I planted a variety of beans from seed this year and the Purple podded pole bean has continually proven merit in flavor, productivity and beauty.

I purchased these beans from Grow Organics http://www.groworganic.com/pvfs-bean-pole-purple-pod.html

Back in January for planting here in

Long Beach, California. I waited for the soil to heat up a bit in my raised planting beds(68 degrees). I provided a trellis for these vigorous growers and placed them in the ground at the depth of 4x's their narrowest width. Lightly watered until sprouted, more water when blooming then kept moist while fruit is forming.

Great eaten raw when under 3", delicious sautéed with olive oil butter and garlic!

This bean will be a standard in my garden!

Thanks to Master Gardener Dan Fujiwara, New Zealand Spinach is my new favorite vegetable. It's actually not part of the spinach family, it has a genus all it's own. It has some similarities to spinach, but when Southern California heat pockets strike, this plant goes crazy instead of bolting. Insects don't seem to bother it either, not even snails and slugs. It grows low to the ground creating a living mulch around tomatoes, cucs and squashes. It won't compete for nutrients because it branches out from a single stalk that covers about a 4'x4' area. It can be grown in hanging baskets or in raised beds and looks beautiful cascading over planters. Some say it can be invasive. I've noticed it poping up in places I'd rather it not be...so I simply, pull it up!

I enjoy it best cooked in a sofrito base sauce

Sofrito-Blend tomato, garlic, red pepper & onion, then fried in olive oil until bright red add lots of NS...it will wilt down just like spinach. Add salt and red pepper flakes to taste and serve with crumbled feta and a tortilla. YUM!

Submitting a new garden design...completed design will include plant list, lighting, speaker placement and irrigation map.

Cucumbrits
Cucmbers LOVE water. They will need to be kept consistently moist, and once they start to set fruit, will require even more water. Regular watering and a good layer of organic mulch are essential.

Cucumbers are heavy feeders. Plant them in garden soil that has been amended with compost or composted manure. If you are growing them in containers, a good organic potting soil with a bit of compost or vermicompost will work perfectly. Feed garden-grown cucumbers monthly with fish emulsion or compost tea, and feed container-grown cukes weekly with a diluted dose of fish emulsion or compost tea, about 1/4 strength.

Finally, vining cucumbers will require a strong trellis. You could just let them ramble, but trellised cucumbers generally have higher yields and fewer pest and disease problems.

Strawberries around a terra cotta pot, various lettuces and snap peas next to the trellis.

Sweet alyssum and various varieties of thyme surround the avocado tree. A red wood bench invites visitors to sit and enjoy the view. Continue to sow seeds of mixed salad greens, arugula and kale varieties to fill into spots where plants have bolted. Sow Italian basil and summer squashes like butternut. Speedling trays from Peaceful Valley Nursery come in various sizes and last a long time. The pyramid shaped cells almost eliminates transplant shock. My personal favorite is the 72 cell tray.

Long Beach Bee Keepers are the people to call if you discover an unwanted bee hive or bee swarm in your yard or a neighbor's yard.
longbeachbeekeepers.blogspot.com
It's also the people to call if you are as crazy as me to want to keep them! Last night I went on my very first bee rescue. The bees had entered into the carport of a house and formed a hive. The owner's mistake was to ignore the bees and waited months before he decided to try to discourage them with sprays of water. When that didn't work, he used Raid! Thousands of bees died and the bees swarmed. A friend of mine told me about the bees and I called my friend and fellow Master Gardener,Roberta Kato from Long Beach Beekeepers and she sprung into action!

The bees relocated from the lower tree in the first picture to the top of this tree. It was 8:30PM when we were finally ready to capture them. Roberta and Luis Sanchez (fellow MG) geared up, climbed up a ladder and gave the bees a couple spritzes of water with vanilla to trick up the bee's pheromones which bees use to communicate especially when they are disturbed. After that, they began to vacuum the bees from the top of the mass to the bottom. They then emptied the vacuum into a temporary bee box. When all the bees had been captured, Roberta wrapped a plastic bag over the box (just in case any bees escaped during transport).

This was a fairly easy capture according to Roberta. Some can be very tedious and nerve racking. Even experienced people get the jitters at times, but it's always best to call the experts.

Sustainable furniture, one-of-a-kind finds and very unique items. Turkish rugs and lovely handmade blankets. All furniture made chemical free. A gorgeous store, perfectly styled.

Cisco Home
474 S Arroyo Pkwy
Pasadena CA, 91105
Tel (626) 584-1273

Cisco Pinedo Founder of Cisco Home tells about living sustainably, caring about community,craftsmanship and healthy living. I Love this company!


http://www.ciscohome.net/all-videos/about-cisco-pinedo

If you planted snap pea seeds in October-November or planted seedlings (as late as December this year), you should be seeing lots of sweet pea flowers and pea pods forming. Make sure to harvest daily for a continuous yield.

Here is a peek at Marie's edible garden...almost finished!

Grow something edible in your home...radishes are quick to harvest and can be grow in ground or in a container. Beets take a little time, but are worth the wait.