Comments for Gardening Coaches http://gardening-coaches.com Growing a better environment, one garden at a time Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:23:35 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Growing Vegetables in Southern California by mike http://gardening-coaches.com/more-resources/growing-vegetables-in-southern-california/comment-page-1/#comment-1045 mike Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:23:35 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/testblog/?page_id=108#comment-1045 At the bottom of this page: http://gardening-coaches.com/vegetable-gardening-tips/garden-design-ideas/vegetable-garden-design/ there is a link to down load some garden plans from Renee's Garden. They are somewhat different dimensions but will give you a good starting point. At the bottom of this page: http://gardening-coaches.com/vegetable-gardening-tips/garden-design-ideas/vegetable-garden-design/ there is a link to down load some garden plans from Renee’s Garden. They are somewhat different dimensions but will give you a good starting point.

]]> Comment on Growing Vegetables in Southern California by mike http://gardening-coaches.com/more-resources/growing-vegetables-in-southern-california/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 mike Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:20:32 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/testblog/?page_id=108#comment-1044 If your broccoli has yellow flowers, it has 'bolted', or gone to seed. You waited too long. The odd weather we've had for the last year have caused that to be a recurring problem for many gardeners. Other plants that have had trouble are boc choi, lettuces and cabbages that go to flower suddenly. This ruins the taste of the plants. You can either pull them and replant with warmer weather veggies or let one or two go to seed and replant from your own seed this fall during the next cool season. If your broccoli has yellow flowers, it has ‘bolted’, or gone to seed. You waited too long. The odd weather we’ve had for the last year have caused that to be a recurring problem for many gardeners. Other plants that have had trouble are boc choi, lettuces and cabbages that go to flower suddenly. This ruins the taste of the plants. You can either pull them and replant with warmer weather veggies or let one or two go to seed and replant from your own seed this fall during the next cool season.

]]> Comment on Growing Vegetables in Southern California by larry leblanc http://gardening-coaches.com/more-resources/growing-vegetables-in-southern-california/comment-page-1/#comment-1043 larry leblanc Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:04:31 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/testblog/?page_id=108#comment-1043 my broccoli plants have lots of yellow flowers and no fruit...what is the problem? my broccoli plants have lots of yellow flowers and no fruit…what is the problem?

]]> Comment on Growing Vegetables in Southern California by Scott http://gardening-coaches.com/more-resources/growing-vegetables-in-southern-california/comment-page-1/#comment-1029 Scott Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:23:43 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/testblog/?page_id=108#comment-1029 Hello, I am building my first garden, its raised made of redwood and measures 4x8x1, I built 2 of these. I have filled them with what i was told was a mix of 70% topsoil and 30 % compost and manure. Now i would like to plant, tomatos, cantalope, spinach, cucumbers, red, yellow and green peppers, beans, green onions, and asparagus, and broccoli. What would be the best way to arrange these, and can the size of the beds handle this. I am a complete green pea at gardening, i live in 90713, which is zone 10? Any advice would be appreciated Hello,
I am building my first garden, its raised made of redwood and measures 4x8x1, I built 2 of these. I have filled them with what i was told was a mix of 70% topsoil and 30 % compost and manure. Now i would like to plant, tomatos, cantalope, spinach, cucumbers, red, yellow and green peppers, beans, green onions, and asparagus, and broccoli. What would be the best way to arrange these, and can the size of the beds handle this. I am a complete green pea at gardening, i live in 90713, which is zone 10? Any advice would be appreciated

]]> Comment on About Gardening Coaches by mike http://gardening-coaches.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-1000 mike Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:25:11 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/testblog/?page_id=2#comment-1000 Hi, Tamara The best place to go for local gardening info is local resources. Our coastal climate is similar to, but different from, yours. I'd suggest the local Master Gardener's website as a first contact. If they haven't compiled the information, they can direct you to the appropriate resources. Their web site is: http://ucanr.org/sites/MGsSMSF/ Hi, Tamara
The best place to go for local gardening info is local resources. Our coastal climate is similar to, but different from, yours. I’d suggest the local Master Gardener’s website as a first contact. If they haven’t compiled the information, they can direct you to the appropriate resources. Their web site is: http://ucanr.org/sites/MGsSMSF/

]]> Comment on About Gardening Coaches by Tamara http://gardening-coaches.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-994 Tamara Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:50:32 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/testblog/?page_id=2#comment-994 Hi. After a google search of " when to plant a garden" your link came up. Great site but was hoping you could either guide me On planting in sf or a site you can recommend? Thanks Hi. After a google search of ” when to plant a garden” your link came up. Great site but was hoping you could either guide me
On planting in sf or a site you can recommend? Thanks

