Spring Approaches...

Next Tuesday is the 1st official day of spring...and the much needed rains are arriving (albeit a bit too late).  We can probably look forward to a drought year due to the lack of rainfall.  A great way to prepare for a dry summer (besides the forethought of a beautiful native/mediterranean drought tolerant garden) is to distribute a thorough top-dressing of compost, providing healthy nutrients, and a 3" layer of mulch to minimize the evaporation of our precious resource.  Berkeley residents can enjoy a free self-serve compost pile, last Sat. of every month at the Berkeley Marina across from the Doubletree hotel (Feb.-Oct. starting at 8 a.m.).  When not under construction the BART tracks in Albany usually provide free mulch piles courtesy of our local Arborists.

In the Edible Landscape we're harvesting the last of winters crops (or early spring carrots, radishes, onions, broccoli and cabbage).  We plant and plan support for beans and peas.  Tomato seeds can be started indoors, but possibility of frost limits their success in the ground this early.  Here in the bay we do better with smaller varieties of most fruits and vegetables, the biggest challenges being large Tomato varieties as well as Eggplant and Melons.

A quick note on Bare-Root season - An excellent opportunity to fill out the perennial garden with very affordable dormant Fruit Trees, usually begins in November and I've found that the stock simply dries up within 2 months.  Roses go even quicker (1 month), so be sure to place your orders ahead of time!