How long does it take to grow a productive yard?

How long does it take to grow a productive yard?

Well, it depends what you mean by productive, but for me, I had the goal of growing almost all of the fruits and vegetables my family could eat when we moved into our house in July of 2013. Actually, 80% was the arbitrary number I had written in my notes. So...

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How to water plants through a heat wave

How to water plants through a heat wave

Heat waves make me a worried gardener. What can I do to help my plants? Should I water again? How much? This summer of 2017 has started off with a blast of multiple heat waves for Southern California's valleys (the beach has been spared by the presence of a marine...

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Eating the rabbits that eat my garden

Eating the rabbits that eat my garden

I shot the second rabbit, but not as cleanly as Chance had shot the first one. It was bleeding on the driveway next to the passion fruit vine and the vegetable garden, from which it had occasionally dined, and I felt terrible. Chance felt bad too, which is why he is...

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My favorite way to eat a Reed avocado

My favorite way to eat a Reed avocado

There are tiny cults surrounding a few types of avocados here in Southern California, home of the now-worldwide avocado industry. Fuerte Some people remain forever fans of the original commercial avocado variety, Fuerte. It has a cool (or should I say, strong) story...

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Chickens: my garden’s little helpers

Chickens: my garden’s little helpers

I used to think of chickens as a threat. When I lived in Lesotho, my neighbor's roaming chickens repeatedly ate the leaves of my chard down to the stems despite my attempts to fence them out. I couldn't have imagined that I would see them as I do today, as my garden's...

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The best way to support tomato plants

The best way to support tomato plants

A couple years ago I planted a Sungold cherry tomato that grew into a jungle: ten feet wide, taller than me, I wanted a machete to hack into the middle to grasp those golden fruits. I supported the plant in no manner. That's an option for tomato growers, no support....

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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.

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