Unirrigated fruits and vegetables in Southern California, summer 2019
I haven’t watered this lime tree for three years now and yet it still gives us more limes than we can handle -- and limes of high quality. I don’t know for certain why it no longer needs my irrigation, but I have a suspicion. Step back and take a look at the tree's...
Starting brassicas in summer
Growing good broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussels sprouts in Southern California is all about timing. Summer is not the best time to grow "brassicas" but it is a great time to sow them. You get the seeds started in summer (I've started as early as June 21, the...
Who helped you grow your lunch?
I was innocently making lunch when my mind started following trails about where I got each ingredient, and by the time I ate the avocado toast I tasted not only bread, avocado, lemon, onion, and tomato, but a lot of memories too. The bread wasn't one of them. Dave’s...
Summer collection of Yard Posts, 2019
Here I've selected just over a dozen posts on topics relevant to summer food gardening in Southern California. These are the posts that I reread this time of year. Enjoy! WATERING The best way to water a vegetable garden How much to water a fruit tree in Southern...
Dealing with squirrels in a food garden
When we moved into our house six summers ago, no one had lived here for a few months, and squirrels dominated the yard. The boulder in front of the house (pictured above) had oranges filling its crack. I soon learned that this was the squirrels’ stash. Over the course...
Summer pruning deciduous fruit trees
Summer pruning is monkey work. I love its simplicity. There is joyously little thought or skill involved. But it is necessary monkey work. If you want to keep a deciduous fruit tree small and you skip a summer pruning, you start to lose hold on the size and...
The Reed avocado tree: a profile
The Reed avocado variety is the first I ever grew. It is a great beginner’s avocado tree because it is relatively tough and productive. In addition, the fruit itself stands among the finest tasting avocados so it deserves consideration for planting by the first-time...
Learning from the California Gardener of the Year
Just when I thought my vegetable garden was humming, I visited Roy’s. Actually, before I visited Roy’s garden, he handed me three bags stuffed full of pickings. One contained heads of romaine lettuce. Another had zuchinni, yellow squash, spaghetti squash, and...
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