A home, a yard, a never-ending adventure

A home, a yard, a never-ending adventure

The 5 Best Tomatoes for Zone 9 FRESH PICKED Sonja sunflower

FRESH AT SAGE’S ACRE

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FRESH AT SAGE’S ACRE

HOME & GARDEN

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HOME & GARDEN

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PHOTO GALLERY

There’s always some strange, interesting, beautiful or fun going on here at the Acre, so I carry a camera. Just in case.

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PLANTS

I grow sub-tropicals, California natives, and lots of vegetables then share my experience and thoughts

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FOOD & RECIPES

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FOOD & RECIPES

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AROUND THE ACRE

Live Video Stream

What do chickens and ducks do when no one is watching? Find out with ChickenCam! Camera feed is live on weekends from 9AM to 4PM Pacific.
Visit the ChickenCam »

Make a live backyard or wildlife camera just like Chickencam It’s easy!

Weathercam

live weathercam

Live camera shot facing west toward the Pacific Ocean, about 7 miles away.

→ Live Camera →Wunderground

Running Projects @sagesacre

Sage’s Acre on Instagram

I’ve grown over 40 varieties of tomatoes in my Zone 9 garden. Most didn't make the cut. 🍅📉 Some died in the August heat. Some tasted like Styrofoam. But these 5? They return to my garden every year. If you're planning your spring garden and want high yields all season without the heartbreak, swipe through to see my virtually 'unkillables.' 🔗 **Full breakdown of all 5 varieties + my planting dates is on the blog. Link in bio! #zone9gardening #tomatoseason #suburbangarden #heattolerantplants #gardenplanning #growyourownfood"
Want a lush, tropical-looking garden in Southern California—without the tropical water bill? 🌿☀️ Meet Painted Abutilon, one of my favorite faux-tropical plants for Zone 9. ✔️ Bold, paint-splattered foliage ✔️ Serious hummingbird magnet ✔️ Loves filtered light ✔️ Tough once established I’ve grown this plant for over 10 years at Sages Acre, and it’s a cornerstone of my Mediterranean-jungle approach to gardening. If you love the look of the tropics but garden in real-world So Cal conditions, this plant deserves a spot. 🔗 Full growing guide + plant pairings at the link in bio. #Zone9Gardening #SoCalGarden #FauxTropical #WaterWiseGarden #PollinatorPlants #CaliforniaGarden #GardenInspiration
They call it “Gopher Spurge.” The internet says it’s a miracle repellent. The reality? It’s a total scam. 🙅‍♂️🌵 I spent years trying to use Euphorbia lathyrus to save my San Diego garden from the underground resistance. What did I get? Zero dead gophers, a lot of severed roots, and a new invasive weed problem that’s taking over my succulents. I’m sharing the full, messy truth about what actually works (and what definitely doesn't) for natural gopher control on the blog today. 📍 Link in bio to read: "The Great Gopher Spurge Scam" at SagesAcre.com #SagesAcre #SanDiegoGardening #GopherControl #OrganicGardening #GardenFails #SocalGarden #Zone9b #SouthwestGardening
🌱 They told me bee hotels don't work. For a while, I even believed them! But after three years, my "Hotel de Sage" isn't just surviving—it's thriving with native bees! 🐝 Watch this video to see how patience, the right materials (hello, agave stalks!), and a little Zone 9 wisdom finally paid off. Don't let the online skeptics deter you. See exactly what worked (and why!) to attract carpenter and mason bees to my garden. Full story & building guide linked in bio! 👉 https://wp.me/p4AWA2-3Cp #NativeBees #BeeHotel #SanDiegoGardening #Zone9Gardening #PollinatorGarden #InsectHotel #SolitaryBees #SagesAcre #GardenLife #Ecosystem
Whatever your beliefs and however you celebrate, we hope you have a wonderful holiday and spend it with the people you love the most! Merry Christmas everyone!
It’s been cool and foggy lately, but the November rains have turned what was brown into shades of green, red and gold. Stepping out the feed the fish in the pond shortly after sunrise, I caught the last of the fog burning off and the sun filtering through the trees, giving the yard a chilly late autumn glow. The last of the agave flower is standing watch over the sages and succulents in the foreground. #mybackyard #sandiegogarden #californiagarden #lateautumn
