Judi's Blog

Ok, I know that last week it was hot and we had temperatures close to 80 degrees.  It felt like spring was here.  Everyone was asking me, “where are the impatiens?"  And "why don't you have the tomatoes yet?"  This is Santa Barbara; don't we only have one season?  Can't we plant anything, anytime?

No, we can't. It's February. This week it’s cooler.  The nighttime temperature can still drop into the 30's again.  When you are tucked into your nice warm bed (with the heater on), the plants outside are dealing with frosty nights, cold soil, foggy mornings and maybe sunny days. Cold-tender plants like, tomatoes, squash, peppers, eggplant, cukes as well as bedding plants like begonias and impatiens will suffer with the cold soil and cool nights.  It retards their growth pattern and subjects them to disease, like Early Blight and other fungus problems.

So even though you will find the summer veggies available elsewhere, try to hold off.  Just a few more weeks of preparing your beds and waiting until the soil is warm and the weather is stable makes a huge difference to the health and productivity of you plants later this summer.  They will take off so much faster when you plant them when both the soil and air temps are warm.We will have all the warm season veggies the first week in March.  And don't forget, we will have our annual tomato class, March 9.  Learn everything you need to know about growing the best tomatoes you can.Be patient, we have all summer.  Get out and enjoy the sunshine, listen to the birds and pull a few weeds.  The tomatoes are coming!!!

P.S. If the buds have not opened on your fruit trees you still have time for one more dormant spray.

D's Blog

Hi everyone

Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words so I thought I would try to add some this week. These are pictures of Rosemary, Manzanita, and Chasmanthe blooming on the bank while much of the rest of the garden is taking a break. I am always very interested in plants that bloom in late fall and winter. Ever year I vow to add more.

The weather has been beautiful . I wonder if it signals an early spring or Mother Nature has surprises in store. At any rate, enjoy it.

Take care, D

Judi's Blog

Thank goodness for the break in the rain. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to have chance to do my pruning. Although I am very thankful for the much needed long, slow soil soaking moisture, I needed to get my roses pruned before Superbowl Sunday.

January tends to be our coolest month. A slight temperature increase in February along with the ever so slightly increasing day length can cause growth spurts that can catch you by surprise. So don’t put it off too much longer.

So out into the garden I went. First I spent a few moments to a little much needed sun and listen to the birds. I must have seen at least ten different types. They were happy to be out in the sun too.

O.K. quit stalling, time to get to work. Luckily my husband Joel helps me. It makes the job go so much faster. We were able to do about thirty rose bushes before the sun started to go behind the trees and it began to get cold. When the sun goes down, I go in. The roses were done and ready for dormant spraying.

Tomorrow if it doesn’t rain I will try to get to it. Don’t forget: if it does rain within two days after spraying, you should re-spray again.

P.S. Next time you are in the nursery let us know that you read our blog and if there is anything you would like to hear about or have us discuss.

Judi