Spring/Summer Gardens

I am almost positive that we are axing the fig tree smileys/frown.gif It is a wonderful tree,

HUGH because it really likes it's location. Very prolific. A couple of problems tho. First, I get none of the first crop, critters eat them ALL!!! Second, roots are very shallow and VERY invasive, they are killing my herb garden. Third, the figs are beautiful but not the best tasting, they make great jam but not so good out of hand. We get very little sun in our yard and this tree is hogging it all.

Very tough decision for me. Guy is coming tomorrow to talk about removing it.

 
I won't let my husband cut down our Calymyrna Fig. My Nonna gave

it to me. But it is in the far corner of our oddly shaped yard so it's kind of out of the way. The (illegal)chicken coop is beneath it so shade the "girls". Other birds do enjoy most of the crop. That's okay because we wouldn't use that many anyway.

 
Oh Redding, years ago there was a restaurant called Doc Cleary's Hilltop something that was so nice

and had really good food. When I say years ago, I mean it, it would have been in the 60s. Probably before your time and long gone now. I remember that area as being so beautiful, it must be a lovely place to live.

 
I'm worried we don't have enough ground water to dry farm -- thoughts? Want to plant this weekend.

So I'm trying to decide - in the ground or in a container?

 
My friend in Sacto grew them, not sure if she still does

My cure for most aphids/white flies via mom, was a little dish soap in a spray bottle of water. That was one of my jobs in the garden as a kid.

 
Ah Ha! So that is what is coming up all over my herb bed, gravel walkways

I kept thinking it was some sort of flat leaf grass, but kept thinking it smelled like garlic chives. Had no idea they were that invasive. That stuff is coming up all over. I love the flowers because they last a long time and the bees all all over the place. Thanks for the heads up!

 
I put a moat down the middle of my raised bed and flood irrigate it

it, when the tomatoes just start to wilt. This year we bought one of those 275 gallon plastic containers and put it beside the house near a downspout. One night, during a heavy rain that entire thing was filled in three hours of rain. I'm using that this summer for my tomatoes. We'll see how long it will last. Wish I had purchased two more of those containers.

 
We moved to Redding in 1963 from the coast and Doc Cleary's

was my favorite place to eat. Redding had lots of locally owned restaurants. Now, it seems the franchises and fast food places are prominent, with the few owned by the locals struggle. Yes, it is beautiful up here and I love living here. Lots to do, good hospitals and schools and very nice people. Unfortunately, the homeless and all the inmates that are being early released, have caused a huge increase in crime, plus funds cut to our police and sheriff, and one floor of the local jail has been closed down. That is a whole discussion in itself.

Doc Cleary's fell into decline after Doc died, and eventually closed down. His daughter has a restaurant called Cleary's downtown that many locals frequent.

 
And speaking of artichokes: they are $1 each for the large this week. 10 years ago, any size was

not easy to find here and recently the large, as in the So. of France, have appeared. But now at $1 each, I'm going to go on a binge.

I'm actually quite excited about this. Simple little person that I am.

 
I know, I know. I often turn a blind eye as well, especially when the price is right. Perhaps

one day I'll go back to growing them if I can find a good way to safely eliminate the critters, like aphids, that like to nestle deep into the leaves and make it nearly impossible to eat without scrutinizing each leaf first and wiping off the buggers. smileys/wink.gif

 
Why don't you try one of each (or some of each).....in the ground, and in a container,

and see which works best for your particular area. You don't have to actually do "dry farming"....in actuality, tomatoes really don't want as much water as most folks give them. Their flavor is much improved when they're not overwatered. I'd say they're a great 'crop' for low water conditions.

Edited to add: Containers are a bit different though.....you'll probably need to water them a bit more than tomato plants in the ground. And they'll want to be fertilized more as well since they have less soil (in the pots) to draw nutrients from.

 
QUICK! Dig up the ones in the herb bed before they get established.

Once they are mature they are very difficult to eradicate and they will persist and spread indefinitely.

 
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