Category: gardening

Start a Farmers Market in your Backyard

It’s that time of year again for growing your own backyard fruit. Let’s all set a goal that is easier to achieve, but still makes us feel great! You can grow more things here in the valley than most places the world. We get enough frost to produce delicious stone fruit, and with a little protection from cold weather, you can also grow avocados. You can start pomegranates and berries now that you can actually enjoy this year.

And not just fruit! grow veggies as well. Potatoes are the easiest, most productive root veggie to start right now, next to your fig tree.

This is the time of year where we have the widest selection of fruit trees and is also a great time to get them in the ground.

We can’t explain the difference of ­harvesting your own backyard fruit and vegetables from buying them in the store (organic or not), but you will certainly, know the difference. It’s a matter of taste. You can also sleep well at night knowing that you have complete control over the plant care products you use.

Fresh Taste

Nothing beats the taste of a sun-warm, tree-ripened fruit picked straight from the tree in your own yard. You know it’s fresh, juicy and with the right cultivation, pesticide and chemical-free which you can’t always say about store bought fruit, which is often held in cold storage for months and has been treated with who-knows-what to get that perfect market appearance!

We have a sizable inventory of fruit trees, berries, and grapes available for your backyard fruit collection. We plant all of our trees in bio-degradable pulp pots which prevent damage to the roots. This means you’ll have even more success than with traditional bare root plants.

Start a farmers market in your backyard, and don’t be shy to share with us how great your food is!

Multiple Uses of Backyard Fruit Trees

Consider using fruit trees in the yard to provide shade or block unwanted views. You don’t need a lot of space. Grow an espaliered apple or pear along your fence or wall train a grape or kiwi up over an arbor or trellis, plant a dwarf peach or apple in a container on your deck. Plant a combination multi-graft tree – it will give you a summer of fruit!

Varieties on our list are selected to be successful in our area. Also, there is a choice of two different combination Fruit Salad trees and over 20 varieties of grapes.

We just brought in a full range of Dave Wilson container-grown blueberries, pomegranates, and figs that will complement the new season bare root collection.

Here are just a few to consider:
Blueberries, we’ve selected great varieties that thrive in our climate. Choose from Sunshine Blue, South Moon, Misty, Jubilee, Jewel, O’Neal and Sharp Blue. We recommend preparing the soil with acid planting mix and locating the plants in morning sun until 1:00 for best results.

Figs and Pomegranates were born to live in our valley. These Mediterranean plants love our climate, are water-wise and thrive with very little care.

Figs: Brown Turkey, Kadota, Black Mission and Peter’s Honey.

Pomegranates: My new favorite Ambrosia is the sweetest pomegranate you’ll ever eat. Grenada, Wonderful, Eve, Eversweet & Parfianka are among our collection.

So come in and meet our expert staff. They’ll be happy to help you choose the correct varieties based on ripening times, taste and space availability. We’ll provide you with planting instructions and all the necessary items and knowledge to get you growing.

Whether you have space for a whole orchard or just a single tree – come in and see our extensive selection and soon you’ll be picking ripe fruit from your garden.

See our backyard fruit tree collection here.

 

Cherries

Plant a Cherry Tree
Fruit trees are here, including Cherries. We have a stunning selection.

Cherries fall into a couple of different groups. Gardeners grow sweet cherries for fresh eating and sour cherries for cooking. Many cherries need a complementary partner/pollenizer planted nearby, but some are fruitful and happy standing alone.

Here is a quick summary of our selection:

Bing Sweet Cherry – Sweet, crisp, dark cherry for fresh eating. Ripens in Early June. Pollenized by Black Tartarian or Rainier

Black Tartarian Sweet Cherry – Softer and earlier than bing – Sprightly Flavor. Ripens in Mid May. Interfruitful with all sweet cherries

Craig’s Crimson Sweet Cherry – Dark red to nearly black, medium to large size, wonderful spicy flavor, very firm texture. Ripens in Mid May. Self-fruitful

English Morello Sour Cherry – Late-ripening tart cherry for cooking. Ripens in Mid June. Self-fruitful

Lapins Sweet Cherry – Self-fruitful, dark red sweet cherry. Ripens in Late May. Self-fruitful

Rainier Sweet Cherry – Large, yellow with red blush. Sweet and flavorful. Ripens in Early June. Pollenized by Bing or Black Tartarian

Stella Sweet Cherry – Large, nearly black, richly flavored sweet cherry. Ripens in Early June. Self-fruitful

Utah Giant Sweet Cherry – Favorite sweet cherry in Utah. Larger, firmer, more flavorful than Bing. Ripens in Late May. Pollenized by Bing or Ranier

Royal Crimson Sweet Cherry – Bright crimson with superb flavor. Ripens in Early May. Self-fruitful

Roses Coming

Our 2018 Collection of Roses are Arriving!

