Saving seeds from summer squash is more complicated than saving seeds from many other vegetables. Summer squash will cross readily with most other varieties of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo). Long distances between different summer-squash varieties or isolation is required to save seeds that remain true-to-variety across multiple plant generations. Home gardeners typically use isolation to […]

GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through the links on this post. While rose pruning varies by type and species, many roses need two primary kinds of pruning. The first is clean-up and light pruning after blooming. The second type of pruning is a more comprehensive annual pruning. This article focuses on clean-up and light pruning […]

Those of you with pole beans in your gardens are probably enjoying their rapid growth in this warm weather. Here are four pointers to maximize your harvest. Thinning plants. Pole bean seeds are generally planted  3 to 4 inches apart along the base of a linear trellis, teepee-like support structure, or other support. Pole beans […]

Getting to Know Cucumbers for Garden and Kitchen Part 3 of 3: A Guide to Cucumber Types The 1st article in this series described 2 general categories of cucumbers (slicers versus picklers, and vining versus bush); the 2nd article in this series shared definitions of terms used to describe cucumbers. Building on this prior information, […]

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 2: Grow Your Gardening Brain Here in Sunny Southern California Let’s be honest: California is a different world in many ways from the rest of the United States. From the comparatively mild climate […]

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 1: What did you say about gardening in Southern California? You mean I can grow a variety of vegetables outdoors all winter long almost everywhere in Southern California? What was that? […]

Getting to Know Cucumbers for Garden and Kitchen Part 2 of 3: Cucumber Characteristics and Terminology It’s easy to confuse terminology describing characteristics of cucumbers with actual type or cultivar of cucumber. “Seedless” and “burpless” are not distinct cultivars of cucumber, but describe characteristics that may be found in many different varieties. For example, you […]

Getting to Know Cucumbers for Garden and Kitchen Part 1 of 3: Two Basic Cucumber Decisions: Slicers Versus Picklers, and Vining Versus Bush Types How do you want to eat your cucumbers? The most basic decision about cucumbers for gardeners and cooks is culinary purpose. Slicing cucumbers or “slicers” are primarily eaten fresh; versus pickling cucumbers […]

GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. So now you have a copious harvest. What are you going to do with all those vegetables? One of my greatest sources of inspiration is Alice Waters, the owner, founder and Executive Chef of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse restaurant and an ardent supporter of eating […]