Greetings!

Did you see the snow report?  The Sierra Nevada just had the second heaviest snowfall since records were kept! 61+ feet of snow.  Now the threat is flooding this spring on the Sacramento.  Wasn't it just last week that we were told that reservoirs were still low!?   

The terms "cultivar" and "variety" are often used interchangeably in describing a certain type of cultivated plant, however, "cultivar" is most correct when referring to a clone and "variety" is correct when referring to a seed propagated plant (like the tomatoes).  Hybrid tomato plants are all siblings from one set of parents, whereas open pollinated (heirloom) plants are more like an inbred family.  The 'Anna' apple that we sell would be a cultivar, all individual trees being genetically identical.  Perhaps the word 'variety' implies that slight variations exist.  

Tomatoes This Week

NEW THIS WEEK

Black From Tula is the largest of the "black" tomatoes.  This Russian heirloom is brownish to purple with green shoulders.  The flesh has the typical black tomato flavor that is rich, smoky, and hints of being salted.   

Brandywine Red is an Amish heirloom from about 1885.  The vigorous vines produce 10 ounce fruit with excellent, old-fashioned flavor.  

Juliet is a hybrid grape tomato that combines good flavor and incredible disease resistance.  It was awarded an ALL-AMERICAN SELECTION award in 1999 for its crack resistance, unusual shape and flavor.  It is reputably a hybrid of a paste tomato with a cherry.  We received several requests for this variety.    

RESTOCKED

Better Boy, Marianna's Peace, Momotaro

STILL LOOKING GOOD

Aunt Ruby's German Green, Big Beef, Celebrity, Cherokee Purple, Large Red Cherry, San Diego, San Marzano.

STILL OUT OF STOCK

Sungold-all of our suppliers are currently out of stock.  We will certainly keep asking our sources for it.   

Garden  Color

We are stocking some of our favorite ornamental plants.

Gaillardia Goblin  Gaillardia, or Blanket Flower is a perennial, native to the Southwest.  Goblin is a compact hybrid with extra large flowers.  The daisy-type flowers are red at the center edged in deep yellow.  Blooms heaviest from summer to winter, but will show some color at all times.  Thrives with heat.  Available in 6-packs.  

Gaura Belleza Dark Pink Gaura is a long-lived, incredibly sturdy perennial native to Texas and Louisiana.  New foliage is deep red maturing to green.  Puts on a show from spring through fall with deep rose blossoms hovering over the foliage on upright flower spikes.  This compact variety reaches 18" tall.  Keep the color coming by deadheading several times during the year.  A huge taproot allows Gaura to tolerate extended drought.  Available in quarts.

Gloriosa Sonora This is a type of Rudbeckia, native to Eastern U.S. that produces striking 6" daisies with Mahogany "faces".  Sonora grows 15" tall and blooms summer to early fall.  Gloriosa loves heat and tolerates some drought. It is commonly used as an annual, but can return for a second year.   Available in 6-packs. 

Iresine Blazin Rose (Bloodleaf) This tender perennial grows about 18" tall and wide with large, broad, deep bronze leaves that have glowing rose veins.  It is just as showy as Coleus with a more formal appearance.  It is good in containers and can be situated in sun or shade.  Available in quarts.

Salvia coccinea Forest Fire  This is a North American native that blooms all year with a brilliant show of red flowers attached to black stems and calyx.  This variety is often used as an annual.  Available in 6-packs.  

Salvia Hot Lips  This is a delightful sage for container or patio that can bloom much of the year with a constantly changing show.  The flower spikes usually start pure fire engine red, but soon pick up pure white "lips".  As the spikes finish the last flowers are pure white.  Hot Lips can grow to 2' high and wide and can be placed in full sun to half shade.  Available in quarts.   

Salvia Mystic Spires  This is a dwarf version of the highly popular 'Indigo Spires' sage.  Indigo Spires has a nearly year round show of violet blue flowers, but can reach 6' tall.  Mystic Spires will grow about 2' tall.   Full sun to part shade.  Available in 12" pots.

Sedum spectabile Brilliant  This succulent from Asia is closely related to the highly popular Sedum 'Autumn Joy'.  I like it better because the flowers are a brighter, deep rose pink (or red). Always tidy in the garden, this long-lived perennial grows 18' tall and wide with rounded, blue-green leaves.  Blooms late summer-fall with 6" wide flower clusters of numerous tiny flowers.  Briefly dormant in winter.  Available in 1-gallon. 

IN THE GARDEN

I've just starting pruning my roses back for winter.  I've mentioned before that for the last 15 or more years I've been pruning my Roses back in spring.  The winter rains cause all kinds of leaf fungi.  It's easier to clean up the mess once the rainy season is theoretically over.  There's already a lot of new lower growth that I'll save (as long as there is no sign of disease).  My rose bed was blooming all winter and will be back in color by the end of next month.   

If you cut back your rose bushes in mid-winter (traditional), the absence of foliage allows all the new growth to emerge.  Because it is cool the growth is slow and the next blooms won't open until late March or early April.  If it rains a lot you often have to treat for rust or black spot disease.   

There are many gardeners who do not cut their roses down at all.  I do it to remove disease.  Severe pruning does change the type of growth.  Shorter and fewer stems leads to more vigorous growth with longer cutting stems, larger flowers, but fewer.  Leaving the bush taller with more branches gives you more, smaller flowers.   

My Lapins cherry tree is in full bloom!  Last year's crop was a mere handful.  Hopefully this relatively young tree will produce a few quarts by summer.  A typical winter usually results in just a few fruit produced.  All my plums have set a good crop.  Pluots and apricots are lighter, but decent.  Peaches and nectarines are fine.  It'll be another month or two before the avocados, citrus, mangoes and apples finish their bloom.  

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See you at these farmer's markets

EVERY FRIDAY 1pm-6:30pm

Santa Margarita Farmer's Market

Lowe's Center at Avenida de las Flores and Santa Margarita in front of Big Lots

EVERY SUNDAY 10am-2pm

The Great Park Farmer's Market

The Great Park Balloon parking lot on Marine Way off the 5 at Sand Canyon