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5 Common Mistakes Gardeners Make When Growing Tomatoes
April 28, 2018
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
by C. Darren Butler and Ann Clary If there is a single flagship (flagplant?) and most-beloved garden vegetable in California and the United States, it would be the tomato. With proper timing, careful selection of varieties, and appropriate care and maintenance, tomatoes are the juicy, flavorful, often colorful, and nutritious joy of the home garden. […]
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Using California Native Plants: 6 Reasons Why
Between the large urban garden centers and the growth of the internet, gardeners in California can purchase a wide range of plants and seeds from outside California and outside of the United States in many parts of the world. But is this a good idea? The answer is not really. California native plants are adapted […]
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Watering Ceanothus in Mediterranean Climates
April 26, 2018
Growing California Natives
/ Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Ceanothus is one of the most popular plant selections in California. Ceanothus are available in a wide variety of shrubs and groundcovers, most of which are native to California. Many produce copious “lilac” colored flowers in the spring, hence the popular name California Lilac. Watering needs depend on the variety: some withstand some garden water […]
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Growing Fall Decorations: Ornamental Corn
GardenZeus earns commissions on sales made through links in this article. There is no additional cost to you. Ornamental corn varieties are grown by home gardeners for their sheer beauty, novelty, and for autumn decoration and crafts. Most are unpalatable for fresh eating, although dedicated or curious kitchen gardeners may grow them to produce cornmeal. […]
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Harvesting Sunflowers as Cut Flowers: Essential Tips
Are you growing sunflowers for use as cut flowers? How do you know when they should be harvested, or cut? And how should they be preserved to prolong their shelf life? Here are our tips: Cut sunflowers early, just when the outer petals or ray flowers are beginning to rise off the face, and the […]
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Heirloom Pumpkin Varieties: Recommendations and Timing
GardenZeus earns commissions on sales made through links in this article. There is no additional cost to you. Growing your own pumpkins allows you to enjoy many interesting, unusual, novelty, and delicious varieties that may be difficult or impossible to find in supermarkets or even farmers markets. Heirloom varieties are ideal as ornamentals or pumpkins for […]
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Bearded Iris: Cultural Requirements
Do you covet the beautiful bearded irises gracing the yard of your neighbor or local public garden? Bearded irises provide bursts of color in the spring and attractive grey-green spear-like leaves throughout the growing season. They make ideal plants for use in water-wise Mediterranean gardens, especially when paired with plants with similar cultural requirements, such […]
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Growing Tomatoes? 8 Tasks for April
April 17, 2018
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
For many gardeners, tomato is the queen of warm season vegetables. Get the most from your tomato plants by placing the following on your gardening checklist: Continue to start seeds directly outdoors of warm season tomato varieties such as Brandywine, Big Beef and Tobolsk or continue to start seeds directly outdoors of short-season varieties like […]
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Citrus Propagation: GardenZeus Advanced Topic
April 15, 2018
Made with Sunshine: Growing Citrus in California
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Home gardeners typically purchase citrus trees from their local garden center, but those up for a challenge can try their hand at citrus propagation. Budding is the most common grafting technique used for citrus, with the bud inserted into a T-shaped cut on the rootstock. (See picture above.) Citrus are also whip grafted and bark […]
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