This is the busiest time of the year for a garden.  Remember you can easily plant summer crops into early June, so don’t feel like you are too behind if you are still getting in the summer garden.  Read more »

The rains seem to be ending and soil temperatures are warming, planting for summer season is finally here (but not everywhere).   Make sure you know when your last average frost free day is in your microclimate before you start putting out your tomatoes and cucumbers.   Many people who like to plant early, don’t realize that if soils are cold your early tomatoes are just going to sit there cuz they don’t like to grow when their toes are cold.  Often early-planted summer crops are not that much earlier in producing because they just don’t grow.   Read more »

Just when many of us were ready to get going full speed in the garden of course the rains really come.  Gotta be thankful though, we needed this. So I have been thinking about my relationship with my home garden. And what strengthens that relationship, how to integrate a garden into daily life and have it be a part of life instead of something that needs to get done. Read more »

Most of us just plant when we actually can get to it and try to time things close to the right time of year at least.  But this time of year, when I feel like I have more time and can plan the garden a little better, I try to time my plantings with the moon.  There are several theories about when to plant what based on the moon and stars.  I sometimes utilize the more complex approaches, but the main thing I like to do is plant seeds with the new moon.   Read more »

Well tonight is predicted to be one of the coldest nights of the year, and it barely warmed up today, but we can still be out gardening! When we get this super cold spell, the main thing we need to worry about is citrus.  We can grow citrus here in Sonoma County but there are a few nights a year that can turn a happy citrus tree to toast.  Cover it with a blanket or build a little structure over it.  Plastic is not good protection and can be a problem if left on and the sun comes out and cooks the tree. Read more »

I have been scratching my head trying to figure out what to write for my mid December blog and I realize part of the problem is that I don’t do much gardening this time of year. Read more »

Gorgeous days make me wonder what season I am in, then I am reminded as it starts getting dark by 6.  Read more »

I love the fall, this beautiful weather we are having is my favorite time.  The rains have given us back some of the green, things feel less dusty and dry.  Yet it is warm enough to ripen the last of the peppers and tomatoes and give us one more batch of pesto. Read more »

I had to do something horrible this year, I pulled all of my tomato plants!   They got hit by late blight and became a big, ugly  mess.  The only gift in it was that I did not have much space for a fall garden and it opened up some space for broccoli and cauliflower.  I have heard of lots of people getting late blight. Read more »

Just as the summer garden starts to really get rolling it is time to get the fall garden in.  The idea behind the fall garden is that you plant it in the late summer so it produces for you in the fall.   Many people think they can plant fall crops at the end of September but the length of day really starts to shorten then and you tend to get stunted crops (except some- see further on). Read more »