December Garden Planting Guide

                                      

POINSETTIA "Christmas Star" indigenous of Mexico
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VEGGIES = BEETS - BROCCOLI - BRUSSELS SPROUTS - CABBAGE - CARROTS- CAULIFLOWER- CELERY - COLLARDS- ENDIVE - FAVAS - KALE - LEEKS - LETTUCE MUSTARD - ONIONS - PARSLEY - PARSNIP - RADISH-RUTABAGA - SPINACH - SWISS CHARD- TURNIPS

FLOWERS = POPPIES – VIOLA - SWEET PEA - SNAPDRAGON - PANSY - PHLOX MARIGOLD - LAVENDER - LUPINE - WALLFLOWER - CARNATION - CANDY TUFT CALENDULA - FOXGLOVE - COLUMBINE - BLUEBELLS -  BLAZING STAR - BULBS (Tulip-Daffodil-Crocus-Hyacinths).

GREAT GIFT IDEA- POTTED THEME GARDENS
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October Planting Guide Southern California

CARROT PLANTING STRIPS ARE A REALLY GREAT IDEA!

BEETS- Home grown are always best when it comes to flavor. The leaves from beets are an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and have higher iron than spinach.

BROCCOLI-  CABBAGE- COLLARDS- 
CARROTS- Seed Tape is a great way to plant carrots… easy and simple.

LETTUCE- Grows the best in the cooler weather.

FAVAS – KALE – LEEKS – PARSLEY

RADISH- Try 'Rainbow Radish' 

SPINACH- SWISS CHARD -WINTER ZUCCHINI

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FLOWERS TO PLANT IN OCTOBER
Cornflower - Butterfly Flower - Marigold - California Poppy - Candytuft - Carnation - Flax - Foxglove - Larkspur - Lupine - Nemesia - Nephophila - Pansy - Petunia - Phlox - Pincushion Flower - Poppy - Primrose - Snapdragon - Stock - Sweet Pea - Verbena - Viola - Wallflower

FABULOUS FIGS and the many ways to enjoy them!

 I grow figs and share them with people every day that have never "tried" a fresh fig. 

Go try one- You may just love them!

Fresh Panache Figs with Goat Cheese

Desert King and Panache Figs with green skin and a pink flesh.

MIXED INTO A MORNING SMOOTHIE

BAKED INTO A PIZZA- even if it is a Trader Joe's frozen type

ADDED TO A SALAD

GROWING ON THE TREE

A FIG TART DESSERT
Fig and Almond Tart- Giada De Laurentiis

MISSION FIG TREE IN A RAISED CONTAINER

Heirloom Radishes: Watermelon

This is a great all year round fun garnish/vegetable to grow in your garden. Very fast turn around time from sowing the seeds to eating at your table. These watermelon radishes are truly beautiful when sliced and tasty too. I grow these often and love the results.

Radishes are a good source of Riboflavin, Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. A great dietary fiber and also high in Vitamin C. Ideal planting time in Southern California is July- August. I plant these through October in my raised beds.

Lucky in the Garden

CREATE LUCK IN YOUR GARDEN....

September Garden Planting Guide

Sweet Peas

September Flowers: African Daisy, Bachelor Button, California Poppy, Flax, Foxglove, Marigold, Pansy, Petunia, Snapdragon, Stock, Sweet Pea, Verbena, Viola, Wallflower.

September Herbs: Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme

Vegetables: Beans (bush), Brussels sprouts, Carrot, Celery, Fava Beans, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Onion sets, Radish, Swiss Chard.

* Remember to mulch even in the cooler months ahead.

* Check for feeding (fertilizing). Azaleas, cyclamen, roses and fuchsias this month.

*Plant perennials. Plant sweet peas the first week of September (specifically the early variety: Mammoth, Early Spencer or Multiflora).

*referrences from Pat Welsh’s Southern California Organic Gardening Book- a month by month guide to gardening in Southern California.

DIY: SEASONED SEA SALT

DIY: ORGANIC HERB SEA SALT

Use the herbs that are in your garden for this seasoned sea salt. Every time I make my seasoned salt it is a little different, but always amazing. Mixing in some dried flowers works well too- try lavender, rose, nasturtium. Creating different batches and blends is fun.

RECIPE:

1 Cup chopped mixed herbs: use your favorites- Chives, Parsley, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Oregano.

1/2 Cup Sea Salt

1/2 Cup Kosher Salt

1/8 Cup of extra herbs to save on the side.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Blend Sea Salt in the Blender a few seconds until it is the same size as Kosher Salt.

