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Blackberries are early this year
A warm winter has the blackberries ripening a month early. Sadly there weren't a lot of bees to pollinate the flowers, so the yield will be low this year.
Undercover Tomatillos in the Keyhole Garden
Clearing out spent plants, I was pleased to find several volunteer tomatillos growing. Not sure whether they're purple of green, but I'm happy either way.
Botanical Bento Box Salsa Garden (Part 2)
Two months after hopping on the "Bontanical Bento" garden bandwagon, the results aren't great. Some plants bolted, others died. But the tomatoes are good.
Why Ducks are the Unsung Heroes of the Organic Garden
Chickens usually get the spotlight on the suburban homestead, but it's the "duck gold" (duck poop and straw) that's my secret to year-round garden productivity
Wild Radish: Friend or Foe?
Wild radish is considered invasive here in Southern California, but at least it's edible and its attractive purple flowers draw pollinators to the spring garden
Wild Cucumber (aka: Manroot) on the Fence
This is a wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpa), a spiky member of the gourd family native to San Diego and Baja California. It's a tuberous perennial.
How to Build a High-Yield Garden With Grocery Store Produce
Grow your own perpetual food forest for around $10 using seeds sourced from supermarket fresh produce. Here are the best varieties and hacks for a great garden
DIY Hanging Gourd Garden: Natural Shade for Your Zone 9 Summer
Beat the Zone 9 heat with a DIY hanging gourd garden! Learn how to build a budget trellis that provides natural shade and beautiful harvests in San Diego.
The Accidental Salad Bar Garden
I let some of my shade vegetables go to seed and now I have a year-round salad bar garden with nearly a dozen types of leafy greens, root crops and herbs in it.
Botanical Bento Box Salsa Garden (Part 1)
Maximize your harvest in 7 sq feet! Discover the "Botanical Bento" trend with a guide to planting a high-density, Salsa Garden in Zone 9. Perfect for small spaces and big flavors.
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