Arugula is an ideal plant for container gardening, and an ideal plant for growing in winter in many sections of California. Ideal growing conditions for arugula are full sun at about 50° F to 65° F. Arugula generally withstands mild overnight frosts, and requires protection in the form of cloth, plastic, or cardboard sheets […]

During the month of December, even the most avid gardeners find themselves focusing on holiday shopping lists and not on gardening tasks. But in Southern California, there is still work that can be done in the yard. Here is Darren’s general list of December gardening tasks for existing vegetable and herb plants, designed for those […]

You locate the romaine lettuce for your dinner salad in the back right corner of your refrigerator, just behind the apples, but alas, you notice brown spots on the lettuce ribs. What is the culprit? Most likely, it is ethylene gas. Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that is released as gas. It regulates many […]

The terms “summer squash” and “winter squash” have confused many a gardener; they refer to the time of year that the different squash varieties are traditionally eaten. These terms for squash don’t have a clear or precise botanical or taxonomic meaning. The terms “summer squash” and “winter squash” do NOT refer to: the season when […]

A tomato is a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and corn is corn (Zea mays), but what about a winter squash? It could be any of 5 or more different species. The term “winter squash” doesn’t have a precise botanical or taxonomic meaning. Getting to Know Winter Squash by Species: There are 5 main species in the Cucurbit […]

Now that you have carved your jack-o’-lantern, should you save the seeds to grow next year’s pumpkins? If there were a vegetable comedy about garden pumpkins making seeds, it would have to be titled It’s Complicated. Saving pumpkin seeds that will produce quality and true-to-variety pumpkins for next year’s garden is not as simple as […]

Provided that a few important cultural needs are met, summer squash and zucchini can be among the most rewarding of garden vegetables. When harvested religiously while fruits are small, zucchini can be so productive over such a long period of time that when faced with yet another round of new fruits for harvest, some gardeners […]

Where do the elemental building blocks for all those delicious tomatoes, ears of corn, and melons come from? All parts of plants, from stems to flowers and fruits, are made mostly of air absorbed in the form of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis; and water absorbed through plant roots. A smaller but critically important portion of […]

Popular garden cucurbits include cucumbers, many melons (including watermelon), summer squash (including zucchini), winter squash (including pumpkin), and some gourds. Cucurbits prefer loose, loamy, fertile soil with good drainage. Some gourds, mostly inedible varieties, and some other garden-cucurbit varieties can be drought-tolerant, but the vast majority of edible cucurbits need consistent soil moisture to maximize […]