Shallots

Question from Dee: I emaied you about shallots before.I washed them after I pulled them up but it seems like some of the skins came off.What is the best way to wash without pulling off skins? I planted them in spring( sets)some of them grew but others...

Vegetable Gardening

Question from Sally: Which of your books would be best for a novice San Diego vegetable gardener. Many thanks – buying one of your books for Christmas gift. Answer from Pat: “Pat Welsh’s Southern California Organic Gardening, Month...

Artichokes

Question from Debbie: Is it possible to purchase an artichoke at the supermarket, put the stem in water and have it bloom or flower? You know, like you can do with roses? Answer from Pat: Unfortunately by the time an artichoke has been cut from the plant...

Why Did I Get So Few Melons? (Pollination of Melon Plants, by Hand or By Bees)

Question from Andy: I live in an interior climate zone of Southern California. Last year I planted watermelons but I only got one melon per plant. The melons I got were great, but why did I get so few? Answer from Pat: Dear Andy: You are not the only...

Lettuce Bolting

Question from Madonna: Wow!  I AM ACTUALLY TALKING TO YOU?? Really??  I use your 1992 So CA month by month gardening guide book as as a staple. (I have been mentally talking to you for years and wishing I could meet and talk to you.)  Just now hitting...

Chicken or Horse Manure

Q. I’ve heard you talk about the benefits of horse manure.What is your opinion of using chicken instead of horse manure? I was told recently chicken is stronger than horse. A. Chicken manure is superior to horse manure but needs longer aging and...

Stop blossoms from dropping off tomatoes

Question from Holt: Wondering why my tomato plants keep dropping their blooms? Answer from Pat: Tomatoes often drop blossoms early in the season. (This problem and solutions are discussed on page 171 of my book in the chapter for April, which is when...

When to Harvest Shallots

Shallots grow much like garlic. In Southern California where you live, plant shallots in fall and during the winter fertilize and water them regularly to keep them growing their leafy tops as much as possible. Do the same with garlic. (A good leafy top...

Short-day Onion “Sets”

Question from Kenny: I have several thousand short-day sets from DVG for my first trial planting. Would you like 60 or so (about 8oz’s to trial in your S-CAL garden? I would be glad to share these few with you. More if you need more Answer from...

Artichoke

Question from Julia: I watched your Youtube.com video which was very helpful. This summer I planted my first artichoke plant and unfortunately I believe the voles ate all of the artichoke flowers. I do live in New York State and understand that I could...

Controlling Early Blight on Tomatoes

Question from Sean: I’m trying to grow tomatoes in hadowridge area of Vista and some plants have early blight. What can I do to cure and minimize spread or do I need to pull these plants so blight does not spread Thank you and I bought your book...

Mulching Artichokes

Question from Guy: I watched your you-tube video on artichokes with interest. I live in CNY in the finger lakes region zone 5 I believe. I grew some artichokes from seed, this spring. One plant actually produced a flower, which I ate and enjoyed. the...

When to Harvest Lettuce

Question from Ginny: How do I know when the lettuce and shallots are ready to pick? What is your best book regarding this. I live in San Marcos, CA. Answer from Pat: The time when lettuce is ready to pick depends on the variety you are growing, the...

Birds & Tomato Cages

Question from Fred: We took your advice and have a number of Sweet 100 plants in large containers in our yard. Everything looks good except we now have a problem w/bird droppings on those plants w/tomato cages. What can we do to stop the birds from perching...