Answer: Plant fava beans! By Mary Cherrington As more home gardeners become interested in natural ways to improve soil health, we receive many questions on the hotline about simple ways to get started. You may already be familiar with fava beans (perhaps paired with a glass of Chianti) but this legume is also a powerhouse […]
By Michael Harrelson Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), a culinary favorite, is found in almost everybody’s spice rack or window box herb garden. It’s prized by both chefs and home cooks for its aromatic, earthy qualities and its ability to maintain its flavor in a recipe. Thyme’s ability to enrich the flavor of food has been traced […]
By Namir Damluji (This article was originally in the. May / June 2025 issue of California Gardens) In the world of exotic fruits, the loquat often flies under the radar, overshadowed by more popular tropical favorites like mangoes and pineapples. Yet this small, golden fruit packs a delightful combination of sweetness and tanginess, making […]
Scores of plants mentioned in ancient religious texts also thrive in San Diego’s climate, with its Mediterranean-like weather By Bob Frey and Francie Murphy (This article originally appeared in the April 12, 2025 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune) The Mediterranean climate, characterized by dry summers and wet winters, is a distinctive climate zone found […]
They require lots of sun and plenty of space to grow in healthy surroundings By Michael Harrelson (This article originally appeared in the March 8, 2025 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune) Considered by historians to be the first of the domesticated crops, figs (Ficus carica) have long been part of the cultivated diet of […]
