The Move

In moving to California we went from owning our home to renting again, while doubling our monthly housing expenses. At the end of August we moved once again – this time from Suisun City to Fairfield, California. In the process we tripled our housing expenses (from Tucson) and now are proud owners of a 30,000 gallon pool (and a home). In reality, a pool was the last thing that I wanted, but when picking a place to live the need for garden space did not come up #1 on the family’s “needs” list.

Our new home

So, now that my family has physically (but not emotionally) settled down in Fairfield, I’ll describe my yard. The front yard is small, with a towering Ash tree of some type that needs some large dead branches removed. Three smaller trees lined the side fence. A pomegranate (which I took out), a peach tree and another tree that looks like it could be some kind of fruit tree. There is a 6’x6’ grass square in the middle of the yard with black chipped wood bark as mulch.

The pool (aka: backyard)

Another view of the backyard

Having established the existence of the pool, which takes up the majority of the backyard, I would like to take a moment to point out possible locations of other growing areas. Around the pool are tall Cyprus trees (which can be planted around and under) and we do have a balcony that I could put some large stainless steel troughs on to garden. The final area, which is most hospitable to gardening is a 10’x20’ plot surrounded by a fence on the south and west sides, a make-shift chicken coop on the north and a pool to the east.

The most likely spot for a garden

At this time, I would like to say that there was another property (howbeit not in the ideal spot) that we saw while we were looking to purchase a home that had a much larger yard, whose seller had already been working on gardening in the spacious backyard for some time. However, in order to better take care of the family’s needs, I accepted that a meager 186 square feet with less-than-ideal lighting would have to make do. I know – I should be grateful!

Rocks, cat poop and debris are no fun.

The first while in the new house was pretty rough for me. I talked things through with my wife and others while unpacking the house and not able to take care of the yard. After 3 or 4 weeks, I was able to start picking at the yard, slowly taking out rocks and cat poop left by a combination of the previous owners and the neighbor’s bazillion cats. It stunk – literally and figuratively. So, when a friend from church stopped by and asked what he could do to help, I filled him in on my plight.

After digging out about 12" of dirt

Within a week, thanks to my friend’s help, we had some men (young and old) come help haul dirt onto a tarp in my driveway over Columbus Day. We dug down about 8-10 inches using a rototiller, shovels, a pickaxe, buckets and two wheelbarrows. After that, I continued to dig out more of the dirt while I priced out compost from local sources and patiently waited for the right time in our schedule to pay to have some delivered. Then, a short time later, a miracle occurred. Another friend from church, despite his health problems, was able to help me get 10 cubic yards of compost delivered straight to my driveway. I cannot express how grateful I was for that! Finally, I could get started on my garden!

After digging out even more dirt

 

The day of Compost has arrived!

 

Black gold is a beautiful thing to behold

My three younger children helped me to finish moving the compost out of the driveway within the first week of having it delivered. There was a big rainstorm we were trying to beat, and they did an incredible job of helping me to finish moving the compost to the backyard. Despite their complaining of the smell (which to me smelled more like barbeque potato chips than manure), they did a fantastic job helping without having too much compost spilled into the pool.

A poor shot of us finishing up on the pile of compost.

So now I can finally say that I have a garden. Well, I have a pile of compost in a garden area. With all this done now, the near-term plans are to wait until the apple tree goes dormant (so I can move it into the front yard where the pomegranate tree was) and sift some of the soil from the driveway back into the garden area. I have been dabbling with the idea of starting some winter veggies in soil blocks, but I just haven’t made it a priority yet. My youngest son decided to get into the gardening spirit and has been planting mushrooms that he finds into my compost to make his own little mushroom garden. I had no idea that this would work, but the result is quite pleasant to behold, so for the time being I am happy to let him have a mushroom corner.

I am so grateful for everyone who helped make this little plot into a garden.

