water wisdom
coping with aridification in Southern California
Drought-tolerant food plants
Vegetables and food plants that thrive in low water conditions in Southern California … Amaranth African basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum) Arugula sylvetta – the small-leafed, intensely-flavored perennial arugula Arugula (W) Chicory (W) Grapes Cowpea / blackeyed pea – especially the varieties…
8 Things you can do now, to prepare for summer heat
Some simple (energy-free) things you can do to help ease summer heat
The One-Finger Test
In the Community Garden at Holy Nativity, we used what we call “the one finger test.” That means you take your finger and stick it into the garden soil – about one inch down into the soil. The soil down…
Long and Slow and Deep
When your one-finger test says the soil needs water, apply the water long and slow and deep. When people lightly spritz an area, with “making the surface turn brown” as their guide, the water does not penetrate to the root…
Water the Soil, Not the Plants
We have an unfortunate construction in the English language in that we typically say “I need to water my plants.” But thinking back to the Soil chapter, and the fact that all garden watering reverts back to what is good…
In the Cool of the Night
For dry summer months, LADWP’s watering regulations aren’t limitations, they are good gardening sense. Don’t water if it’s running off the surface (fix the surface problems – see “sandy soils” above). Don’t water before 4pm or after 9am because evaporation…