California - What are you doing this month?

Whoo Hooo.  That is great.  I wish I could cut down my two dogwood trees on one side of the garden.

Dogwood trees are so pretty. One has to go up to the mountains here to see them. Are you considering removing them, or one of them?

Last night was an Ibuprofen night. I had amended the sweet potato totes, harvested all of the baby bok choy (squares) and cooked them last night. I leaf-harvested the kales and removed lower yellowing leaves on all of the broccoli and cauliflower. Removed all of the walking onions, amended and replanted some of the smallest ones. (6 squares) Pruned and removed the leaves of 3 climbing rose bushes (5-8 feet tall ones). The warm weather has fooled them into blooming already.

Today I will be pruning 2 more "climbing" rose bushes along the southern fence and amend some more beds. Pack the exchange seeds for mailing on Monday. Oh, and cover the garlic with bridal tulle. Stupid birds have been digging in and scattering the stray mulch and MM. And, I got my seed order in to Baker Creek. Only 5 packages this year.

sanderson wrote:Dogwood trees are so pretty.  One has to go up to the mountains here to see them.  Are you considering removing them, or one of them?

Dogwood trees are all over this area.  Growing wild in the woods and at least one in every yard.  My husband just loved dogwood trees and imparted that love to my daughter.  So she will not let me cut either one down because it reminds her of her father.  BUT, this year I think I am going to selectively trim some of the branches to let in a little more light on that side of the garden.

Just a little trimming for you and the trees stay for your daughter.

Hello I’m new to the forum. I had heard there is a database that lists vendors and prices for ingredients to make Mel’s mix. If this is true I would appreciate some guidance on how to get access to that database please. I live in central CA in Monterey CA. Thanks!

Nakajimaa wrote:Hello I’m new to the forum. I had heard there is a database that lists vendors and prices for ingredients to make Mel’s mix. If this is true I would appreciate some guidance on how to get access to that database please. I live in central CA in Monterey CA. Thanks!

Allow to extent to you a very warm welcome to the forum from a very cold Ottawa, Canada.

We have a vermiculite database. If you go to the home page you will see the following then click on Database:

Hi Nakajimaa,  Welcome to the Forum! The vermiculite Database may be out dated, so also try the Yellow Pages and call around for coarse vermiculite.  Also, try hydroponic stores and local plant nurseries.  $45 for 4 cubic feet is cheap!  $65 is on the higher end, which may apply to your area. Remember, vermiculite is a one time purchase.

Yardslave, do you have any recommendations for Naka?

sanderson wrote:Hi Nakajimaa,  Welcome to the Forum! The vermiculite Database may be out dated, so also try the Yellow Pages and call around for coarse vermiculite.  Also, try hydroponic stores and local plant nurseries.  $45 for 4 cubic feet is cheap!  $65 is on the higher end, which may apply to your area.  Remember, vermiculite is a one time purchase.

Yardslave, do you have any recommendations for Naka?

$30 Canadian ($24 USD) for 4 cu. ft. of vermiculite here in Ottawa.  I finally found something that is less expensive in Canada than in the USA. 

Had an "AHA" moment this morning , as opposed to what I usually get    after it's too late. Anyway, I'm raking leaves, wherever I can still find some, to mulch my asparagus and flower beds, so the new stuff can grow through and still have protection from the heat and dryness this summer. If we're heading for another drought already, this ol' gal is gonna be ready for it this time.  

Import taxes from China are less for Canada than US? What ever is the reason, lucky you!

sanderson wrote:Import taxes from China are less for Canada than US?  What ever is the reason, lucky you!

I'm pretty sure the vermiculite I use is produced in Canada. I'll have to check.

Mined and / or processed in Canada?

Transplanted the jicama. Those babies outgrew their little Jiffy Pellets in 2 weeks and they'll be inside for another month, waiting for the outdoor soil temps to reach 50, so I had to do something.   

They look like little bean starts. I had no idea.

sanderson wrote:They look like little bean starts.  I had no idea.

And they're already huge. The problem is that since they're poisonous, and root crops, I'll have to give them my prime real estate in the Salad Bar, which is a real drag, since they'll be there all the way through to the end of October, and we aren't even sure we'll like them. 

The Central Valley has had a false spring and almost zilch rain so far.  The orange tree is budding but still has oranges on it.  The garlic look like 2 months from harvesting but that's too early for good bulbing.  The purple cauliflower is separating and the green broccoli I harvested is now sending out side spears.  No motivation for starting seeds.  I'm afraid that after the false spring, we "could" be in for a colder true spring with rain.  So, end of Feb will be my target date for starting seeds.

Soft-neck garlic.

Our "false spring" ends today. 31 low tonight, then hard freeze for the next 2 nights. I need to protect my asparagus plants, but we're getting awful winds, too, so whatever I do will need to be sturdy. 

At least it will not be a "hard freeze" in the valley.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/snow-record-cold-to-plunge-southward-through-western-us/ar-BBJhWWw

Nippy at night here. The volunteer potatoes in a 5-gal bucket froze (black) but the ones in a small SFG wood box were fine. Micro-climates in the same backyard. Of course, 2" x 4" wood is a good insulator from both cold and heat.

How did the rest of you get through the freeze?

Been real chilly in my neck of the woods-sub freezing temps at night. Snow capped peaks are still within sight. I have had to keep the lemon and lime trees covered in makeshift yurts to frost -proof them, but the fruit trees are impossible to cover.  I'm worried about my fruit trees as their buds are peaking out, and if it's like last year, they'll likely get frost killed and I'll not get much fruit this year. Looking on the bright side, I'll at least not have to run out and buy more canning jars.

Yardslave wrote:. . . I'm worried about my fruit trees as their buds are peaking out, and if it's like last year, they'll likely get frost killed and I'll not get much fruit this year. Looking on the bright side, I'll at least not have to run out and buy more canning jars.

Now, that is a positive spin if I ever heard one!

Seriously, I'm sorry. I only have one orange tree and I fret over it. The buds still look okay, so far. I hope to have potted cordon fruit trees. You have convinced me that is the way for me to go. I can cover them with agribon when it freezes. Stupid winter so far.

It has been a stupid winter here too...I walked over to my south “annex” and my Egyptian walking onions are up, which is pretty early...but I think I will clip some of the chives to keep them excited....so early.

My roses have bloomed twice this "winter".

sanderson wrote:My roses have bloomed twice this "winter".

Azaleas & daffodils, here. Got down to 25 last night. Not good! 

In Fresno, 31*F at 4:30 am so I am guessing it reached 30*F. Up to 32*F now at 7:30 am. You had a hard freeze.