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Gardening Tip
Planting Macadamias
From Dave: Pat, quick report – planted 2 Beaumont Macadamias from 10 gallon containers into ground 2 weeks ago. Each was planted in clay soil amended with 1 cubic foot of chicken manure mix from Armstrong. Tress are very happy and have new growth...
Spraying of Peach Trees in Southern California
Question from Stennis: My peaches have brown spots and some worms inside this year; what is the appropriate time for spraying? What kind of schedule do you recommend and with what? Answer from Pat: It is too late to spray fruit at this time of year with...
How to Do a Stawberry Test
Question from Bonnie: I heard you say in a speaking engagement that the “Chandler” strawberry is your favorite. Is this correct? I really like Chandler strawberries, too. I decided to plant four types, and compare them. Chandler is hard to...
Plant Zinnias Seeds
Plant seeds of zinnias now. “Benary’s Giants” (sold as “Parks Picks” by the Park Seeds) is immune to mildew. Choose a spot in full sun, till the ground to spade depth, work in organic soil amendment and balanced fertilizer into the top six inches....
Granulated Sulfur
Question from Robin: Hi. I have a problem and I need some advice. I spread granulated sulfur on the top of heavy clay soil. Hindsight shows me this is not optimum, and I would like your opinion on my options. I want to establish vegetables on the site....
Princess Plants (Tibouchina heteromalla and Tibouchina urvilleana.)
Question from Shannon: I have two sickly Princess Plants (Tibouchina heteromalla) that I planted about 3 months ago. I had had one at the beach (in Playa del Rey CA) that was as big as a house, hearty, and virtually care-free. The ones in question...
Romancing the Garden: A philosophy of gardening Pt 3
The next step is: How do you carry it out? Mine in a nutshell is: “Create a romantic garden and then live in it.” A Paradise Garden The Garden of Eden Dictionary definition of romance: “Imagination, love, idealization, wafting one to another time...
Put citrus fruit into the composter
Q. Can downed critus fruit be thrown into the composter? Love your website! A. I’m delighted to hear you like my website, especially since it gives me a way to communicate with gardeners like you. It’s absolutely fine to add citrus fruit...
Wisteria
Comment from Mary: I saw you on Antiques Roadshow and enjoyed it so much. Also my wisteria is blooming with a few puny blooms, nothing like yours! Someday I will catch on! Response from Pat: Re: your wisteria. People never seem to follow the correct...
Cutting back a Passion Vine (passiflora)
Q. How/when would you suggest I cut back the woody vines in a passiflora (passion vine)? I planted four five years ago, and the top surface is green, but inches under that is nothing but wood. They protrude from the wall more and more with new growth. A....
Cucumber
Tips And Hints For Growing Easy-Care Warm-Season Crops Planting months: April, May, June. Spacing: thin to 12 inches apart in rows 5 feet apart or grow in mounds 6 feet apart. Special Tips: large-guage hardware cloth held up by metal fence posts makes...
Short- Day Onion Seed
Question from Kenny: We have neglected to delve into the question of just exactly how do the millons if not trillions of short-day and other “Biennial” onion seed get produced each season on purpose. Onion seed is not exactly a storable commodity....
Carrot
Tips And Hints For Growing Easy-Care Warm-Season Crops Planting months: Year-round crop Spacing: sow seeds, then thin to 1 to 2 inches apart, rows 14 inches apart. Special Tips: (P. 265 and p. 264 in my book). Fine soil is best. Amend soil well, but too...
