Step-By-Step Method For Growing Great Organic Vegetables

If you are growing organic vegetables year-round there will be some carryover of cool-season organic crops into warm weather, for example organic artichokes, which can be put in from transplants in March and harvested in June, or organic globe onions, which are planted from seeds in November and harvested in late May or June, and [...]

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Instructions for Building Raised Bed

Q. We live in Fallbrook and are looking to build one or more raised beds for planting vegetables. We purchased your Southern California Gardening book from Costco but can’t find any instructions on building the bed. Can you provide us with a link or two for designs/instructions that you would recommend?
A. Years [...]

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Where to Find Photos of Pat’s Garden

You can see photos of my garden several places. There is a gallery of photos in patwelsh.com under the heading “Pat’s Pergola Paradise”. Also, many of the photos in my new organic book, are of my garden, such as the wisteria photo, the wildflower step-by-step pages, and all the veggie photos. Additionally, I used a [...]

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Bottom Heat for Sprouting Seeds

Q:  I do use a fair amount of planting material when I do a new installation, and am always striving to use the best I can. I have been using City Farmer’s soil as my favorite topsoil, but it is quite a drive from Encinitas. I have been using prepared amendments and fertilizers, but want [...]

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The Joys of Gardening in California

What a lovely letter. Thank you so much. I am thrilled to think I brought back to you in memory your Great Aunt Ethel and Grandmother Lila, who loved gardening here in our mild Mediterranean climate that really does extend, as you pointed out, from San Francisco on down the coast and inland to the [...]

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Vegetables, Eucalyptus, Clay Soil, and Fruit Trees

Dear Pat,
I live in Del Mar near Fairbanks Ranch, and I’d like to get some of your thoughts on gardening and adding some new organic fruits, herbs, and vegetables to my house to feed us!  My goal is to turn a portion of my property into a full blown garden.  The challenges [...]

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Vegetable Gardening and Edibles in a New Garden

Be sure to choose fruit trees well adapted to your mild climate zone, which is probably Zone 23, the thermal belt of the coastal zones which is right next to the coastal fog belt, Zone 24. Sunset Western Garden Book has excellent lists. Be sure to follow the recommendations. Don’t try growing something in the [...]

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Chipped Eucalyptus Wood and Leaves from Tree Trimmers

Contrary to public opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using the contents of tree-trimmers chippers as mulch, even if the source is eucalyptus. All wood eventually rots and becomes part of the soil. Eucalyptus chippings make an excellent and low cost mulch. Not only does it often come free of charge, but also it [...]

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Sun and Shade in a New Garden

The pattern of sun and shade in a garden is one of the most important things a gardener should study when first moving into a new house. It’s wise to study the exposures and which way one’s house faces whether north, south, east or west. Consider all sides of the house and the trees also [...]

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Dealing with Clay Soil

Clay soil is not poor soil but actually has mineral richness just waiting to be unlocked with applications of humic acid combined with healthy organic methods. The fact that it holds water can be a benefit at times. Please see pages 18 to 24 of my new organic month by month book for advice how [...]

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