Several trucks full of roses are making their way from our suppliers growing ground near Fresno to our rose department.  This week we are setting out over 1000 roses. How about blessing a loved one with a rose garden for Christmas?

Our roses are produced by a number of growers and our first are arriving now. Shrub roses, climbers and patio tree roses were off-loaded this morning and set into place. Tomorrow standard tree roses will arrive. Next week more growers will ship bringing the rose department to about 80% full for the year. The balance will arrive early in the new year.

Check back here for updates and more details as the collection grows.

 

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Bulb Layering in a Pot

With the weather cooling, it’s time to plant bulbs. We plant buckets, pots, and baskets in November for spring color. We have discovered a few tips that make the process successful and enjoyable.

A bigger pot is a better pot, we prefer a pot 14″ wide and at least 12″ deep.

Simple containers are filled entirely with one type of bulb while elaborate containers are stuffed full with a variety of different bulbs scheduled to bloom at different times.

Inspired by a visit to Filoli gardens in Woodside, across the bay, we will often plant up pots full of a single color tulip. Tulips are selected and then refrigerated for at least 6 weeks and remain in the fridge until the outside temperatures drop. Planting a single variety in a pot makes the biggest splash as they all bloom at the same time, subsequent pots can be planted and ready to pull into view as the earliest bloom and fade and the new ones reach their prime. Fill pots with potting soil and plant the tulips 3-4″ deep. And space them so there is about an inch of soil between them (regular bulb spacing does not apply when planting in containers). Water and keep in a cool spot till leaves fully emerge` then grow them out in a brighter spot.

Daffodils can be grown the same way as tulips, but they need to be planted deeper. As a rule of thumb, bulbs are planted 2-3 times the diameter of the bulbs, (for some daffodils that can be 5 to 7 inches deep).

For a really enjoyable project, try layering bulbs in a deep pot. If you have a deep pot, at least 14″, you can have three layers of bulbs plus a layer of violas or pansies overhead. Choose from the following alternatives:
Bottom layer. Daffodils
Middle layer: Tulips, Hyacinth, Miniature Daffodils
Top layer: Crocus, Muscari, Freesia

Bulbs for a Dry Climate

California climate loving bulbs are an easy suggestion to add a splash of color in the garden without needing a lot of water. They are also good because unlike many traditional bulbs, they do not need to be refrigerated before planting or dug up and stored.

Originating in climates similar to ours, these bulbs are accustomed to dry summers and moderate climate. They are often dormant in summer.  Plant in drifts now for spring rewards with a lasting effect.

Anemone
Also known as Wind Flowers, these are some of the first to bloom in spring. Soak your bulbs for a few hours in lukewarm water to “wake them up”. Dig area and plant the anemones 1″-2″ down. Water well, soaking the area.

Freesia
Known for their fragrance, freesias are nice when planted among low groundcover plants where their floppy nature can be well supported. They also work well in containers. Plants bloom at about a foot high in late spring. Full sun.

Watsonia
Bold, spikes of small Gladiolus type flowers. Makes a great cut flower. Looks best when allowed to develop large clumps
Plant in full sun or morning sun.
Reaches 3′ or 4′

Sparaxis
Clusters of kaleidoscope-like patterned and colored flowers up to 2″ wide. A spectacular addition to borders, rock gardens, and container plantings.

Amaryllis belladonna
(Belladonna Lily) has just finished blooming around the valley. Now is the time to plant them as bulbs & we have them!  They bloom with no additional water.

 

Edible Landscape – Saving Water


You’ve just savored that juicy tomato fresh from your garden – vine ripened and still warm from the sun. A little salt is the only accompaniment it needs. And that tree ripened July peach – so juicy you had to lean over the grass to keep the drips off of your front. There is more harvest from your backyard to come: grapes, apples, figs, winter squash and . . . mercy(!) another couple of zucchinis to bake into zucchini bread.