It's mid-December and we still have fresh sweet peppers in the garden. The Italian frying pepper (Friggitello) is a Zone 9 standout! Gets 5/5 stars for high yield, long production season, and a delicious, savory-sweet flavor. If you haven't tried growing this one, it's one you'll want to put on your garden list for next spring! https://wp.me/p4AWA2-3Bw #growpeppers #sweetpeppers #homegrownveggies #kitchengarden #gardenharvest #fromgardentotable #ediblegarden #backyardgarden #italianfryingpeppers #fryingpeppers #italianpeppers #pepperseason #zone9gardening #zone9garden #californiagardening #southwestgardening #suburbangardening
Your keyhole garden looking a little tired after a long season? 😅 Same here — mine ran 14 crops this year and the Roma tomatoes basically staged a coup. But fall is the PERFECT time to give your bed a quick tune-up so it’s ready to explode with growth next spring… or keep producing all winter if you garden in a warm climate like I do. 🌱✨ In my latest post, I break down: 🔧 Where to check for damage you can’t see when everything is overgrown ♻️ How to refresh your compost bin (including what I do when it’s “vegetables gone wild”) 🧺 How to figure out exactly how much soil you need to top off your bed 🌿 What to plant if you want year-round production If you’ve got a keyhole garden — or are thinking about building one — this is a must-read. 👉 Full guide linked in bio! #keyholegarden #raisedbedgardening #fallgardenprep #gardeningtips #organicgardening #gardeningzones8to10 #californiagarden #urbangardening #vegetablegarden #sustainableliving #gardenprojects #gardeninginspiration
Five Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Dishes Worth Bringing Back 🍂🦃 While digging through my collection of old cookbooks (1900–1950s), I discovered a whole world of Thanksgiving dishes that used to be must-haves… and most of us stopped making them somewhere along the way. Some are delicious. Some are surprising. And one involves Turkey Jell-O, which… no thank you. If you’re looking to try something new that’s actually old, here are five historic Thanksgiving dishes that might deserve a spot on your table this year: 🥕 Fire-Roasted Carrots 🥬 Celery Victor 🦪 Oyster Dressing 🍎 Roast Squash with Apples 🥧 Mock Apple Pie I tracked down modern versions of each recipe so you can make them yourself. Give one a try — you might end up starting your own new old tradition! Read the full post here → https://sagesacre.com/2023/11/19/five-old-fashioned-thanksgiving-dishes-to-try/ (or click the link in my bio) #Thanksgiving #HolidayCooking #VintageRecipes #OldFashionedThanksgiving #ThanksgivingTraditions #RecipeIdeas #FoodHistory #HolidayInspiration #CookingFromScratch #TrySomethingNew
So it might have rained a bit this week 💦... Well, actually, it rained the most it has in November in 50 years. We received 3-1/2 inches in just a few days. It wouldn't be a big deal except it hasn't rained in 7 months, so the ground is dry, hard, and not really willing to absorb the water. So I've got a muddy creek flowing months earlier than usual. https://wp.me/p4AWA2-3Ay
"What is that thing 💁?" A question about a the green hand grenade things in the tree my friends who aren't from around here ask. It's a cherimoya, and it's native to the Andes in South America. It only grows in USDA zones 9b and up, so you need sub-tropical weather, but it produces a fruit that some say is the best tasting fruit there is. Also known as the "custard apple", it grows a hard, green baseball-sized fruit with white flesh inside. To some, it tastes like banana and pineapple. I think more papaya and strawberry with a hand of guava. Either way, it's good mized into yogurt and fruit smoothies. Plus it's a low care, good looking tree that provides shade for our raised deck. If you like sub-tropicals, you might want to check the Cherimoya out. More info: https://wp.me/p4AWA2-3Aa #cherimoya #fruittree #mybackyard #soauthamericannative #subtropicals #tropicalfruit #tropicalfruittree #zone9
My wife's idea of "vegetable gardening" is to let stuff fall off our patio deck. Now I have beans growing up the patio umbrella and into the cherimoya tree. #lazygardener #vegetablegarden #beanstalk #zone9garden #notmagicbeans
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The 5 Best Tomatoes for Zone 9 FRESH PICKED Sonja sunflower

FRESH AT SAGE’S ACRE

See More

FRESH AT SAGE’S ACRE

HOME & GARDEN

More Garden

HOME & GARDEN

More Garden

PHOTO GALLERY

There’s always some strange, interesting, beautiful or fun going on here at the Acre, so I carry a camera. Just in case.

