SoCal Home Gardening

Fall is upon us. I was able to get some fall seedlings in the ground at the end of september, and now I am in full swing.....

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Seed Starting and Sowing

Here are the seeds I am starting in October: Alyssum, Arugula Basil, Beans, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Cilantro, Coleus, Green Onion, Lettuce, Okra, Onion, Pansy, Parsley, Petunia, Poppy, Snap Pea, and Winter Squash.

Arugula

I like Arugula two places - on my peach pizza and on Blue Cheese Hamburgers. My family likes it in salads as well, so I grow one plant each season.

Basil

I basically grow Basil year round. I love to make pesto will all my extra basil. My daughter keeps telling me to dry it - we will see.....

Bush Beans

Beans love the fall through spring weather. I grow bush beans that grow 12 inch tall. It seems that not a lot of people know what they are and think they grow on a vine. These green beans are great stir fried with garlic.

Broccoli

This will be the first crop this fall/winter.

Cauliflower

This will be the first crop this fall/winter. I learned that I LOVE Cauliflower Rice, so I will be stocking up this Fall/Winter/Spring.

Cilantro

Cooler temperatures mean that the cilantro can actually grow without immediately bolting.

Cucumber

It is possible to squeeze one more round before winter sets in.

Lettuce

Time to start the monthly lettuce grind. Since it has finally cooled off, we can grow lettuce from now until early summer when the heat sets in.

Parsley

This will be the first crop this fall/winter. I like to have it on hand, but don't use it that often in my cooking.

Petunias, Pansies and California Poppies

They will go in my Signature Garden and in my hanging pots.

Sugar Snap Peas

This crop will last until the end of spring. Last year we had multiple harvests. We just finished the last bag of frozen sugar snap peas.

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What We Are Growing

Bell Peppers

Small fruit is beginning to form again, so I will keep them on for one last crop, hopefully.

Beans (Bush Beans, Green)

They germinated in a few days and now they are in the raised garden bed.

Bok Choy

They germinated in about a week and now they are in the raised garden bed.

Lettuce

They germinated in about overnight and now they are in the raised garden bed.

Cucumber

They germinated in a few days and now they are in the raised garden bed.

Super Sugar Snap Peas

They germinated in a few days and now they are in the raised garden bed.

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What We Are Harvesting

Bell Peppers

Most of my california wonder bell peppers ended up being red this year. I thing we had one Yellow Bell Pepper, and all the rest were red, which is fine by me.

Chives

I always have a chive plant in my garden - year round. I trim it back and take some out from time to time to make more room.

Zucchini and Yellow Squash

The vines are continuing to produce. I will keep them going as long as they will still produce fruit. The vines are now over 8 feet in length, growing vertically.

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What We Are Taking Out

Bell Peppers

The leaves on these peppers seem to be coming off. I am not sure they will produce any more fruit. If there are no young fruit on the bush then I will remove them.

Chives

I will thin the plant, but not remove it.

Zucchini and Yellow Squash

If the vines are not producing I will remove them.

Tomatoes

I am in the process of removing most of my tomatoes, but I will leave some cherry tomatoes to try to get some late season tomatoes.