Just move!
Walking around the San Diego neighborhood of South Park yesterday, I noticed that most yards had ornamental plants (giant bird of paradise, bougainvillea, lawn, Mexican sage, ficus, magnolia), but I came upon one that made me reminisce. It had peach and apricot trees,...
Don’t transplant carrot seedlings?
In the checkout line at Walter Andersen Nursery a guy said to me, "Carrot seedlings? Wow, you're bold." "Yeah . . ." I said. "You know, sometimes you've got to try things that everyone says can't be done." "OK." "How do you know you can't grow carrots by transplanting...
Mulch
A truckload of mulch is overwhelmingly pleasing: the sweet foresty smell, the rich brown color, the thought of tree roots flourishing beneath it and even reaching up into it to eat and drink. There are few things you can do to please your trees more than spread a...
Valencia orange in full bloom
Here in mid-March, our large Valencia orange tree is in peak bloom, and when you walk near it you hear a hurricane of bees feasting on the flowers. I put a swing on one of its big branches. When I put Cass in the swing and stand under -- or more like within, it feels...
Grafting avocados, the best how-to resource
Here is the best overall resource on grafting avocados that I'm aware of. Written by some of the most experienced people in the world, and specific to California conditions, it is a publication called "Propagating Avocados" from the University of California....
Cass and his Fuerte turn two
Compare Cass and his placenta tree to one year ago here. You might also like to read: "My boy and his placenta tree turn three."
How the Fuerte avocado really got its name
The California avocado industry was originally built on the quality of one variety: Fuerte. And yet, despite its fame and importance, the commonly repeated story about how Fuerte got its name is dubious. Here's a summary of the story that is told: A freeze hit...
Mexican avocados suck
This is the last avocado from Mexico that I will ever buy. This is one too many rotten Mexican avocados that I have bought over the years, and I'm vowing to myself that I will never pay another dollar for one of these carelessly harvested and handled pieces of fruit....
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