WHY WE SHOULD CARE AND THE STORIES THEY TELL: PART ONE Why should gardeners make an effort to learn botanical Latin names? When we know the name of a plant, we have the ability to expand our knowledge about that plant. With the common name, some knowledge is gained. However, knowing the plant’s botanical name (genus and species) gives us much more. Genus and species provide a path to understanding a plant’s physical attributes, medicinal use, geographical origin, ethnobotany, cultivation, or history. Another reason to know the botanical name is that there will be no confusion as to which plant we are referring. An example of this is the common name ‘bluebell,’ used for numerous plants. This moniker is given to Mertensia virginica (US), Campanula rotundifolia (Scotland), Hyacinthoides nonscripta (England), Phacelia campanularia (California), and Wahlenbergia gloriosa (Australia). If we are describing a ’bluebell’ in our California garden and use its …

Two unusual bulbs growing in my garden are fascinating in both their foliage and flowering habits. The bulbs are large and also rodent-proof. They are dormant all summer, then each sends up a striking flower in late August. When the flower is finished, the leaves emerge, continuing the show throughout winter and spring. Urginea Maritima (syn. Drimia Maritima) is also known as Sea Squill. Native to the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, it thrives in full sun, low water, and excellent drainage. Given these conditions, the Sea Squill survives without any extra care. Everything about this plant is a bold statement: the bulb can become 12″ wide (the top third should be above ground when planted), and the bright green strappy leaves are 4″ wide, forming a beautiful two-foot-tall clump that persists all winter. The leaves suddenly turn yellow in May, and the dormant bulb is long forgotten until August …

What does my vegetable garden need now that the weather is cooler, the winds are blowing and the rain (might) be coming? If you planted some of your winter greens in November, they are probably loving this cooler weather, but the winds can cause the soil to dry out much faster. Make sure to run your irrigation or hand water the day before a Santa Ana wind event is to happen. Set your irrigation system on a reduced watering schedule for the winter and be sure to turn it off when it rains. Your winter vegetables only need infrequent watering. Only water when you stick your finger into the soil and it’s dry to the second knuckle. If you live in a microclimate that does get frost, be ready with some type of protection for your precious plants. Cover sensitive plants with cloth, not plastic, and don’t forget to remove it each …

My fascination with Aloes began during visits to the San Diego Zoo with my grandchildren. Most of you know that both the San Diego Zoo and the Zoo Safari are homes to collections of plants as well as animals. I was drawn to the variety of colors and sizes I saw. I have since learned that the 600 species that exist range in size from a few inches to 20-foot Aloe trees. Their sensitivity to frost limits garden usage to frost-free zones. However, for those of you in locations prone to frost, many can be grown in containers so you can move them to safety when frost is predicted. An option for those grown in the ground is to cover them with a large plastic container that is higher and wider than the aloe or with a sheet or blanket. Entrepreneurs are now even offering ‘plant blankets’. It is important …

In a home vegetable garden, crop rotation involves changing the planting location of vegetables within the garden each season. Crop rotation is used to reduce damage from insect pests and to limit the development of vegetable diseases by interrupting pest and disease cycles. Crop rotation also helps manage soil fertility by returning nutrients to the soil without synthetic inputs. Although crop rotation is usually geared toward large conventional farms, the lessons are the same for the home vegetable garden. As many large commercial farms plant the same crop, year after year, more chemical fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, spectracide, and herbicides are needed. This will happen in the home garden as well. A three-year cycle can be used, but even this can become complicated for those with limited planting areas, so moving your plants even a few feet from where they were last season will be beneficial for the plant’s health. A …

United States Department of Agricultural Investigates Packages of Unsolicited Seeds from China. USDA is aware that people across the country have received suspicious, unsolicited packages of seed that appear to be coming from China. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies, and State departments of agriculture to investigate the situation. USDA urges anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds to immediately contact their State plant regulatory official or APHIS State plant health director. Please hold onto the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label, until someone from your State department of agriculture or APHIS contacts you with further instructions. Do not plant seeds from unknown origins. To finish reading the full report from the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2020/sa-07/seeds-china To report any suspicious seeds …

We live in an area of the country blessed with a Mediterranean climate (warm, wet winters under prevailing westerly winds and calm, hot, dry summers.) Sooo, why not venture beyond the familiar and try some South African corms in your garden? Corms? Not bulbs? Yep! Bulbs are underground stems that contain an embryonic plant complete with leaves, stems, and flower buds. These are wrapped around with scales (modified leaves) held together at the base. Bulbs will persist for many years, periodically producing new small bulbs. Corms, on the other hand, are underground stems that are solid and do not have the overlapping leaves. Each corm only lasts one year. It shrivels as it uses up its stored energy to grow and bloom. A new corm forms on top. Cormels also grow around the base. Some of the more popular are: Sparaxis, Babiana, Ixia, Freesia, and Watsonia. All can be planted …

Soil – All succulents require excellent soil drainage. Water should run through pots fast so the plant’s roots don’t get waterlogged. Water – Succulents are adapted to survive in harsh, dry conditions but this doesn’t mean they don’t like water when they can get it. One major tip is, they don’t like being soggy. If growing in a pot, let the soil dry out between waterings. Water enough to keep the leaves plump. Succulent leaves will often wrinkle if they don’t have enough water, but it’s better to let them get a little dehydrated than to overwater them. Hint: during the rainy season turn the saucers you have under your pots upside-down so they won’t get waterlogged. Light – Succulents evolved in dry climates but shouldn’t be confused with tough desert cactus. Full sun outdoors is okay for Aloes (not all aloes, Aloe vera prefers part shade – at least …

You are in the kitchen preparing breakfast. You remove used coffee grounds and filter from the coffee pot, peel some oranges and bananas, crack some eggs. What do you do with these unwanted parts? Hopefully, you don’t throw them into the trash to go to a landfill where they will produce strong greenhouse gases when you could be using them to make your own compost. What? That is a time and energy consuming task reserved for those dedicated gardeners with labor intensive compost piles. Maybe not. Let’s talk about a couple of relatively simple ways to turn your unwanted  food scraps (as well as garden trimmings) into the compost which will: improve your soil structure, help your soil hold water, suppress some diseases, and make nutrients more readily available to your plants. The Trench Method takes the least amount of effort. Save your kitchen scraps in a small lidded container. …

ADVANTAGES OF CONTAINER VEGETABLE GARDENING Less risk of soil-borne disease Virtually eliminate weed problems Versatile, allowing you to grow on a patio, balcony or courtyard Mobile plants gives more control over moisture, sunlight & temperature Portable gardens are suitable for renters, edible gardens in pots can move with you Makes gardening accessible to those with limited mobility Helps control space invaders, like mint and rosemary CHOOSING THE RIGHT CONTAINER FOR GROWING VEGETABLES Any number of things can be used, flower pots, buckets, washtubs, wooden boxes, even plastic bags. No matter what kind of container you use, it should have drainage holes at the base or in the bottom. Vegetable plants will die if left sitting in wet soil. Dark colored containers, outdoors will absorb heat which can damage roots, so try painting them a lighter color or place them accordingly. The size of the container is important. For larger vegetables …