Dig in
Why Don’t You Refrigerate Tomatoes?
March 31, 2017
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Most gardeners and cooks know that tomatoes should not be stored in the refrigerator, but they may not know why. The ideal storage temperature for fruits and vegetables varies among the many different varieties. Those fruits native to warmer regions are typically injured by temperatures as low as the common house refrigerator. Their cells begin […]
Read More
Spring Gardening Task: Add Mulch to Rose Beds
March 30, 2017
Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals
/ Queen of the Garden: Growing Roses in California
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Spring is an ideal time to add mulch to your garden beds. Roses, like most woody perennials, will reap a series of benefits. Roses generally benefit from a year-round layer of mulch to retain moisture, inhibit weeds, feed the soil, and moderate soil temperature. When possible, mulch with spent rose blooms and pruned leaves to […]
Read More
6 Tips for Growing Roses in Containers
March 30, 2017
Container Gardening
/ Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals
/ Queen of the Garden: Growing Roses in California
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Container Size. Most roses grow well in containers as long as root space is sufficient and care is appropriate. Containers of at least 2 to 2.5 feet in depth and at least 15 to 20 inches in diameter are recommended for full-sized rose varieties, and generally the deeper the better for rose health, growth, and […]
Read More
Growing Roses in Containers: Common Problems
March 30, 2017
Container Gardening
/ Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals
/ Queen of the Garden: Growing Roses in California
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Beautiful, healthy roses grown in attractive containers can be a beautiful addition to a landscape. However, a number of challenges arise when growing woody perennials, such as roses, in pots or anywhere root space is limited: 1) Root binding: It is inevitable with most potted roses that roots will outgrow the available soil and space. […]
Read More
Recommendations for Summer Squash Varieties
GardenZeus earns commissions on sales made through links in this article. There is no additional cost to you. In most areas of California, summer squash is grown during the warm season from early spring through midsummer or fall; However, with an appropriate selection of varieties, many mild winter areas can grow summer squash year-round. Zucchini […]
Read More
Three Sisters Companion Planting Combination for California
The Three Sisters is a traditional Native American agricultural grouping or companion-planting combination that includes corn, beans, and squash, with corn providing a natural trellis for beans and vining squash, beans fixing soil nitrogen theoretically to the benefit of all three crops, and squash providing a living mulch with large leaves that cool the soil and discourage […]
Read More
Growing Snap Peas? Consider Harvesting Young Stems and Leaves As Greens
Have you grown snap peas or snow peas? But have you ever grown or eaten pea greens? Consider planting extra peas to have enough plants for harvesting young, tender stems and leaves as greens. Pea greens are nutritious and delicious. They are a candidate for GardenZeus expert Darren Butler’s favorite green, and can be used […]
Read More
Three Ways to Start Onions: Seed, Transplants and Sets
Buying and growing bulb onions successfully from transplants and sets can be tricky. GardenZeus recommends growing your own starts or seeding directly outdoors in fall. Short-season varieties that are ideal for many portions of California are not sold as sets. You may find them as transplants (live plants) at local nurseries, online, or by mail […]
Read More
Selecting Onion Varieties for California Gardens: The Importance of Day Length
March 5, 2017
GardenZeus Northern California
/ GardenZeus Southern California
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Selecting bulb onions varieties to grow in the home garden is more complicated than for most other vegetables. The most important factor for home gardeners is day length, meaning the number of hours of sunlight needed to initiate bulbing and for the plants to form full, mature bulbs. If you have the wrong day-length variety […]
Read More