]]> Comment on When to Plant Veggies by Connie Oser http://gardening-coaches.com/more-resources/whentoplantveggies/comment-page-1/#comment-986 Connie Oser Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:10:49 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/testblog/?page_id=149#comment-986 Mike, I'm brand new to gardening also and planning to do some square foot container gardening on my upper deck. I live in Long Beach just a few blocks from the ocean - so appreciate your coastal planting chart. I have a question though.... Since I am just getting going and it's almost April - can I plant seeds for Tomatoes, Basil, eggplant, squash and peppers directly into the ground as long as nighttime temps are above 50 or 55? Everyone shows starting seeds indoors - but is that mostly to enable a jump on the season? Mike,
I’m brand new to gardening also and planning to do some square foot container gardening on my upper deck. I live in Long Beach just a few blocks from the ocean – so appreciate your coastal planting chart. I have a question though…. Since I am just getting going and it’s almost April – can I plant seeds for Tomatoes, Basil, eggplant, squash and peppers directly into the ground as long as nighttime temps are above 50 or 55?

Everyone shows starting seeds indoors – but is that mostly to enable a jump on the season?

]]> Comment on Complete Archive by mike http://gardening-coaches.com/complete-archive/comment-page-1/#comment-960 mike Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:09:13 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/#comment-960 I do not know of any that are quite that specific in content, but probably the two best books are the California Master Gardener Handbook and the Sunset Western Garden Book. Both are listed on the <a href="http://gardening-coaches.com/more-resources/recommended-reading/" rel="nofollow">recommended reading</a> page. The Master Gardener Handbook is rather academic in places (it is the Master Gardener program's textbook), but it has a huge section on vegetables for California with notes about each of the major climates. There are tables with symptoms, their causes and corrective actions, Tables of when to plant vegetables (again by climate / area). It also covers fruit trees, grape culture, citrus and avocados in great detail. Try the contact number in the review of this book to see if it is available. The Sunset Garden book is more accessible for most casual gardeners and has good basic gardening 'how-to' articles. It does cover 7 western states instead of only California like the Master Gardener book. I do not know of any that are quite that specific in content, but probably the two best books are the California Master Gardener Handbook and the Sunset Western Garden Book. Both are listed on the recommended reading page.
The Master Gardener Handbook is rather academic in places (it is the Master Gardener program’s textbook), but it has a huge section on vegetables for California with notes about each of the major climates. There are tables with symptoms, their causes and corrective actions, Tables of when to plant vegetables (again by climate / area).
It also covers fruit trees, grape culture, citrus and avocados in great detail. Try the contact number in the review of this book to see if it is available.
The Sunset Garden book is more accessible for most casual gardeners and has good basic gardening ‘how-to’ articles. It does cover 7 western states instead of only California like the Master Gardener book.

]]> Comment on Complete Archive by Mike http://gardening-coaches.com/complete-archive/comment-page-1/#comment-959 Mike Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:43:08 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/#comment-959 It’s my mom’s bday this weekend (!!!) and I would like to get her a “how to” book on single-family home subsistence farming/gardening in Ventura County (or Southern California Climate). I would like it to cover year round, organic, sustainable, healthy farming and deal with pest issues. Do you know of any such book or have recommendations for a how too food garden book? It’s my mom’s bday this weekend (!!!) and I would like to get her a “how to” book on single-family home subsistence farming/gardening in Ventura County (or Southern California Climate). I would like it to cover year round, organic, sustainable, healthy farming and deal with pest issues. Do you know of any such book or have recommendations for a how too food garden book?

]]> Comment on When to Plant Veggies by mike http://gardening-coaches.com/more-resources/whentoplantveggies/comment-page-1/#comment-946 mike Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:45:43 +0000 http://gardening-coaches.com/testblog/?page_id=149#comment-946 Hi, Lizzy Check here for your USDA zone - just plug in your zip code. : http://www.garden.org/zipzone/index.php Better perhaps to look at the Sunset zones - there are 27 compared to the USDA's 10 zones, and sometime better describe California's micro climates. A few hundred foot elevation change or which side of the valley you are on makes a great difference in what you can grow in some spots. : http://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/climate-zones-intro-us-map-00400000036421/ BTW, the weather everywhere has been nutty last 3 years, all the plants and trees are confused, and nobody knows whether it is spring or fall... The best advice I can give is plant a few the same crop every few weeks - some early, some in the recommeded period, and some late. Some of them are bound to hit favorable weather. Good luck to us all this year! Mike Hi, Lizzy
Check here for your USDA zone – just plug in your zip code. : http://www.garden.org/zipzone/index.php
Better perhaps to look at the Sunset zones – there are 27 compared to the USDA’s 10 zones, and sometime better describe California’s micro climates. A few hundred foot elevation change or which side of the valley you are on makes a great difference in what you can grow in some spots. :
http://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/climate-zones-intro-us-map-00400000036421/
BTW, the weather everywhere has been nutty last 3 years, all the plants and trees are confused, and nobody knows whether it is spring or fall… The best advice I can give is plant a few the same crop every few weeks – some early, some in the recommeded period, and some late. Some of them are bound to hit favorable weather.
Good luck to us all this year!
Mike

]]>