I planted Sierra strawberries in
February. I did quite a lot of research and found these are the strawberries
that grow best in hot dry Southern California. From the start they struggled.
They just seem to need more water than we can supply. I still have hope that something is happening underground, and that next spring they will produce! I know I need to mulch. I will be looking for some straw.
 |
| Sierra Strawberries |
 |
| Tangerines in April |
It’s been
so exciting (in a slow way) to see our fruit trees develop. This year we have tangerines,
 |
| citrus trees |
which we anticipate
harvesting in December .
 |
| limes |
The other citrus trees look strong, but don’t have
fruit yet. Hopefully next year. We found
 |
| Persimmon blooms |
 |
| Young, productive persimmon |
blossoms on our persimmon, which
is still spindly, but they have developed into beautiful
persimmons, expected to ripen in September. We thought about
culling them, and got advice from a few sources, including the very knowledgeable
folks at the nursery, and decided to support the branches and leave the fruit on.
So far so good. Hang on for one more month, spindly little branches! You can see the trunk in white. Wolfi has protected all our fruit tree trunks by painting them with a 50% white latex paint mix (the rest water), which we understand helps to prevent sunburn, and might also keep some insect pests out.
 |
| Zutano avocado: soft skin, delicious fruit |
 |
| Zutano 3 months before harvest? |
We planted a
Zutano and a Hass avocado in the spring. We bought big ones (15 gallon), not wanting
to wait for bearing. They were covered with blossoms, and some baby avocados,
when we brought them home in our station wagon. Our nurseryman is a genius
to figure that one out! We followed the
 |
| how to plant a tree |
 |
| white nectarine with Hass avocado |
planting directions diligently, and are
thrilled that the Zutano has a good crop coming, which will ripen early next year. The Hass
dropped its fruit within a couple months, and when we noticed that happening we
stepped up the water. It's true - avocados require a lot of water. Our valiant
little apricot produced three apricots, 2 of which we're harvested by local
volunteers, but we can say that we have eaten our first one! Knowing that fall
is the best time to plant trees here, mostly (avocados are the exception), we
planted a white nectarine in April. They are hard to find, and that's when one
was available. Last week we were quite pleased to notice new growth, so perhaps
it will be a
 |
| even the fallen blossoms are lovely |
 |
| pomegranate blossoms |
survivor! The pomegranate is possibly our healthiest tree, and we
welcomed several blossoms last spring. Three developed into lovely fruit, but
only one remains now. Hopefully we will taste our first pomegranate this year!
The thing that has made our fruit
trees possible (and the trees and plants on the hillside) is the irrigation
system Wolfi installed. We have a little dribble at each tree or plant, so
rather than climbing the ladder a few dozen times a day to keep moving the hose
around, we just turn on one hose. Wonderful!
 |
| baby eggplants |
 |
| pretty Melanzane! |
In May the lettuce and Asian
greens were past, and I was left with a mostly empty garden, a most peculiar
predicament for a New England gardener. I hadn't planted hot weather crops in
the winter because of my dismal success keeping things alive the previous year
(and the fact that I had been slammed at work). I needed to try something, so
purchased eggplant at Home Depot (9-pack with 3 varieties). I put them in the
fenced raised bed and we put shade cloth on the bed. To my surprise and
delight, they have been growing steadily, and we have quite a few eggplant
developing.
 |
| basil seems happy |
 |
| baby cuke |
Wolfi caught a rabbit in the act
of eating the kale in the back bed, so we transplanted them to the front where
it's fenced. They did well...until the green caterpillars munched them. I
treated them with BT (from gardens alive) and that has helped. We do have quite
the list of insect pests, with the caterpillars, whiteflies, and I am
suspicious there is a tomato hornworm eating the eggplant. I have
 |
| eggplant blossom |
 |
| eggplant blooms |
year round
spray oil that should help with the whiteflies, and there is fly paper out, but
the reality is I just need to do all these things more often. When we
transplanted the kale, I also planted the bright lights chard that had been in
6-packs for quite a while, just hanging on. They have done ok and seem to stay
largely pest free- but their growth is not as vigorous as in the spring. But we
do get enough leaves for a mess per week or
 |
| Tomatoes in March! |
so.
 |
| Can you spot the praying mantis? |
On one HD trip I couldn't resist
one more try for cucumbers, peppers, and a heat tolerant tomato. The cucumbers
have climbed up the fence, and flowered. I saw one baby cuke, but it dried up a
couple days later. The tomato was dead within a few weeks. Peppers are alive
but not growing. It was not the
right time of year to plant veggies - late June I think - but I was encouraged
that the cukes at least stayed alive.
We all know it NEVER rains in So
Cal in the summer, but thus far we are 2 for 2 for a very significant summer
rainstorm each year. This one was in July and we soaked it up by running around in our
bathing suits.
 |
| approaching storm |
 |
| A new record |
 |
| Re-hydrating our souls! |
The barrel cactus blooms almost all the time. I enjoy it so much. This one, though is different - is this a baby?
 |
| How do barrel cactus propagate? |
