Search results

That's a great idea and looks pretty simple too! I have a huge pile of scrap wood...and maybe a new project this weekend!

I would also endorse Prudens, it produces well and has good size fruits. Other meaty beefsteaks that have come early are Soldacki and Dutchman, which I'm not sure if Baker Creek carries. Both are pinkish/purplish, meaty, low seed count, and relatively mid-early season. Dutchman did better in...

And wow. Plumerias in Northern Michigan that's something I'm sure! :clap

I'll take some pics this summer and post. Or if I find some older ones I'll post those.

We grow about 250 plants of tomatoes per year (and about 25-30 varieties) and we use a method similar to what you would see on grapes. We also heavily prune and train our tomatoes, which when you have 250 plants takes a lot of effort but well worth the time because it helps prevent disease and...

Well we currently have figs, apples, citrus, and guava here in Oakland. It may make sense to go with Asian pears. Basically my requirements are: something that is easier to maintain/grow, is dwarf or semi-dwarf, and looks good on the street and can be grown on the street. Our mini-farm is...

We have 3 plumerias planted on our property in Southern California that are about 12 years old now and about 10-14 feet tall. They are beautiful! Wish we could grow them up here in Northern California but they could never take the cold. The wind sure does beat them up in So Cal though. The...

Hmm, a vote against pears. I definitely know that local pears will sell well here. Actually for most of the Berkeley hippies and San Francisco yuppies, anything local will bring in top dollar! Now that I'm thinking about the heavy pruning needed for pears and the chill and the upkeep, there...

Oh wow, these look very interesting! What stock did you start with, if I may ask, to get the cross? This may help determine what disease resistance it may have, growth habit, maturity, etc. I think I'm going to order some from you!

Thanks for the reply! True there is a slight difference in our climates. From contacting local coop folks and others they recommend Bartlett (which I also agree isn't the best), Comice, and Seckel. Any thoughts? Fortunately we get a few months that are cold enough to suffice for chill...

Do you have a pic or plans of said PVC pipe contraption?

Interesting article. I was reading a similar article regarding the same practice used for water rights in many developing countries. Sad to see what's becoming of the world, piece by piece.

Fortunately I have no neighbors that like to feed the wildlife BUT I have a big problem with the City of Oakland. We live next to a creek that runs through the city (we have an urban mini-farm) and the City has designated the creek and all land areas adjacent to the creek as a protected...

Hi there fellow East Bay gardener! Our lemon verbena aloysia triphylla grows in a corner of the property and gets about 4 or 5 feet tall in a season from being cut back down to about 1 foot off the ground at the end of the season. You can always trim during the season too, it's pretty...

We run an urban mini-farm in Oakland. One of our newer properties has about 140 feet of frontage and we were thinking of planting a row of pear trees to both add some beauty to the neighborhood and provide fruit for our operation and neighbors. So, I'm looking for some good recommendations...

Hi there. In general spacing depends on a few factors. 1. Soil. If your soil is well drained, full of nutrients (and you add compost as needed), dug well, and mulched it should be able to maintain a large amount of vegetable plants. 2. Crops. Plant crops that need more of a certain...

I agree with Baker Creek and Seed Saver's Exchange Another I would HIGHLY recommend and where I order a good amount of my seed from is Bountiful Gardens. It's a great place with good pricing and an excellent selection. Great customer service and they love to answer questions! Here's an excerpt...

Linseed oil you say? I wonder, has anyone tried this? What's the average life span? Is it worth it? Any other natural finishes that would work?

Its hard to say but you may get some ok cherry tomatoes, you may get no tomatoes. It's good experience though, right? :tools

Here's a more useful tool I just stumble across. USDA Zone From Zip Code Looks like you may be zone 8 or 9. The zones on the seed packets usually are just a rough general guide that *could* be pretty accurate for planting dates. Carlos