How to tell if an avocado is ripe
More times than I'd like to admit, I've cut open avocados too early or let them ripen on the counter too long. My wife loves to make fun of me for this. I'm particularly prone to doing it with varieties that take forever to ripen, like Pinkerton, or with varieties...
Avocado calendar for 2021
Inside this calendar, you'll find an array of information to help guide the care of an avocado tree throughout the year. For example, I've included this watering table: The watering table inside the calendar. You'll also find a photo for each month that I shot in that...
Happy Thanksgiving 2020
My garden's contribution to this year's Thanksgiving meal: a head of 'Snow Crown' cauliflower. The kids helped harvest. They had fun. To family, food, and gratitude . . . Happy Thanksgiving!
How I open a pomegranate
My first memory of eating fruit involves being at the pomegranate tree and my mom saying something about red juice stains all over my shirt. I don’t recall how I opened that fruit, but here is how I open pomegranates today for my kids. First, score the peel in a...
Southern California food gardening calendar for 2021
The new calendars are on their way! Last year, I decided to print and sell the gardening calendars that I'd been making for myself for years. This year, I'm in the process of having a 2021 version printed, which will have all new photos, a few tweaks to the...
Where to get avocado scion wood
"I wanted to ask about your avocado tree," I said. "Everybody wants to pick my avocados!" the man replied. We were standing in his driveway next to an old Fuerte. "I don't want any avocados, actually," I said. He looked disappointed. "I've been picking avocados off...
The easiest automatic irrigation
Some years back, I wanted to plant fruit trees in a new part of my yard, but there was only a faucet over there. I handwatered the trees at first, but when that work became too much I set up the easiest form of automatic irrigation. It consists of only five parts....
Fruit trees can bloom after stress
Aren’t fruit trees supposed to bloom in spring? Then why do some of mine have flowers here in October? My pluot trees have a few flowers (those on Flavor King pictured above). Also with a few flowers are my Pink Lady apple, Fan-stil pear, and Blenheim apricot. ...
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