California Gardeners

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Comment by Rose Keppler Moradian on June 28, 2009 at 7:33pm

June 28th..
(I realize now that many of these comments are old)

Hi Everybody! I'm so pleased to have found you! I'm a veggie gardener by trade.
I have wonderful clients who I grow for. My own small shady space is dominated by my herd of dogs and all my plants are up on shelves in pots awaiting a home. I hope to be able to offer my clients my own brand of veggies, but thats a far off dream for now. I have to focus on what I'm doing, plod along and get plants in the ground, growing.

Joy, now is the time to plant corn. To prep the soil, go ahead and add in chicken manure. Plant pole beans along with the corn, as corn is a heavy feeder and beans fix nitrogen. Whatever corn you plant this year, save a cob for next. Silver queen is good. Bi color corn is interesting.

Kimberly, place your mason bees in a crook of a tree, out of harms way and in shade.

John, citrus does not compost. Other large items put in a blender pour it in.

For all, I wouldn't do peas now. Beans are in, peas are cool weather. Beans are three months out of the year,June, July and August. Start brassicas in August. We get intense solar radiation all Autumn.

Comment by David King on February 23, 2009 at 3:48pm

Joy - Country Gentleman is a good heirloom white corn. Sometimes called 'Shoepeg' - it's a neat corn because the kernels aren't in straight rows! And it tastes good - the kernel in a white corn isn't as big as yellow, but I think they are sweeter.
david

Comment by Kimberly on February 8, 2009 at 12:37pm

I bought a Mason bee box from masonbeehomes.com in Canada. I’m in southern California and I’d like some guidance on where to place the bee box so that it does not get over-heated in our hot weather. I gather that the bees should lay the larvae by May or so and then I should ’store’ the box. Most instructions are are for more northern climates so any advice would be welcome. Thanks so much.

Comment by John on January 29, 2009 at 3:38pm

Thanks everyone for all the helpful and encouraging comments and quick responses! I'm going to try to get started this weekend.

Regarding composting, that was a great youtube link, Joy. Do any of you know, can I put in large food scraps (like orange or grapefruit peels) or do I need to cut things up first?

Comment by Joy Williams on January 29, 2009 at 2:16pm

When is a good time to start corn seedlings?

Anyone have a favorite heirloom variety of corn? I've grown silverqueen before, but this year I wanted to try an heirloom white corn.

Comment by Sharon Foster on January 28, 2009 at 12:48am

I try to get my kids involved too! And I'm fairly new to gardening. My youngest son - four - loves to put the seeds in the dirt, but my oldest - 8 - mostly likes to eat the carrots, snap peas and all the fruit. I don't think I brought one snap pea into the house last year, so this year we are planting many, many more. Mostly I like to garden while they play.

Comment by Kimberly on January 27, 2009 at 9:53pm

Now is an excellent time to get started in So. Cal. The cold loving cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, etc. should be sprouting by now. Though don't hesitate to get some sown now. You can get seedlings that are further along at the nursery and start seeds now. Kids should have fun with radishes and peas now and beans a bit later I think. Those tend to come up and produce something fast. The UC extension agent has guides called 'gardening basic' for each area of California, i think. Check out this website: http://ceorange.ucdavis.edu/ to get more information. Become a master gardener and teach your children! What fun.

Comment by Joy Williams on January 27, 2009 at 7:21pm

Hey John,
KGI did a video about composting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKlauRA7ugI

Comment by Joy Williams on January 27, 2009 at 7:17pm

Actually a composting group would probably be a good group to start.

Comment by Joy Williams on January 27, 2009 at 7:17pm

John, Re, Composting

That sounds like a good start.

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