2. Transfer both Salts to a food processor and add chopped herbs- pulse until well mixed and the size of the salt is to your liking.

3. The salt will turn a nice green color- I like to keep my seasoned salt on the coarse side.

4. Turn mixture into a pan and add the last 1/8 Cup of chopped herbs, mix well.

5. Cook at 200 degrees for 1 Hour or until all herbs are dried out. Mix after 30 minutes and break up all the chunks.

6. Cool completely, Return to the food processor for a few QUICK pulses to blend evenly.

7.  Store in air tight jars. Shelf life lasts months at room temperature.

AUGUST PLANTING GUIDE

AUGUST PLANTING GUIDE FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Beans: Bush and Pole

Beets

Carrots

Celery

Corn

Cucumber

Lima Beans

Radish

Summer Squash

Swiss Chard

Flower planting guide: 

Nasturtium

Baby's Breath- Bachelor Button- Cosmos- Flax- Foxglove- Hollyhock- Marigold- Nasturtium- Petunia- Phlox- Poppy- Primrose- Snapdragon- Stock- Sweet Pea- Wallflower

The August planting guide is a bit more sparse than other months of the year so planting carrots in several varieties can help with the Need to Seed addiction!

The Round Baby Romeo carrots look great in soups and salads. Try using the carrot planting strips for very simple planting and success. GREAT TIP: Pouring very hot to boiling water over the carrot seeds just before topping them with soil in their little trenches will help them to germinate faster.

DAHLIA: ELEGANCE AND DIGNITY

DAHLIA- ELEGANCE AND DIGNITY
Amazing and perfect Dahlia blooming in my garden this month. 

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS: COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS HAS HAD MEANINGS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND FLORIOGRAPHY (the language of flowers) BECAME POPULAR IN FRANCE IN 1810-1850.

"Daffodils signal new beginnings, daisies innocence. Lilacs mean the first emotions of love, periwinkles tender recollection. Early Victorians used flowers as a way to express their feelings—love or grief, jealousy or devotion. Now, modern-day romantics are enjoying a resurgence of this bygone custom, and this book will share the historical, literary, and cultural significance of flowers with a whole new generation. With lavish illustrations, a dual dictionary of flora and meanings, and suggestions for creating expressive arrangements, this keepsake is the perfect compendium for everyone who has ever given or received a bouquet."

Lavender

Lavender

The perfect aromatic perennial garden herb with multi-purpose uses. A top pick for summer freshness and beauty. This herb will grow quite large if planted in the ground and also works well as a potted plant. Plant lavender in full sun.
Several Lavender Recipes from:Union-Tribune Section E4:6/29/13

Lavender Water: 1/4 Cup Dried Blossoms soaked in 8 oz. distilled water for a week and strained is the perfect squirt bottle spray for laundry, sheets, facial refresher. Mixed with a bit of witch hazel or a few drops of lavender oil and refrigerated will help it to keep longer. 
Lavender Sachets: Mix together with hands: 1 Cup Dried Lavender, 1 Cup Dried Rose petals/buds, 2 Tablespoons Cedar chips, 1 teaspoon Nutmeg, 10 Drops Lavender Oil.
Mix all together and place in Cheese cloth or handkerchiefs, use a ribbon to tie the ends.

Summer Solstice 2013

Happy Summer Solstice today, the longest day of the year and the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. 

This is beautiful day to celebrate light and meditate on light as a symbol of energy both physical and spiritual.

My first Dahlia bloomed today in the garden. Summer is here!

Salad Bowl- From Garden to Table

One of the easiest raised planter garden vegetables to grow is lettuce. It sprouts up well in cold weather and in the summer can be planted in shady areas for equal success. Planting lettuce seeds each month provides a continual and fresh harvest. Throw in some nasturtium flowers for a peppery tasting and colorful addition. Growing a variety of different lettuce types will make your dinner salad bowl a gastronomic delight! 

