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...
Pinkerton and Carmen avocados for sale
Coming to you from the Laferriere grove in Redlands, San Bernardino County, are avocados of the refined Pinkerton variety as well as the Carmen variety. See here for ordering details. Pinkerton Pinkerton originated about 1961 as a seedling among trees of the Hass,...
Why diversify your food garden?
Yesterday I hung out with a group of avocado growers. The current cold and rainy weather that is following a lengthy cold and rainy winter was a main topic of discussion. "There have been, what, three days over 70 degrees this winter?" said one grower. "I can't even...
Old California avocado grove tour
Old avocado groves in California have been chainsawed and turned into houses throughout the past hundred years. I'm grateful that some are still standing. How does it feel, what do you see, and what do you hear inside one of these living museums? All of my Yard Posts...
How late can Lamb avocados hang?
Lamb is a late-season avocado variety, meaning that its fruit isn't ready for picking until the summer. I start picking my Lambs in July. But when does the season end? How long can mature Lamb avocados be stored on the tree? *In his article for the California Avocado...
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