It is the height of the heat of summer now, but this week I was browsing back through photos until I arrived at last winter. The yard was green. There was frost. Plants were wet with rain. What a different world – in the same place, just in the opposite season.
Early winter is cherimoya time. I don’t grow any, but I beg friends for some each year. Honeyhart is one of my favorites. I ate this one in late December.December and January are nice times to prune some trees once leaves have dropped. I started pruning this Lapins cherry in December.Sowing just before a rain, and then letting nature bring the seeds to life. I love that about winter. My daughter sowed fava beans.Storms. I headed into this one filling the San Luis Rey river valley near Bonsall on December 30.Frost happens. On January 8, this was the morning scene. Definitive end to tomato season.Scions for grafting deciduous fruit trees are procured in winter. I got these in January from Fruitwood Nursery: Bosc pear, O’Henry peach, and Blenheim apricot.Mushrooms and mallow grow in winter in Southern California.My lettuce was in heaven. Fed by rain. nurtured by a cool winter sun.Time to eat citrus. Here the kids are juicing various citrus in February.Late in winter, the weeds grow tall and the mowing must be done often. Here I mowed a path in March but left some weeds tall and flowering in order to act as food and habitat for insects.The tail end of winter can be nice for planting since the soil is still moist. My boys planted a mango in March.
It felt like taking a vacation looking through these photos.
It’s hard to believe, while it’s 90 degrees and dusty outside today, that it will look like that again. But it will, in only four more months. Are you ready?
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Great photos. Thanks for the reminder to think ahead. We really loved the Reeds! Can I use a Reed Scion on a Gem or Gwen rootstock/seedling? Thank you!
We just got a big rain up here in Humboldt which is unusual. we usually can’t expect any rain until late September and that would be a very light on. Not uncommon to see no rain until early November. So this rain cleared the dust, watered the avocados as well as the tomatoes, blueberries and the Puget Sound apricot which are all done or finishing up except the tomatoes which typically come in late August through September. Several years back i had Russian variety, purple/black that i picked the last tomato in December! They tasted almost like wine. I forgot the variety. If anybody knows of one that can do this. I’d love to know.
P.S. The Reed avocados were delicious. Put me on a list when you have others for sale.
I’m a 91 year old still looking to the future. Had a great started Reed tree, but wind broke it off at the root graft. That root is growing greatly. I’m looking for some Reed scions to graft to make sure it produces what I want. So far, all it’s branches are green still, so wondering if I must wait for more mature branches? Most are 1/2 to 3/4″ diameter. When is the right time? Where can I get Reed and other scions?
Hi David,
There’s no right time to graft avocados in Southern California, but the easiest time is during the cooler months unless you protect them properly. Try fall, winter, early spring for easiest success. Email me and I’ll get you the scions you want.
David L. Williams
on September 4, 2024 at 11:51 am
I suspect then that I should wait for cooler months to order scions. The two I’m most interested in are GEM and REED. I have a perfect tree for grafting.
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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Awesome photos! Tried some different heirloom tomatoes this year. The one called Mortgage Lifter makes huge maters.
Great photos. Thanks for the reminder to think ahead. We really loved the Reeds! Can I use a Reed Scion on a Gem or Gwen rootstock/seedling? Thank you!
Hi Kathryn,
For sure! There’s no incompatibility between the Reed/GEM/Gwen varieties, including their seedlings.
I grew a cherimoya from seed—-you can do it too!!!! I now have three—
We just got a big rain up here in Humboldt which is unusual. we usually can’t expect any rain until late September and that would be a very light on. Not uncommon to see no rain until early November. So this rain cleared the dust, watered the avocados as well as the tomatoes, blueberries and the Puget Sound apricot which are all done or finishing up except the tomatoes which typically come in late August through September. Several years back i had Russian variety, purple/black that i picked the last tomato in December! They tasted almost like wine. I forgot the variety. If anybody knows of one that can do this. I’d love to know.
P.S. The Reed avocados were delicious. Put me on a list when you have others for sale.
I’m a 91 year old still looking to the future. Had a great started Reed tree, but wind broke it off at the root graft. That root is growing greatly. I’m looking for some Reed scions to graft to make sure it produces what I want. So far, all it’s branches are green still, so wondering if I must wait for more mature branches? Most are 1/2 to 3/4″ diameter. When is the right time? Where can I get Reed and other scions?
I should have mentioned above, I’m not able to drive far. I need a source by mail and email.
Hi David,
There’s no right time to graft avocados in Southern California, but the easiest time is during the cooler months unless you protect them properly. Try fall, winter, early spring for easiest success. Email me and I’ll get you the scions you want.
I suspect then that I should wait for cooler months to order scions. The two I’m most interested in are GEM and REED. I have a perfect tree for grafting.