More Photos

PLANTS

I grow sub-tropicals, California natives, and lots of vegetables then share my experience and thoughts

More Plants

FOOD & RECIPES

More Recipes

FOOD & RECIPES

More Recipes

AROUND THE ACRE

Live Video Stream

What do chickens and ducks do when no one is watching? Find out with ChickenCam! Camera feed is live on weekends from 9AM to 4PM Pacific.
Visit the ChickenCam »

Make a live backyard or wildlife camera just like Chickencam It’s easy!

Weathercam

live weathercam

Live camera shot facing west toward the Pacific Ocean, about 7 miles away.

→ Live Camera →Wunderground

Running Projects @sagesacre

Sage’s Acre on Instagram

I’ve grown over 40 varieties of tomatoes in my Zone 9 garden. Most didn't make the cut. 🍅📉 Some died in the August heat. Some tasted like Styrofoam. But these 5? They return to my garden every year. If you're planning your spring garden and want high yields all season without the heartbreak, swipe through to see my virtually 'unkillables.' 🔗 **Full breakdown of all 5 varieties + my planting dates is on the blog. Link in bio! #zone9gardening #tomatoseason #suburbangarden #heattolerantplants #gardenplanning #growyourownfood"
Want a lush, tropical-looking garden in Southern California—without the tropical water bill? 🌿☀️ Meet Painted Abutilon, one of my favorite faux-tropical plants for Zone 9. ✔️ Bold, paint-splattered foliage ✔️ Serious hummingbird magnet ✔️ Loves filtered light ✔️ Tough once established I’ve grown this plant for over 10 years at Sages Acre, and it’s a cornerstone of my Mediterranean-jungle approach to gardening. If you love the look of the tropics but garden in real-world So Cal conditions, this plant deserves a spot. 🔗 Full growing guide + plant pairings at the link in bio. #Zone9Gardening #SoCalGarden #FauxTropical #WaterWiseGarden #PollinatorPlants #CaliforniaGarden #GardenInspiration
They call it “Gopher Spurge.” The internet says it’s a miracle repellent. The reality? It’s a total scam. 🙅‍♂️🌵 I spent years trying to use Euphorbia lathyrus to save my San Diego garden from the underground resistance. What did I get? Zero dead gophers, a lot of severed roots, and a new invasive weed problem that’s taking over my succulents. I’m sharing the full, messy truth about what actually works (and what definitely doesn't) for natural gopher control on the blog today. 📍 Link in bio to read: "The Great Gopher Spurge Scam" at SagesAcre.com #SagesAcre #SanDiegoGardening #GopherControl #OrganicGardening #GardenFails #SocalGarden #Zone9b #SouthwestGardening
🌱 They told me bee hotels don't work. For a while, I even believed them! But after three years, my "Hotel de Sage" isn't just surviving—it's thriving with native bees! 🐝 Watch this video to see how patience, the right materials (hello, agave stalks!), and a little Zone 9 wisdom finally paid off. Don't let the online skeptics deter you. See exactly what worked (and why!) to attract carpenter and mason bees to my garden. Full story & building guide linked in bio! 👉 https://wp.me/p4AWA2-3Cp #NativeBees #BeeHotel #SanDiegoGardening #Zone9Gardening #PollinatorGarden #InsectHotel #SolitaryBees #SagesAcre #GardenLife #Ecosystem
Whatever your beliefs and however you celebrate, we hope you have a wonderful holiday and spend it with the people you love the most! Merry Christmas everyone!
It’s been cool and foggy lately, but the November rains have turned what was brown into shades of green, red and gold. Stepping out the feed the fish in the pond shortly after sunrise, I caught the last of the fog burning off and the sun filtering through the trees, giving the yard a chilly late autumn glow. The last of the agave flower is standing watch over the sages and succulents in the foreground. #mybackyard #sandiegogarden #californiagarden #lateautumn
