Many vegetables can be grown in winter and harvested in winter or early spring. Some vegetables take most of a year to mature; they are planted in spring and harvested in winter. Other vegetables can be sown in midsummer or early autumn for autumn and winter harvest. Vegetables for winter harvest include leeks, salad leaves, […] More
Welcome to the CCSF Garden page. Get updates on what’s happening in the garden this week. Saturday April 20 – Work in CCSF garden 10am to 1pm Scroll down through the updates to see what’s been planted, what’s growing, and expected harvest. Past meetings below: Saturday April 13: No meeting. Spring break. Saturday April 6: […] More
Eranthis–commonly called winter aconites–is a late winter and early spring blooming bulb grown for its bright yellow cup-shaped flowers. Eranthis blooms even before crocuses. Eranthis flowers appear immediately above basal leaves that frame the flower. Eranthis can be grown as an early spring carpet flower. It naturalizes easily even in grass. Eranthis grows from short […] More
Native Americans called it isquoutersquash. The British call it marrow. Squash is the American English term. Zucchini, summer squash, winter squash, and pumpkins grow best once the air temperature averages 65ºF (18ºC). That means squash can be sown in late spring just about everywhere, and if you live in a long-growing season region where the […] More
Seed saving is a centuries-old practice that allows gardeners and farmers to preserve and propagate the best plant varieties year after year. It involves the careful selection and harvesting of seeds from healthy and productive plants, ensuring the continuation of favorable traits. By saving seeds, gardeners can maintain biodiversity, adapt crops to local growing conditions, […] More
When harvest time comes for each crop in your vegetable garden, the best specimens are best used right away–send them straight to the table. Good specimens that you can’t use fresh, store for later use. Crops that are damaged should still be picked and sent to the compost pile. Harvest varies from crop to crop […] More
Space must be conserved in every possible way in a small vegetable garden. Here are five tips for getting the most out of a small garden: Vertical growing Garden vertically as much as you can. Use the up-and-down space in your garden and conserve your ground space. Use a single square foot of your garden […] More
Harvest winter squashes when they are mature. Winter squash is mature when its rind cannot be scratched with a thumbnail. Winter squashes include Acorn, Butternut, Hubbard, Banana, Buttercup, Spaghetti, and pumpkins. Winter squash refers to squash planted in spring, grown in summer, harvested in fall, and stored for winter use. Winter squashes require more days […] More
Centipedes and millipedes are generally beneficial creatures. Centipedes feed on soil-dwelling mites, insects, insect larvae, baby snails, and slugs. (They paralyze small insect prey with venomous claws.) Millipedes feed on decaying plant tissue and fallen fruit. Together centipedes and millipedes help break down organic matter enriching the soil by helping to create humus. Sometimes centipedes […] More
Cover crop, green manure crop, and catch crop are three interchangeable terms to describe crops that feed, build, and protect the soil and attract and feed beneficial insects and soil microorganisms. Cover crops are planted to cover planting beds and enrich the soil. When a cover crop is turned under to decay and to feed […] More
Starting a vegetable garden can be fun and an inexpensive way to bring healthy food to your kitchen table. But it can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. The secret to getting started with vegetable gardening is to take a little time to make a plan. Take a look at your yard […] More
Experienced gardener or new gardener your gardening success will be greatly helped by planning the garden before you begin the growing season. The purpose of a garden plan is to make your work less and your returns more. A garden plan and a couple of supporting lists can guide you through this growing season and […] More
Stephen Albert