Problems with Runner Beans

The Importance of the UC System to Agriculture and to Home Owners I suggest you take a sample of your bean plants (one or two entire plants) and also some soil separately wrapped to your nearest local Department of Agriculture or UC office, which may...

How to Fertilize Organically

Question from Zenna: I am just beginning to switch to organic gardening and would like to know the best way to fertilize my garden and outdoor pots organically.  I live in Southern California about 7 miles from the ocean in Irvine. Answer from Pat: To...

Evergreen street tree for Zone 14

Question from Tony: I am looking for a tree to plant along the front of my house next to the sidewalk, Sunset zone 14, clayey soil. Preferably evergreen, drought tolerant, carefree, not taller than 25 feet. From your website, I’ve found Rhaphiolepis...

Fertilizing Passion Fruit

Question: My husband and I went to your presentation at Del Mar, you taught us a lot of information, Thanks! We have 2 frederic passion vine, that are suppose to fruit, 2 years old we got flowers but zero fruit. We have one red that has never even flowered...

Stop Cats from Leaving Calling Cards

Question from Derrick: There is a raised bed in my garden which smells like cat poop, but there are no cats….fenced off yard. Answer from Pat: Cats are undoubtedly climbing the fence at night and leaving their calling cards when you are not around....

Tomatoes in Raised Beds

Question from Christine: Yesterday I discovered 6 green tomatoes, 2 1/2 “-3 1/2″ diameter, with BER on 2 different plants in different beds. I have been diligent about watering very deeply once a week (only once I watered 2 days early)...

Blossom End Rot

Question from Christine: Sorry about the confusion with the 2 emails on the same subject – not sure what happened. And also the confusion of ” with BER on 2 different plants”. I meant to say that the BER (blossom end rot) was present...

Apricot Growing like an Octopus

Question from JoAnn: Hi Pat, I live in Temecula and have a two year old Royal apricot which has had lots of fruit this summer, so much so that the branches are dragging. I just learned that I should have picked off many of the fruit to encourage bigger...

Garden Questions & Problems

Question from Christine: Yesterday I discovered 6 green tomatoes, 2 1/2 “-3 1/2″ diameter, with BER on 2 different plants in different beds, Burpee Sweet Seedless. I have been diligent about watering very deeply only once a week (just once...

The Organic Way to Protect Tomatoes from Caterpillars, Beetles, and Slugs

Question from Kimberly: I have some lovely tomatoes coming into harvest, however;they have little holes throughout the actual tomato and on the leaves! How to I prevent the bug that is eating my tomato? I don’t see it… I am not sure if...

Crop Rotation

Question from Mari: I live near Fairbanks Ranch in San Diego county and grow organic vegetables in raised beds. Since I love broccoli, I want to grow them most of the year, however, I realize that you need crop rataions. Is it o.k. to rotate with...

Great Garden Combinations

Question from Susan: I am new to gardening and would like to know if you could suggest some good combinations of plants. I think I will eventually learn how to do this, but right now I don’t have a clue. Answer from Pat: I agree with you that when...

Steps From Concrete Bags

Question from Arline: Back from day two of jury duty…it is a most interesting case…thank you for the detailed response to my construction questions…i must ask… how long before you should step in these bag steps???? Answer from...

June Drop on Peach Trees and Proper Thinning of Fruit

Question: I have a peach tree in Irvine. The tree is a couple years old, last year giving a nice yield of delicious peaches. This year, the tree had lots of blooms that appeared to be turning to peaches. Recently I’ve noticed several of these...