Preparing a garden for a summer vacation

Preparing a garden for a summer vacation

Most years, we spend a couple weeks visiting friends and my wife’s family in Oregon at the end of summer, and my garden has to fend for itself. How to prepare it for my absence? I worked extra hard for this September’s vacation because it was going to be a full three...

read more
Do you know the leaves in your garden?

Do you know the leaves in your garden?

"Did you see any kitties in the backyard?" my mother-in-law asked my son. "No, they were hiding in the avocado tree," he said. They were. Only it wasn't an avocado tree. This was a backyard in Oregon. But the leaves of the tree were similar to those of an avocado. See...

read more
Where and how to buy good avocados

Where and how to buy good avocados

If buying from a grocery store . . .  Buy avocados from California The first thing I look for is where the avocado was grown, and if it’s not from California I almost never buy it. We get imports from Mexico, Chile, Peru, and a few other countries. None of these...

read more
Using wood chips as mulch for fruit trees

Using wood chips as mulch for fruit trees

Almost any mulch under a fruit tree is better than no mulch, but there are many ways in which wood chips are the best of mulches. Wood chips are what comes out of a chipper machine when a tree trimmer puts branches through it. Wood chips are bits of leaves, twigs,...

read more
Where to get wood chips for mulch

Where to get wood chips for mulch

It had been about a year since I'd replenished the wood chips throughout my yard and the mulch was wearing thin. I was having trouble finding a convenient source. I started to get anxious. Then a couple weeks ago my neighbor offered a pile that had been sitting in his...

read more
Updates!

Updates!

Summer is on its last legs, I've bought my seeds for fall vegetables, but before we start talking about the next season let's look back and update some stories about the remarkable past winter and passing summer. Click the title links below and you'll find that at the...

read more
Growing bananas in Southern California

Growing bananas in Southern California

Among the first words out of my two year-old son’s mouth every morning are, “Can I have a banana?” He’ll eat five a day if allowed. So I’m hearing the call to get better about growing them in the yard. Here in Southern California? Can they really produce? Good climate...

read more

Welcome . . .

I'm Greg. My goal is to help you grow food at home, with a focus on vegetables and fruits -- especially avocados -- in Southern California. I write a new "Yard Post" every Friday.

List of all Yard Posts

Become a Yard Posts SUPPORTER like these cool people:

Frank Y, Colin S, gmjford, Rich C, Shawn C, billiame, Jeff R, WLC, John D, Robert B, Doug S, generalkobe, Michele, Soupy, Nick G, Lindsea And Sawyer, Tom K, Nicole R, Debra M, Darren A, BigOrangeTabby, Norma M, Marilyn F, Marty W, Sarah, litng, LiviOnTheCoast, Diane B, Kelly R, Dave F, aguaje, Randy B, tomatochild, Warford Farms, Michele G, msassi, cha4les, mmazloff, JJfromOC, tbschulz, Kathryn, Sam B, Sheila D, Khoang, espiro, Duke 360, Chitong C, Adrien P, Greg and Kerry Ann H, Sylmar Dal, Steve McF, Stan, Susan R, socalgardner, tonyram, hvicente, Lindsay L, Michelle, Gabe C, James N, Kim O, Minerva M, Vanya K, Phillip T, Vasco O, Anne K, Laura T, Dan P, William D, Robert M, Brownieb3, Seyburn Z, Vistashaws, Palinka, rourkecarey, pboynton, go2jane, El Heff, acahni, vicksterh, Linda R, Nick R, Ellen S, Rach F, Jen L, Jessica V, MB, Janbob, LesliePoway, 10445chantel, CynF, kropper8, Helen, Barb, KariAIst, ettie9161, kdonohoe, John B, larayna, Fred, Court, MGvonhoffmnn, saralou, Carmen, Rob S, mjbcpa, slee, Damien H, Alethea, Jamie P, immaterial, vasanthak, mattvan01, Possum, Denny B, Jodi B, Richard A, Donna B, cshaw2049, Bobbie D, Kendra M, Steve S, Julianne, Jwaldemar, JCorte, Robin D, Richard R, Caliocean, Sara H, KrisClem, Jerseyguy, Carmen M, Peggy H, HappyBeeSD, randyihenglee, Julie W, Ken K, Marty W, YGrow, Palinka, Ramona, rclevin5, vgapeyev, Avos in L A, Richard S, Peter K, Robin, DavidSD, Judy C, Rodman, James N, Tim S, Jamie M, Betty W, Gregory C, Bob G, Scott M, Timberly E, Cynthia M, Circe JL, Bob P, Helen P, Jason L, Wendoline I, Joe K, Nikki N, Tim L, Kathryn W, Michele GT, Michael W, Joe C, Erica R, Donna S, Christine L, Robert M, Matt S, Karen P, Gil B, Kerry H, Stacy M, Jeff F, Cara C, Kimberly H, Carol J, Dan H, Iona G, Teresa D, Bill M, Anne R, Trisha B, Scott S, Robert K, Rick E, Douglas Y, Michael E, Jessie W, Liz G, Anandamayi B, Evan R, Rachel L, James N, Marissa V, Marcos M, Joerg S, Tim C, Marilyn K, Kyla R, Farshad R, Eli H, Mika O, Susan B, Sheila D, Joshua F, Tanya H, Matthew N, Maile B, Savanna K, Audrey T, Anna N, Jessica R, Axel J, Tim S, Brandon S, Kevin O, Susan D, Ming D, Kara D, Heidi D, Bryan C, Paul V, Jordan W, Karen S, Kevin N, Nestor O, Lalo K, Dave D, Eileen A, Jacques P, Bruce B, Khalil S, Jeanette R, Peggy B, Tom F, Terri B, Laura T, Carol J, Rashmikant T, Oly A, Eric N, Daniel R, Anupama P, Peter S, Bill B, Zach T, Scott C, Allen S, Peter M, Cheryl S, Michael M, Gail A, Marcia F, Hannah C, Mala T, LeAnne B, Madeleine T, Gavin M, John M, Al G, Joshua S, Doni C, Chris U, Mark B, Beth J, Peter R, Sarah N, Valerie W, Travis L, Gregory M, Mark R, Madaline D, Lin B, Susan F, Deana L, Elizabeth A, Vibeke W, Paul L, Barbette C, James N, Laura R, Barbara M, Amy S, Sally S, Jonathan E, Tom W, Richard M, Anne R, Sandra G, Stu W, Elaine Y, Maria B, Scott A, Peter F, Greg C, Diana B, Mary T, David W, Bob M, Sarah E, Ann W, Krishnakumar B, Laurie Y, Fiona H

Pin It on Pinterest

Join Waitlist I will inform you if I can harvest more of these avocados. Please leave your email address below.