It's mid-December and we still have fresh sweet peppers in the garden. The Italian frying pepper (Friggitello) is a Zone 9 standout! Gets 5/5 stars for high yield, long production season, and a delicious, savory-sweet flavor. If you haven't tried growing this one, it's one you'll want to put on your garden list for next spring! https://wp.me/p4AWA2-3Bw #growpeppers #sweetpeppers #homegrownveggies #kitchengarden #gardenharvest #fromgardentotable #ediblegarden #backyardgarden #italianfryingpeppers #fryingpeppers #italianpeppers #pepperseason #zone9gardening #zone9garden #californiagardening #southwestgardening #suburbangardening
Your keyhole garden looking a little tired after a long season? 😅 Same here — mine ran 14 crops this year and the Roma tomatoes basically staged a coup. But fall is the PERFECT time to give your bed a quick tune-up so it’s ready to explode with growth next spring… or keep producing all winter if you garden in a warm climate like I do. 🌱✨ In my latest post, I break down: 🔧 Where to check for damage you can’t see when everything is overgrown ♻️ How to refresh your compost bin (including what I do when it’s “vegetables gone wild”) 🧺 How to figure out exactly how much soil you need to top off your bed 🌿 What to plant if you want year-round production If you’ve got a keyhole garden — or are thinking about building one — this is a must-read. 👉 Full guide linked in bio! #keyholegarden #raisedbedgardening #fallgardenprep #gardeningtips #organicgardening #gardeningzones8to10 #californiagarden #urbangardening #vegetablegarden #sustainableliving #gardenprojects #gardeninginspiration
Five Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Dishes Worth Bringing Back 🍂🦃 While digging through my collection of old cookbooks (1900–1950s), I discovered a whole world of Thanksgiving dishes that used to be must-haves… and most of us stopped making them somewhere along the way. Some are delicious. Some are surprising. And one involves Turkey Jell-O, which… no thank you. If you’re looking to try something new that’s actually old, here are five historic Thanksgiving dishes that might deserve a spot on your table this year: 🥕 Fire-Roasted Carrots 🥬 Celery Victor 🦪 Oyster Dressing 🍎 Roast Squash with Apples 🥧 Mock Apple Pie I tracked down modern versions of each recipe so you can make them yourself. Give one a try — you might end up starting your own new old tradition! Read the full post here → https://sagesacre.com/2023/11/19/five-old-fashioned-thanksgiving-dishes-to-try/ (or click the link in my bio) #Thanksgiving #HolidayCooking #VintageRecipes #OldFashionedThanksgiving #ThanksgivingTraditions #RecipeIdeas #FoodHistory #HolidayInspiration #CookingFromScratch #TrySomethingNew
So it might have rained a bit this week 💦... Well, actually, it rained the most it has in November in 50 years. We received 3-1/2 inches in just a few days. It wouldn't be a big deal except it hasn't rained in 7 months, so the ground is dry, hard, and not really willing to absorb the water. So I've got a muddy creek flowing months earlier than usual. https://wp.me/p4AWA2-3Ay
"What is that thing 💁?" A question about a the green hand grenade things in the tree my friends who aren't from around here ask. It's a cherimoya, and it's native to the Andes in South America. It only grows in USDA zones 9b and up, so you need sub-tropical weather, but it produces a fruit that some say is the best tasting fruit there is. Also known as the "custard apple", it grows a hard, green baseball-sized fruit with white flesh inside. To some, it tastes like banana and pineapple. I think more papaya and strawberry with a hand of guava. Either way, it's good mized into yogurt and fruit smoothies. Plus it's a low care, good looking tree that provides shade for our raised deck. If you like sub-tropicals, you might want to check the Cherimoya out. More info: https://wp.me/p4AWA2-3Aa #cherimoya #fruittree #mybackyard #soauthamericannative #subtropicals #tropicalfruit #tropicalfruittree #zone9
My wife's idea of "vegetable gardening" is to let stuff fall off our patio deck. Now I have beans growing up the patio umbrella and into the cherimoya tree. #lazygardener #vegetablegarden #beanstalk #zone9garden #notmagicbeans
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