by Greg Alder | Oct 11, 2016 | Avocados, Resources |
While there isn’t a great single resource for growing avocados at home, the best of what’s available is a handbook written for commercial farmers that is edited by Gary Bender, former farm advisor in San Diego County. He taught my Master Gardener class on...
by Greg Alder | Oct 7, 2016 | Avocados, Watering |
Let’s say you just planted an avocado tree from a five-gallon container, the typical size available at nurseries. How should you water this tree? First, immediately after planting you should water lavishly, making sure that all of the container soil is wet and also...
by Greg Alder | Aug 30, 2016 | Berries and Vines, Native Plants |
This is the native grape of Southern California, Vitis girdiana, and I planted it two winters ago. Grapes grow like grass fires! The first year I tied it up a string that I hung from the fascia board. This year I tied it along a wire that runs parallel to the fascia...
by Greg Alder | Jun 30, 2016 | Fruit |
The standard advice from the experts once again doesn’t align with my experience. This time it relates to the idea that thinning fruit will lead to larger fruit. From the horse’s mouth: “Thinning immature fruit at the appropriate time allows each...
by Greg Alder | Mar 12, 2016 | Citrus, Fruit |
Here in mid-March, our large Valencia orange tree is in peak bloom, and when you walk near it you hear a hurricane of bees feasting on the flowers. I put a swing on one of its big branches. When I put Cass in the swing and stand under — or more like within, it...
by Greg Alder | Mar 7, 2016 | Avocados, Resources |
Here is the best overall resource on grafting avocados that I’m aware of. Written by some of the most experienced people in the world, and specific to California conditions, it is a publication called “Propagating Avocados” from the University of...
by Greg Alder | Feb 25, 2016 | Avocados |
The California avocado industry was originally built on the quality of one variety: Fuerte. And yet, despite its fame and importance, the commonly repeated story about how Fuerte got its name is dubious. Here’s a summary of the story that is told: A freeze hit...
by Greg Alder | Feb 10, 2016 | Avocados, Fruit |
This is the last avocado from Mexico that I will ever buy. This is one too many rotten Mexican avocados that I have bought over the years, and I’m vowing to myself that I will never pay another dollar for one of these carelessly harvested and handled pieces of...
by Greg Alder | Jan 29, 2016 | Avocados |
You don’t need more than one avocado tree to get fruit production, but having two trees and allowing for cross pollination can never hurt. And there are some studies showing increased yield when two different avocado varieties are growing in proximity. The idea...
by Greg Alder | Jan 9, 2016 | Fruit |
This is what we currently have. I included vines and berries because they’re also sweet and perennial. What I notice is that the summer is laden while the winter is light. At least we do have fruit all year, and Fuji and Pink Lady apples keep in the fridge well,...
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