Little Leaf Cucumbers in Northern California

For those of you who have neither lived in nor seen Northern California, it possesses a Northwestern wet winter and warm, non-rainy (but semi-humid) summer that is quite different from Southern California. Along with the tomatoes, my Arkansas Little Leaf cucumber variety did very well in this climate. It was strange to be in a place where my plants not only survived, but thrived.

A little leaf cucumber female blossom



Growth continues with the fruit

 

 

 

I love watching the fruit grow.

 

 

 

This is a prolific cucumber variety

 

 

With the warm days and cool nights, the major stressor for this cucumber variety in this climate was the occasional day when my soaker hose timer and the lawn’s watering system turned on at the same time. In wet, humid conditions many cucumber varieties have problems with cucumber mosaic virus or powdery mildew. Luckily, this little leaf variety is resistant to both.

 



Another bunch of cucumbers.

 

 

With the warm days and cool nights, the major stressor for this cucumber variety in this climate was the occasional day when my soaker hose timer and the lawn’s watering system turned on at the same time. In wet, humid conditions many cucumber varieties have problems with cucumber mosaic virus or powdery mildew. Luckily, this little leaf variety is resistant to both.

 

 

 

The cucumbers harvested from a couple vines.

 

 

 

Getting some cucumbers ready to store.

 

 

 

With enough cucumbers to save seed, I was quite hopeful that my bounteous harvest would result in a lot of fertile seed. However, after waiting several weeks to allow the picked cucumbers to mature, I was sad to see that many of the cucumbers had not produced any seed at all. This is one of the major drawbacks when dealing with parthenocarpic fruit when saving seed. You may go through the whole life cycle of a plant from seed to fruit and only when opening it up will you discover that there is no seed. What a waste! Oh well – even wasted gardening projects can result in compost for next season!

 

 

 

The moment of truth...

 

 

 

 



And... no seeds.

 

 

 

 

Here's some more seeds. That's more like it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fermenting cucumber seeds.

 

 

 

Overall, I did get enough seed to last me for several years – howbeit not a surplus. If you enjoy pickling cucumbers, this is a good variety. As for me, I was not willing to go through the work of pickling cucumbers this year and, when it comes to fresh eating the Carosello and Armenian-type cucumbers far surpass the tough skin and possible bitter taste of a pickling cucumber variety.

 

 

A couple Little-Leaf Cucumbers

Harvest Time

A couple Saturdays ago we had a fall harvest festival and a truck-or-treat.



My youngest, with Tomatoes in the background

A local favorite vegetable market, Larry’s Produce, goes all out with lots of free activities for the kids and very reasonably priced activities and produce for the family.

 

 

The oldest son, supporting his local team.

The youngest son with tomato fields behind him.

Larry's tends to have the highest quality produce in the area. They do a good job of either growing their own produce or purchasing from farmers in the surrounding area.



The three children, with people purchasing produce in the background.

While picking out my veggies there last Saturday, I asked a fellow customer if they believed I could get a giant head of red lettuce at the grocery store for 50 cents, like Larry's. He just laughed and said, yes - "for 50 cents per leaf!"

My three younger children, with a few big pumpkins

 

Tomatoes Aplenty

This summer has been extraordinarily busy. With multiple trips, camps, the beginning of my wife’s career and beginning the process of moving to a new home, our family has hardly had time to stop. As a result, I have not been able to update as much as I would like.

Tomato Plants in Late April

Tomato Plants in Late May

Tomato Plants in Late June

Tomato Plants in Late July

So, the Celebrity tomatoes that I was used to in Tucson did very well initially. They produced plenty of large sandwich-sized tomatoes that were fairly tasty. Meanwhile, the San Marzano plant produced plenty of tomatoes too, howbeit not as tasty unless they were cooked. Something about cooking really brings out the flavor of the San Marzano tomatoes. All the while, my third tomato variety, the Rutgers was growing and growing.

Early fruiting in June - Celebrity

Celebrity fruiting in later June

Celebrities Fruiting in July

A rambling Celebrity tomato Plant

Over the course of the summer, between the three, I would definitely say that the Rutgers won on several levels. First: disease resistance. Whatever occurred to the soil before I amended it and planted tomato plants definitely made them susceptible to disease. The Rutgers plant succumbed only minimally, while the Celebrity and the San Marzano slowly became more and more affected by the bacteria.

