Our Favorite Garden Things

We’re hearing a lot about El Nino lately, and if the forecasts hold, we could be in for a wet winter. After learning a few hard lessons in previous rainy seasons, I want to help you prepare your garden for whatever this year's El Nino might have in store. Gardens love a good rain, but too much water can cause problems. Roots need both water and air. When soil stays soggy, roots can become deprived of oxygen, leading to stress and root rot. Here are six simple ways to prepare

Meet My Watermelon Twins Growing watermelon in Southern California (and especially on the coast) can be tricky — but it's manageable with a little know-how. Here's what I've learned. Small Melon, Big Ambitions Smaller varieties like Sugar Baby don't need sprawling rows. They'll happily grow up a trellis (with a little support) or hang out of a large pot, which makes them a real option even in a small yard. And they are so, so sweet! Patience is a Planting Strategy Watermelon

Every year, the baby finches arrive in my vegetable garden with tiny feather "horns," enormous opinions, and no interest in feeding themselves. They sit directly on the food, yell for a parent to feed them anyway, and generally behave like the horned devil children of the garden. And honestly? My family absolutely loves them. That's one of the quiet joys of growing a food and pollinator-friendly garden — it feeds us, but it also becomes a habitat. A hummingbird pausing at a t

Last summer, browsing a nursery, I came across a plant with red and green leaves labeled simply "spinach." I'd never heard of it, but my garden is 75% experimental at all times — so home it came. That's how I met amaranth. Also called Chinese spinach, amaranth isn't spinach at all — it's its own ancient grain-and-greens plant, grown for centuries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Depending on the variety, the leaves run anywhere from deep green to wine-red to a streaked

Not every plant in my garden is planted to be eaten. Some are there for much larger purposes. Dill is one of them. Planted intentionally in late spring, growing through the heat of summer, it doesn't build the soft, feathery flavor for cooking. Instead it flowers quickly. Growing dill as a beneficial insect magnet — a natural way to control aphids without pesticides. Here's Its Bigger Purpose Dill left to flower first sends up tall stalks — and those stalks do two things. Fir

It's hot and tiring in the garden right now. Some of my gardens are tired too. I don't blame them. They've been producing amazing vegetables and fruits for months. I've been caring for them relentlessly. But it's August, and it's hot. Some of my plants have simply worn themselves out. Corn that tasseled and grew super-sweet kernels, and a Golden Zucchini that produced for several months. They have done exactly what they were supposed to do...and now they're done and tired. So

Some plants earn their place in the garden by what they feed you. Lemon verbena earns its place by the heavenly scent it gives off — brush a leaf between your fingers and you're met with the smell of freshly squeezed lemons, bright and sunny, the scent of summer itself. Lemon verbena, a fragrant perennial herb that thrives in Southern California gardens. Never grown Lemon Verbena and love the idea of growing something different? Let's work together. What Is Lemon Verbena? Lem

The secret is ruthless pruning. Pinch the tips every other day to keep your basil from flowering, and you'll have a giant, bushy basil plant to enjoy all summer long. Here's how. How to Prune Basil: Pinch Every Other Day for a Bushier Plant" Wondering why your basil isn't this healthy, or your tomatoes are struggling? Let's work together. What to Do With a Big Basil Harvest Once you've pruned your way to more basil than you know what to do with, here are three favorites — one