Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys Regional Report

Harvesting Winter Keepers

We still appreciate those last remaining tomatoes and squash and cucumbers from the first spring plantings, although we're getting sated since we've been gorging ourselves since June. The late plantings are just coming into production so they will keep...
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Resources

Pumpkin Carving Demonstrations
Garbage Can Tops

Repotting Herbs for Wintering Indoors
Use Onion Seed Instead of Sets
Plant Different Types of Broccoli
Switch to Fall Lawn Care
Remove Water Basins Around Trees

Starting the Fall and Winter Garden

It's planting time for the next season of good eating and beautiful flowers. The cooler temperatures make this a welcome time to be outside working in the garden. Edibles The shorter days require us to sow or transplant two or three times the...
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Resources

Plant Sales
Mini-Greenhouses

Troubleshooting Poor Germination
Make Multiple Bulb Plantings
Forcing Bulbs Indoors
Transplant While Soil is Warm
Switch Fertilizers

Transition in the Garden

We haven't had a torridly hot summer, but fall's mildness is a welcome prospect that makes just about any gardening task pleasant. The soil and air are warm but not overly hot. Fresh summer produce is still delicious, but production is slowing down....
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Resources

California Native Plant and Seed Sale
Old Tires = Planting Beds

Grow Winter Herbs Indoors
Get Veggies Growing!
Sow Edible Cover Crops
Trim Flowers for More Color
Color Up Your Lawn

Onion Family Disease and Pest Problems

Fall is a good time for planting onion family crops like chives, garlic, leeks, onions, and shallots. There are some nasty diseases and pests that can damage these plants, so to help you figure out what the problem is and what to do about it, here are...
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Resources

Salvia Plant Sale
Household Baking Soda

Fertilize Veggies
Consider Salt Content of Soil Before Planting
Don't Expect Fruit Set at High Temperatures
Fertilize Trees One Last Time
Water Lawn in Early Morning

Problems with the Onion Family

Here are some of the growing problems you may have observed with chives, garlic, leeks, onions, and shallots earlier this year, and what to do so they don't reoccur with this fall's plantings. Problem: Plants send up flower stalks rather than...
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Resources

Designing With Succulents
Brightly Colored Tool Handles

Sow Overwintering Crops
Keep Sowing Quick Crops Until Thanksgiving
Harvest in the Cool Mornings
Water Fruit Trees
Start Fall and Winter Bloomers

Storing Your Harvest

Now that we've enjoyed our first harvests of those longed-for summer delights like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers, we can begin to think of how to store the burgeoning yields for winter pleasure. Here are some ideas: 1. Dry and store...
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Resources

Dahlia and Begonia Shows
Rake For Support

Pinching Herbs
Brown Rot Fungus on Peaches
Clean Up Fallen Fruit
Move Bulbs From Wet Areas
Leave Sunflowers for Birds

Midsummer Watering for Highest Yields

Continue watering and fertilizing the entire garden with a balanced fertilizer and manure tea or fish emulsion every other week or so for steady growth and food production. Foliar sprays of liquid seaweed help trees, vegetables,...
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Resources

7th Annual Tomato Tasting
Lifting Vine Crops

Harvest Often
Spread More Manure
Keep Planting Flowers
Separating Iris
Working Compost

Planting Succession Crops

Even with our true summer heat upon us, we can still be planting some seeds and tiny plants. We just have to be selective and take some extra precautions to assure success, then escape back indoors or at least into the shade with a cool drink!...
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Resources

Cactus and Succulent Society Show and Sale
Pantyhose for Grape Clusters

Protect Melons
Harvesting Onions and Garlic
Keeping Roses Blooming
Proper Mowing For Healthy Grass
Painting Tree Trunks

Early Summer Fruit Tree Care

If you already thinned those tiny fruits on trees and vines and left only what you realistically expect to consume, your trees will be ripening a decent crop that isn't putting too much stress on the trees, and there will be little waste. If you...
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Resources

Dave Wilson Nursery
Apple Cider Vinegar for Fireblight

Fertilize Vegetables Between Crops
Choosing Heavy-Producing Crops for Small Gardens
Prevent Corn Smut
Reducing Earworm Damage on Corn
Keep Soil Mulched

Keeping Veggies Growing

Vegetable growth moves into high gear this month, with heat-lovers thriving and setting fruit. To keep plants growing lustily and producing greater yields, feed eggplants, peppers, squash, and tomatoes when they blossom. Assure a plentiful set of...
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Resources

Culver City Garden Club Show and Plant Sale
Raise Fruits Off the Ground

Avoid Rootbound Transplants
Use Transplant Foliage to Shade Soil
Allow Corn Suckers to Grow
Encourage Roses Galore
Water Plants Deeply

Growing Your Own Sweet Potatoes

There's still time to plant sweet potato shoots for late-summer harvests of those golden tubers full of sweet nutrients. Mysterious problems may arise, and here are some approaches to preventing them. Problem : Stem rot causes young plants to die...
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Resources

Daylily Show and Sale
Mum Support

Spotting Tomato Hornworms
Spread Mulch Under Berries
Destroy Diseased Leaves
Tip-Prune Bloomers
Pull Weeds Before They Flower

Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys Regional Report

Harvesting Winter Keepers

Resources

Reminders

Starting the Fall and Winter Garden

Resources

Reminders

Transition in the Garden

Resources

Reminders

Onion Family Disease and Pest Problems

Resources

Reminders

Problems with the Onion Family

Resources

Reminders

Storing Your Harvest

Resources

Reminders

Midsummer Watering for Highest Yields

Resources

Reminders

Planting Succession Crops

Resources

Reminders

Early Summer Fruit Tree Care

Resources

Reminders

Keeping Veggies Growing

Resources

Reminders

Growing Your Own Sweet Potatoes

Resources

Reminders