a GEM avocado tree. It was a good-looking tree, on top and bottom. The leaves showed healthy new growth and the roots were abundant and with new white tips. I planted in the best way I knew, a way in which I’d planted many trees before that...
The Hellen avocado tree: a profile
“The skin is tough and leathery and peels easily (as a glove would),” wrote Carter Barrett of the Hellen avocado in the 1939 Yearbook of the California Avocado Society. Mr. Barrett was right. Hellen avocados do peel like a glove. They are also large, usually weighing...
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