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 S-8. “I’ve tried all the other ones,” Simon told him. “Don’t bother. Just grow S-8.” “But I have to try them for myself,” Brad had replied...
When to transplant vegetable seedlings?
The question is, At what size should you put a vegetable seeding into the ground or a bigger pot? The answer is, At any size before the seedling is rootbound. Rootbound means the roots in the container are crowded and circling, especially at the bottom. Let me...
“Sustainable Food Gardens” by Robert Kourik: a book review
I was in Robert Kourik's neck of the woods this summer, and at that time I happened to be reading his newest book, "Sustainable Food Gardens." While camping along the Russian River up in Sonoma County, I considered how different his part of California is compared to...
Why grow food at home?
Sometimes gardening feels like a leisure activity, but sometimes it feels like work: weeds, aphids, gophers, heat waves. At which times I think, Why not just buy all my food at the grocery store? It’s so convenient. You show up any day and choose from all sorts of...
Growing avocado trees from seed
Seeds aren't trash. The best avocado varieties in the world have all come from someone planting a seed. Gwen, Fuerte, Hass, Nabal, Reed, etc. They all came from seeds -- seeds that someone allowed to grow. Maybe you want to try your luck and see if a seed you plant...
When my yard grows up
Chance had a problem and a rough idea of the solution. Grasses were taking over his family's vegetable garden, especially the pathways. Meanwhile, he was raising rabbits for meat. Rabbits eat grass but they also eat vegetable plants so he needed to build a...
Protecting tomatoes from heat
This is a short video of what I do to protect my tomatoes when the heat hits: Find shade cloth at a good nursery near you or online at Peaceful Valley (Grow Organic) or Johnny's. All of my Yard Posts are listed HERE Learn HERE about how my Yard Posts are purely...
Cucumber varieties for Southern California, 2022
My kids were eating lunch but they weren't eating the cucumbers on their plate. "It's bitter," one said. We were on the road and had bought two cucumbers at a farm stand. The first tasted great, but sure enough, the second was bitter -- even in the middle, even after...
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