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Southern California Gardening: Month by Month Guide, 2000

Southern California Gardening: Month by Month Guide, 2000

This much-loved book, often called ‘the gardener’s bible” is now completely revised and updated with an improved format, new cover, all-new photographs by Steve Gunther and much added material. Covers all the basic plants and plant groups grown...

Plant Zinnias Seeds

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

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....

Southwest Smart Garden Regional Guide

Southwest Smart Garden Regional Guide

Over 2,500 spectacular identification photos, many taken by Pat Welsh, illustrate 250 plant category lists helping you choose plants for particular purposes, such as color, solid shade, near swimming pools, in a firescape, a boggy spot, for drought, heat,...

Beginning an Organic Garden

Beginning an Organic Garden

Question from Dan: I just spent the past four hours reading your website looking for answers to several questions. My wife and I bought a house in Banning and moved in June 3rd. Since then I’ve been digging holes for blueberry bushes (6), raspberries...

Southern California Organic Gardening, Month by Month

Southern California Organic Gardening, Month by Month

“Pat Welsh’s Southern California Organic Gardening, Month by Month”, Chronicle Books; 2010, takes local gardeners by the hand and helps them grow a beautiful pest-and-disease-free garden while living in harmony with nature, caring for the environment,...

Tips for Building Raised Beds and Planting Vegetables with the Seasons

Tips for Building Raised Beds and Planting Vegetables with the Seasons

Question from Sagar: I was brainstorming/talking with Robert Abe of Chia Nursery in Carpinteria a few days ago, and he mentioned how inspiring and informative your talk and stories of your adventures in your vegetable garden at the SB Horticulture society...

Canary Island Date Palm – Organic fertilizers for

Canary Island Date Palm – Organic fertilizers for

Question from  Tod: Just bought the new edition of your book (I’ve had the 2nd edition for years now and refer to as my garden bible!). I am trying to go 100% organic in my garden and wanted to ask about fertilizing my Canary Island Date Palm....

Organic fertilizers for indoor plants

Organic fertilizers for indoor plants

Question from Randy: I would like to know what is a good indoor plant food? I’m going to start worm composting and am now composting my yard clippings etc. but am unsure about using these things indoors (smelly). I really like your S.Ca. organic...

Your book – my blog

Your book – my blog

Question from Barbara: I bought your book and LOVE it — wish I’d had it years ago. I thought you’d like to know that I featured it on my blog www.beesandchicks.com this morning in my Tuesday’s Tips post. I understand that you are going...

Citrus Leaf Miners

Citrus Leaf Miners

Question from Dave: Thank you very much for writing your books – I read and refer to them every week. I’m trying to shift from conventional to organic gardening. All of my citrus trees have citrus leaf miner – some worse than others....

Seed starting in trays-lid on or off during the day

Seed starting in trays-lid on or off during the day

Question: For simplicity, water conservation and my own energy conservation (I have a very spread out container garden) I am starting my seeds (no beets or carrots or root fellas) in seed trays. I have these nice little Jiffy Triple Greenhouse trays...

Fruit Tree Nutrients

Fruit Tree Nutrients

Question from Tom: I have planted many varieties of citrus and stone fruits in my yard within the last year. They are all low chill selections and should do well in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego where I live. I am comfortable with pruning and...

Growing Healthy Blackberries

Growing Healthy Blackberries

Question from Jill: My Oregon days have me indignant that I can grow blackberries here. I have Boysenberry’s canes beginning (posts and wire already in place), and these acid lovers need a PH of 5.5, which my soil test says it is not. These are...