We’ve had some record breaking heat this summer, and our usual run of the mill heat, which kept me running to the hose for in-between-the-schedule-watering. So it seems like a good time to consider a few ideas for trimming your water use for your next garden. But no worries, we will never water shame you!

Tips for Saving Water

  • What better way to use a precious resource than growing your own bountiful garden full of tasty produce?
  • Prepare your soil well with compost (Bumper Crop and G & B are two we like) and replenish yearly. Or make your own from all those fallen leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps. Compost acts like a sponge to hold water.
  • Water use is mainly influenced by temperatures. Schedule plantings for the appropriate season. Cool season veggies: leafy greens, peas, broccoli, etc. grow well in the fall and spring and are less water intensive than warm season veggies.
  • Soak soil to saturate root zones and below so that a reservoir of soil water is available for the plant to draw from, eliminating the need for frequent, shallow watering.
  • Reduce tomato watering after the fruit has set and is beginning to color up.
  • Heat wilting of big leafed plants (squashes, pumpkins etc.) on hot afternoons is normal and doesn’t always mean the plant is thirsty.
  • Prune fruit trees in summer. A more compact tree uses less water.
  • Try an Earth Box. It’s a space saving growing system with a built in reservoir and soil cover and is surprisingly productive.
  • Provide a bit of afternoon shade with taller, more sun loving plants (tomatoes) planted south of those that could use a break from broiling afternoon sun (peppers, eggplant, cucumbers). Or set up your beach umbrella temporarily.
  • Mulch Mulch Mulch. Much Mulch!

Treat Mildew to Protect your Veggies

mildew-pumpkin

Squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, and melons are all susceptible to mildew as the days of summer begin to shorten. The weeks into late summer and fall can be very productive for many veggies as the milder fall temperatures coax new leaves to grow. Many vegetables are preparing for an encore performance but Mildew is also waiting for an opportunity to take hold. Don’t let it rob productivity.
It’s normal for leaves to begin to look a bit weather worn and tattered now but productivity can continue if a disease does not set in or insects take over. Keep a watchful eye out for problems and don’t assume its time for a swan song just because your plants don’t look as prime as they did at the peak of summer. You may see fresh new leaves emerging now, with the agreeable climate, you might also see older leaves touched with mildew.

If mildew is allowed to establish it will be tough to control and will eventually send your plant to the compost pile. Keep an eye out for odd spotting, early signs of mildew, and treat quickly to hold the disease at bay. Hand picking leaves can help before a thorough spraying on both top and bottom sides of leaves. We have had good results with Bonide Copper Fungicide.

Thyme for Edible Garden Design

Nasturtium

An old shiny silver orb sitting atop a tomato cage graces our small Veggie Demonstration Garden at the nursery. Why on earth is it there? Does it reflect more light around so the plants grow better? is it a bird deflector? A fun house mirror for the squirrels? All good reasons, but no, not really. It’s just an impromptu decoration for the garden – simple, charming and eye catching. Helping to add some height to the initial short plants, it makes a nice focal point for your eyes to rest on. Do we care if the veggie garden has a focal point? Well, it is one way to bring in some thoughtful style to your yard, which can ramp up your enjoyment of it. When you are sitting out in your yard on one of our delicious summer evenings after you have just enjoyed some of your garden’s bounty, take a look around and envision some of these ideas to enhance your edible garden design for the next season:

Focal Points

Add some interest. Make it fun . . . or elegant or modern or Japanese or gnomish or whatever your personal style is. Think colorful glazed pottery, metal artwork for the fence or wall; simple painted bamboo teepees for cucumbers and beans to climb; a burbling fountain alive with glinting splashing water.

Evergreen/Deciduous

Play off deciduous and evergreen plants with each other. Wow does Sweet Bay Laurel make a beautiful hedge or tree (use the leaves fresh for seasoning!), and it pairs so nicely with other edibles which go dormant during winter months, such as blackberries, raspberries, dwarf peaches and nectarines, and even figs. Other good looking edible evergreen trees or small shrubs are Loquat, Chilean Guava (the variegated variety is uber gorgeous), Strawberry Guava and Kumquat.

