Why July 15 Matters: The Complete Backward Planning Behind Fall Brassica Seed Starting
Why July 15 Matters, let me tell you… Quick Answer In zone 9b, fall brassicas like broccoli need to be started indoors around July 15 so the transplants are ready when outdoor temperatures finally cool enough for planting in September. Working backward from the September transplant window, through the six to seven weeks a seedling […]
July Propagation Guide, Free Plants From Cuttings
The July Propagation Guide July is an excellent month for propagating plants in July because growth is strong and cuttings root quickly. Lavender, rosemary, roses, and bougainvillea can all be propagated now from healthy, non-flowering stems, dipped in rooting hormone, and kept moist in well draining soil until roots form in three to six weeks. […]
The Mid Summer Garden Reset, 7 Small Jobs for a Tired July Garden
A mid summer garden reset means deadheading spent blooms, trimming fast growing climbers, watering deeply in the early morning, staking leggy plants, refreshing tired containers with a new plant or two, sowing a few more annuals for late summer color, and keeping foot traffic moving off any patch of lawn. These small jobs bring a […]
What to Fertilize in July: A Zone 9b Garden Guide
Quick Answer: In July, feed roses, dahlias, tomatoes, container plants, citrus, and avocado on a light, steady schedule to support blooming and fruiting. Skip or reduce feeding for lavender, calendula, and most herbs, which prefer lean soil. Fertilize asparagus crowns after harvest to build strength for next spring. Sweet one, if you have walked out […]
The Garden Bento Box Trend and Why It Feels Like Home
The Garden Bento Box Trend and Why It Feels Like Home Sweet one, have you heard people talking about the garden bento box trend lately? The first time it crossed my feed I smiled, because it turns out I have been gardening this way for years without ever having a name for it. A bento […]
You Don’t Need Land to Be a Homesteader
You Don’t Need Land to Be a Homesteader, Sweet One I hear this from so many of you and I want to say it plainly right up front. You do not need five acres, a barn, or a flock of your own to call yourself a homesteader. What you need is a willingness to grow […]
Keeping Your Summer Vegetable Garden Thriving (Even When Life Gets Busy)
Keeping Your Summer Vegetable Garden Thriving ~ (Even When Life Gets Busy) Summer has a way of pulling us in a dozen directions at once. Between family visits, vacations, and the general business of warm weather living, our vegetable gardens can start to feel like one more thing on the list instead of the peaceful […]
Bring the Sound of Water to Your Backyard This Summer
Bring the Sound of Water to Your Backyard This Summer Sweet one, if you have stepped outside lately here in the Central Valley you already know what I mean when I say the heat has arrived with no patience for a slow start. By mid morning the air sits heavy over the garden and even […]
Extend Freshness and Reduce Waste with Essential Food Tips
Everyone wants to extend freshness and reduce waste, so lets explore some essential food tips. There is real money sitting in most people’s kitchens right now, quietly going bad. A forgotten half-onion going soft in the fridge. Flour that has gone rancid in a cabinet too close to the stove. Leftovers pushed to the back […]
Dehydrating Food for the Pantry: A Simple Way to Save Money and Reduce Waste
I was standing in the grocery store recently, staring at a small bag of dried apples priced around six dollars. And I thought, I have apples at home. There is something deeply satisfying about opening your pantry and seeing food you preserved yourself. Not because it looks perfect. Not because it belongs in a magazine. […]