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Grow Cucurbits in a Mature Compost Pile
GardenZeus Quick Tip for Your California Garden: Grow Your Cucurbits (Summer Squash, Zucchini, Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Cucumbers, Melons, and Watermelons) in a Mature Compost Pile If you’ve had trouble with low yields from cucurbits, try planting pre-germinated seeds directly into a mature compost pile. If planning well in advance, construct a compost pile inside a wire […]
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Down and Dirty 5: What is the Mother of All Southern California Landscape and Garden Problems?
May 26, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 5: What is the Mother of All Southern California Landscape and Garden Problems? What is the mother of all problems for purposes of gardening and landscaping in Southern California? Of course it’s […]
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Timing for Growing Halloween Pumpkins in Hot-Summer California Areas
May 26, 2017
GardenZeus Southern California
/ Holiday and Seasonal
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Pumpkins grow and produce best at daytime temperatures of about 65° to 75°F, and while many varieties tolerate heat, growth and fruiting may be diminished at temperatures above 85°F. This creates a conundrum for California gardeners in hot-summer areas who want to grow pumpkins for Halloween. With many California areas having highs above 100°F and some […]
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Is Your Corn Ready for Harvest? Here’s How to Find Out!
Corn ears are harvested by quickly bending ears downward and twisting. After corn silks have appeared, corn is usually ready to harvest a few weeks later (usually 17-24 days). The ear should feel plump and completely filled out. If harvesting for sweet corn, the corn silks should be browning, but not dry. With the exception […]
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4 Tasks Every California Gardener Should Do This Week
Many gardeners in California’s coastal areas and inland valleys will be heading to their yards in the next few days. Here are four tasks each should have on a to-do list: Monitor. Monitor plants regularly, at least every other day during warm weather and every day during hot weather to catch wilting, irrigation, pest, disease, weed, […]
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Pole Beans: How Important is Companion Planting?
Plant pole beans with carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish, and strawberries. Avoid planting near chives, garlic, leeks, and onions. Pole beans and beets may stunt each other’s growth. Some sources recommend planting beans or other legumes with plants that need a lot of nitrogen, but this advice may be misguided. Beans […]
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Tomatoes and Companion Planting
May 20, 2017
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
GardenZeus expert Darren Butler has found tomatoes generally to be unfussy companions for many other garden vegetables. Most varieties don’t need insects for pollination, so planting fragrant herbs and flowers to attract pollinators is less important for tomatoes than for other garden vegetables, such as cucurbits. It is important to consider where tomatoes will be […]
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Down and Dirty 4: Oops! Southern California Gardening Mistake #1
May 19, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 4: Oops! Common Gardening Mistakes in Southern California #1: Testing Soil AFTER You Buy or Lease Want answers to your gardening questions for Southern California? That just takes a quick internet […]
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How Well Do You Know Zucchini? Take Our Short Quiz!
How well do you know your zucchini plants? Take our short quiz about whether situations as described for zucchini are a problem… or not. See correct answers at the end of the article. Question 1: After 10 days on vacation you return home to find that your zucchini plant is still thriving and has matured […]
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