Renee's Seeds

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MAY PLANTING GUIDE: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

VEGETABLES TO PLANT IN THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY:

 

BEANS: Bush and Pole
BEETS- these can be bought in seed strips which makes planting very easy
CANTALOPE- yummy
CARROTS- you can buy carrot strips for easy planting
CORN- a fun garden plant for kids
CUCUMBER- try patio snackers variety
EGGPLANT- a great purple color in the garden- try the Nadia Eggplant 
LIMA BEANS- only if you have to- do southern californians really eat Lima Beans?
OKRA- do you think Oprah likes Okra?
PEPPERS- I typically will get peppers as plants vs. seeds
PUMPKIN - try Carriage Pumpkins
RADISH- try rainbow radishes
SQUASH- winter and summer can be planted now
SUNFLOWERS- from miniature to 8 foot tall growers- they are all amazing
SWISS CHARD- easy to grow and beautiful colors
TOMATOES- I grow yellow pear and cherry tomatoes every year + roma and heirloom
WATERMELON- sugar baby is a great small melon for backyard gardener

COMPANION PLANTING- TRY GROUPING TOGETHER THESE COMBINATIONS:
Why companion plant? 
* It helps and improves plant growth by enriching the soil. 
* Plants help eachother grow by placing tall plants next to smaller plants that need shade.
* It can help with pest problems with the aromatic scents of marigolds and other herbs.
* Attract the good insects "beneficial" insects- plant attracting pollinators!

BEANS - RADISH - SUNFLOWER- EGGPLANT- ROSEMARY

TOMATO- BASIL- CARROT- PARSLEY

CUCUMBER- PEA - SUNFLOWER- MARIGOLD- RADISH- CARROT

SAGE - THYME - TOMATO - BASIL- DILL- MARIGOLD- LETTUCE

Check out these Heirloom Seeds on ETSY that looked interesting. Sunflowers and all types of seeds


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Omelettes Baked in Muffin Tins

I found this idea on Pinterest  and repinned it to my "That's Clever" board. Create your favorite omelette and bake them in muffin tins. Pour the mixture into greased muffin cups and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes depending on size of muffin pan. Place them in baggies and store in the fridge, enjoy them all week long. These came out great and I look forward to easy on the go breakfasts this week. Using egg whites that come in the cartons works well too.

Ingredients: Broccoli, Mushroom, Onion Omelettes- some cheese and garlic too

Shredded Broccoli 

Mushrooms into the mix...

I sauteed onion, garlic, mushroom and broccoli prior to adding the eggs

A little Parmesan and Cheddar cheese

Into the Oven they go- YUMMY!

There are many recipes online 

Time to Plant Pumpkins

Can it really be time for planting pumpkins? YES!

 I recommend trying the Cinderella's Carriage which in Southern California can be planted by seed April through June. Plant in Full Sun with a distance of 3 feet between seeds. They reach 18-35 pounds and are deep orange-red. I purchased these from Renee's seeds and in the past have had great success.

According to Renee's Seeds, "We import seed for this big gorgeous heirloom pumpkin from its original French breeder who maintains the best centuries-old strain, still beloved in European markets. Cinderella's Carriage is our name for this large, thick-fleshed selection that looks exactly like the original in the old-fashioned illustrations of the magical fairy tale coach."

 

Last year my Cinderella Pumpkin at 5 pounds- still growing

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   ************* pumpkin tins***********

Borage in the Garden

Borage: An aromatic herb with beautiful blue flowers. Blossoms are edible and the young leaves of a borage plant can be used in salads, or use the same as cabbage. Blossoms can also be dried or used fresh as a garnish, in ice cubes, cake decorating, cocktails, or candied. They can also be used in potpourri. Borage is rich in minerals and potassium and can be used in soups and stews, cooked or raw.

I harvested a huge amount of Borage last weekend and dried the flowers and saved them for many future uses. These photos below are from my raised planters.

Planter Bed full of Borage

Blue Borage Flower- these look great in ice cubes

Bee on Borage Flower

Set up for Drying with MicroFleur Microwave Flower Press

MicroFleur product for drying herbs and flowers

All Done- Dried and Stored for future use
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APRIL GARDEN PLANTING GUIDE

VEGETABLE PLANTING GUIDE: Southern California

Pumpkin

Carrot

Corn 

Tomato

Bush and Pole Beans

Radish

Beets

Cantaloupe

Cucumber

Eggplant

Jicama

Okra

Peppers

Summer and Winter Squash

Sunflowers

Tomato

Watermelon

TIME TO PLANT ZINNIAS and DAHLIAS

DAHLIA

FLOWER PLANTING GUIDE:

African Daisy, Marigold, Alyssum, Aster, Baby's Breath, Cornflower, Bellfower, Bells of Ireland, Blanket Flower, Butterfly Flower, Calendula, CA Desert Bluebells, Carnation, Chinese Forget-me-not, Chrysanthemum, Coleus, Cosmos, Dahlia, Floss Flower, Morning Glory, Passion Vine, Petunia, Phlox, Sage, Verbena, Viola, Zinnia

Pinterest Flower Photos

RAINBOW RADISHES