San Marzano Tomatoes in May

San Marzano Tomatoes in June

First San Marzano Tomatoes to ripen

San Marzano tomatoes in July

The next way in which the Rutgers won was by production. Though the Celebrity tomato plant produced plenty of tomatoes earlier on, production waned dramatically – a characteristic of determinate tomatoes. This is the reason why they do so well down in the Southwest, but is not necessarily advantageous where the climate is favorable to growing tomatoes. The San Marzano produces a moderate number of tomatoes over time, but if you prefer salads and sandwiches over sauces and salsas, then San Marzano is probably not for you.

Rutgers Tomatoes in June

Rutgers Tomatoes in July

Rutgers Tomatoes in August

The final way in which the Rutgers tomato won was by taste. Though the Celebrity tomato hits it right in the robust salty flavor, it does lack quite a bit of complexity. The Rutgers does possess some of that complexity and a hint of umami, a characteristic that Celebrities only acquire in climates with extreme heat. I have yet to find a tomato that I have completely fallen in love with, though some heirlooms that I have tasted have come close!

A smaller weekly harvest (June)

So, there is a little bit of the experience I have had with these tomatoes. Though I have not been able to take pictures of a tenth of my tomato production (about 10 per week for the last six weeks), I hope this information helps. For those of you who could practically live off tomato sandwiches (something my wife keeps reminding me that she cannot do) I wish you a delicious harvest!

Happy June!

With the onset of summer, I am starting to really understand how hot it can get here in Fairfield. It has reached the upper 90s a few times, which has really helped the cucumber plants take off.

Arkansas Little Leaf Cucumber Growing

With the cooler nights, pickling cucumber varieties, such as my Arkansas Little Leaf cucumber, do a lot better than they ever did in Tucson.

One of my first female blossoms

The cool nights have also significantly affected my tomato production. I knew that tomatoes were easy to grow in Fairfield, but seeing the results of the right climate is impressive!

Uncaged Celebrities are migrating to the sidewalk

In talking with a gentleman selling tomatoes at the local farmer's market, tomatoes can be planted here in January. Perhaps I will try this next year, as cheap fresh tomatoes are often available here later in the season, but command a higher price this time of year.

The San Marzanos are picking up steam

The cool air that often blows in from the Suisun Marsh as well as the nearby delta enables the pollen from tomato blossoms to set fruit at a pretty high rate, as demonstrated by my one San Marzano tomato plant.

A few of my last Dingess Purple sweet potato plants.

Conversely, without the consistent heat and brutal sun that Tucson offered, my Dingess Purple sweet potato plants are just barely growing. Fortunately, one spot that I planted them in - on the south side of the house - is working out much better than near the rose bushes. Let's hope they can grow enough to produce a decent tuber.
 

South-facing Dingess Purple sweet potato plants

As a gardener, I sometimes laugh at myself when I forget a very basic technique from one year to another. The water-filled plastic containers surrounding my plants have made a dramatic difference in speeding up growth. Before planting next year, I'll have to gather more plastic jugs.
 

Dark Armenian cucumbers are finally taking off.

Cucumber Beetles are not very photogenic

Alas, cucumber beetles are difficult to avoid. After feeding off of dandelions early in the spring, they migrate to other flowers when the dandelions begin going to seed. Feasting upon pollen and petals, these beetles devour the innards of my roses and cucumbers, compelling me to carry out the serial killing of cold-blooded invertebrates.

Another Arkansas Little Leaf Cucumber plant

Cucumber & Melon plants

Overall, I am very grateful to live in a place where my long-term my health should improve while still being able to garden. Being a partner with a living, thriving, growing organism has blessed my life in so many ways. As others have said, gardening is cheaper than therapy - and you get tomatoes!

Tomatoes - starting to fill out