Winter Gardens

After having set up my OC Garden Geek blog many, many months ago, I've finally slowed down enough to actually write a post.  I hope to connect with other gardeners, whether they've been gardening a few days or a few decades.  I love to read about the experiences that people have while gardening and want to encourage others to share or ask questions.  While I definitely am not an expert, I am learning and love to share that knowledge with everyone.

When I moved into my little duplex in south Orange County back in 2002, the major draw for me was the backyard and a landlord that told me I was free to dig up the grass and have as large a garden as I wanted.  And that is exactly what I have done.  It took weeks and many, many barrells of morning glory vines to unearth my garden, which is only about 16 x 19 feet but the wonderful food I've gotten out of that garden has made all the hard work well worth it.  I've even had enough bounty to share tomatos, squash and green beans with friends and neighbors.

The morning glory vines, while lovely, are my single biggest pest.  Here in southern California they do not die back like they did in the south where I grew up.  In fact, in the winter they are the hardiest plant around.  I do try to leave some up on my wooden fence though as the hummingbirds love the flowers.  But ignore the morning glories for more than a couple of weeks and you have another tangle of vines to deal with.

Currently, all that is residing in my garden is a small stand of lacinto kale (dinosaur kale) and one lone yellow pear tomato that is hanging in there.  This weekend though, I'm putting in some winter vegetables for the first time.  I've loosened the soil and worked in a large amount of worm castings and am ready to plant some spinach, more kale, swiss chard and sugar peas (YUM!).

I'll be posting some pictures soon.  In the meantime, let me hear from the other garden geeks out there!  You know who you are......

Keep your hands dirty and your garden green!

AJ