Radish galore

I really didn't imagine that all these leafy greens had fleshy roots underneath them that often went 8" deep. Some are skinnier and shorter than others; but that is largely my making - like most amateur gardeners, I am chicken when it comes to thinning aggressively.

Four and counting

I am glad that my kids don't grow up so fast; it wouldn't be enough time to enjoy them. The tomatoes in patch 1 have broken the four foot mark. The Snow White cherry is growing horizontally too - some five feet across. What does this all imply?


1) Heirlooms are probably hardy by definition. That's probably how they made it through all these years.

2) They will probably reach some seriously unexpected height

3) They probably need less nurturing (low maintenance). They don't want to be fed too much, resent excessive watering and routinely defy staking.

I can't wait to see how these hardy creatures combat hornworms in a few weeks. The good news is, virtually every one of them has fruits in the making.

Legumes on my countertop

Each growing season, I subject select patches to beans cultivation - they live in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which 'fix' nitrogen from the air and make it available to their hosts. In my mind, I've then treated this little patch to the spa for the season and it may return the favor by nurturing a heavy feeder.

Another instance of my poor labeling habits - just when I was ready to engineer a trellis with bamboo and garden twine, I've been rewarded with blue lake bush. I'm not about the complain, the first harvest is here and its time for stir fry.

The trench has beans, onions and sunflowers

The magic and mystery of companion planting have intrigued and fascinated humans for centuries, yet it is a part of the gardening world that hasn't been sufficiently researched.

This picture is the trench adjoining the tomatoes. The near side is a bunch of carrots. To its detriment, these carrots may aid the tomatoes. Far behind in this same trench, I've a patch of spring onions. I've not invested the time to research the onion-carrot companionship. But that shouldn't deter me from experimenting. In part, this is to scatter onion plants throughout the garden - onion maggots travel from plant to plant when set in a row.

Extending this principle, here's the tip for the day: The active principle of tomato leaves is solanine, a volatile alkaloid that at one time was used as an agricultural insecticide. You can create your own insect-repellent spray for roses by making a solution of tomato leaves in your vegetable juicer—add 4 or 5 pints of water and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Strain and spray on roses where it is not convenient to plant tomatoes as companions. Keep any unused spray refrigerated.

A highly prized perennial

It is blue-butterfly day here in spring,
And with these sky-flakes down in flurry on flurry
There is more unmixed color on the wing
Than flowers will show for days unless they hurry.
But these are flowers that fly & all but sing:
And now from having ridden out desire
They lie closed over in the wind & cling
Where wheels have freshly sliced the April mire.
-Robert Frost
(1874-1963)

Virtually every British gardening print sings high praises for these undisputed regal blooms. In the US, I read that they were hardy in Zones 3-8. Now, I am pushing Zone 10 in coastal San Diego, but I must have these splendid blues. So, I've tilled in copius amounts of compost and gypsum into the soil and used it it to edge a part of patch 1. I've mulched it an inch or so to keep the roots cooler. I'm hoping this sees it through our summer sun. For now, it delights the hummingbird as much as it warms my heart.

Fuzzy - originally Chinese

A member of the rose family, the fuzzy peach is a native of China. In the Chinese culture, this tree is revered as the tree of life. Peaches symbolize immortality and unity. Peach blossoms are carried by Chinese brides. Peach images were placed on pottery and received as gifts with great esteem.

Travelers along caravan routes carried the peach seed to Persia before it was cultivated in Europe. In the early 1600s Spanish explorers brought it to the New World and by the 1700s missionaries had established peaches in California.

My own tree is rescued from a nursery that was going out of business. It has (this far) proved resilient after the leaf curl attack. I'm eagerly waiting for the fruit to reveal its varied flavors.

Peaches taste best consumed "warm" from the tree. Nutritionally, a good source of vitamins A, B and C, a medium peach packs only 37 calories.

I didn't know that you aren't supposed to plant peach right next to an almond tree. They are related, cross easily and result in bitter nuts!