Why not companion plant a row of deciduous fruit trees (apples, plums, pears, etc.) with some evergreen flowering shrubs that attract our pollinator friends? Ceanothus, rosemary, manzanita, grevillea, and alyssum are all terrific choices to help with fruit set.

Edging

Neaten up and define the borders of beds with a nice little planting of thyme. Or chives or even some of the greens like chard or colorful lettuces.

Layout

Create spaces in your planting areas as places for you to be in, instead of long static rows. If you are planning more than one raised bed for veggies, why not arrange them with space in the middle between them for a small bistro table and chairs (or that focal point). You can use gravel or flagstones for the flooring. Use a triangle plant spacing for a lusher look.

Start small or with an overhaul – Plan one or two weekend projects, or develop a whole new master plan. It’s all about increasing your enjoyment of your own little piece of the neighborhood while harvesting the freshest possible produce ripe from your own yard!

Lavender

Every Valley gardener should have a lavender plant to make their garden complete. You’ll want to enjoy the many benefits of this perennial of the perennials. We know and appreciate lavender for the lovely scent of the flowers and foliage as well as the gray to gray-green color it brings to our gardens. Scent the Garden with Lavender

In the Western world, Lavender has been treasured since the middle ages as a medicinal herb; food enhancement and sweetener and even an insect repellant — once it was discovered that fleas do not like the scent of lavender which is so appealing to us. In modern times, lavender is the basis for many balms and cosmetics. Its fragrance occupies center stage in soaps, perfumes, aromatic pillows, room fresheners, laundry detergents and a host of others.

With all that going for it, you need hardly be surprised to find out that it is a great looking perennial plant that is easy to grow, low maintenance, sun-loving, drought resistant and tolerant of benign neglect — which makes it ideal for busy Valley residents who need to leverage their gardening time. By the way, lavender plants also make great additions to cut flower bouquets and are an ideal colorful fragrant enhancement to dried flower arrangements.

Lavender is a Mediterranean native and adapts nicely to garden soils if they are improved with compost to make them fast-draining. Plant in an area that receives full sun – at least six hours. It makes an excellent low hedge, bedding border for a perennial garden or an accent in an herb garden. If you wish to save the flowers for sachets cut the flower heads or strip the flowers from the stems just as color shows. Dry them upside down in a cool, shady place. Try some of these varieties of lavender in your garden!

goodwin-creek
Goodwin Creek Lavender

GOODWIN CREEK LAVENDER
From the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon, this selection is noted for its extreme hardiness as well as its lovely foliage, flowers, and fragrance. Hardy, evergreen shrub to 2-3’ tall x 3-4’ wide. Ideal for accent, border, massing, low hedge or lavender spikes during late spring-summer and much of the year with regular deadheading.

PROVENCE LAVENDER
This fragrant darling from the Mediterainian has both subtlety and a robust spirit, It’s a hardy evergreen, 18″-2′ high and up to 3′ wide. The fragrant dark violet blossoms in June-July on 16″ stems. Attractive silvery gray foliage adds a nice contrast to other green plants

PHENOMENAL LAVENDER
This is “Must Grow” Lavender says Better Homes and Gardens! Very heat and cold tolerant with very little dieback. Known for its uniform, mounding habit and long stems of blue-purple flowers.
Grows 2-3′ high and wide prune after bloom to promote a repeat bloom cycle. Great for mass planting, border or accent, but avoid the edge of the lawn, too wet.

 

 

Add Smoke Tree for Dark Drama


Smoke trees are showing off spring foliage and wispy flowers right now. Our resident smoke tree is currently blooming near our water garden.

Smoke trees are typically dark red small trees or large shrubs to about 12 feet, Golden Sprite is a lime green variety that prefers afternoon shade. They are perfect for a patio or a tree near the front entry. Come in for a look!

After leafing out in spring with dark, intense purple or brilliant chartreuse, Smoke trees come into bloom with a cloud of purple (or light green) smoke. The “flowers” are so light and airy they appear to be just a cloud.

Successful examples of the smoke tree in the garden demonstrate they are best planted in full sun. You don’t have to worry too much about watering after it is established, they have been seen growing in places without additional water similar to some native plants. They will appreciate water once or twice a month when established. Give them water a couple times a week for 2 years to establish.