Seasonal Gardening

Summer Vegetables are Hot

Written by Ron Vanderhoff

May and June is the perfect time to plant heat loving summer vegetables. Planted too early they sulk – too late and their season is cut short. Some plants just tolerate summer, but these sizzlers actually prefer the heat, bright light and long days of the hot summer months ahead.

Some of these summer specialties are started from transplants, but others are best from seed.

It seems that growing plants from seed is almost a lost art in many gardens. However, with only slightly more effort, growing a few vegetables from seed will reward you with many more choices and even better flavor.

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You Can’t Fool Mother Nature - Early Spring in the So Cal Garden

Written by Ron Vanderhoff

It seems mothers’ can always tell when their children are telling a fib. Maybe it’s the child’s mannerisms, their eyes, or maybe it’s the sound of their voice when a child is not being honest and forthcoming. However the method, mother knows what’s true and what’s not.

Perhaps gardeners should take a lesson from their maternal relationship. Like the mischievous child, when a gardener tries to fool Mother Nature, they almost always fail. Mother Nature always knows the truth and in the end Mother Nature will always impart her will. Like children, gardeners also needn’t attempt to fool mother.

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The Year in Gardening, 2010

Written by Ron Vanderhoff

As I have for the past five years, it’s time to take a look back at the gardening year just completed. Here are the trends, as I saw them, that shaped gardeners and gardens during these past twelve months. If you agree or disagree, let me know., I’d love to hear from you.

The Economics of Gardening

Just about every man, woman and child has been affected by the recent economic issues surrounding us. Since gardens are, by their very definition, products of the whims of their keepers, they too have been living on reduced budgets and fiscal uncertainty. Annuals got replaced less often, landscape projects got put on hold and gardens, like the gardeners tending them, have almost universally had their belts tightened a bit during the past year.

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