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Tag: California

Will Oriental Lilies Survive in My California Garden?

“I want to grow oriental lilies in my garden, but I am told they may not survive where I live in Los Angeles. Can I grow them?” Question from Lucy of Los Angeles, California.

Answer: It depends on where you live in the Los Angeles, California area. Oriental lilies (Lilium orientale) need six weeks of winter cold to survive and bloom each year.  They are hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9 or Sunset Climate Zones 1-9, 14-23. Los Angeles is listed as having Zone 9 or 10 areas, depending on local topography and proximity to the ocean, as well as varying Sunset Climate Zones (Click here to see the Sunset Climate Zones for LA). If you live in an area listed as USDA Hardiness Zone 9 or the appropriate Climate Zones, give them a try. Otherwise, they will survive for only a few years before declining.

Why Do Oriental Lilies Need Winter Cold?

Some plants, like oriental lilies, need winter cold to complete their life cycle and flower each year. The process is called vernalization (Derived from the Latin word “vernus”, which translates to “of spring”). Generally, certain plants need a specific amount of cold exposure for the induction of flower buds for the coming year. No cold means no flowers, and plants will eventually die due to lack of cold.

If you are determined to grow oriential lilies, you can also try growing them in pots and chilling them each year. Chill them in temperatures below 40° F. After chilling, they take around three and a half months before blooming.

Growing Oriental Lilies

If you try planting them, you will also need to water your lilies more frequently, and amend the ground soil where they are planted with lots of organic matter because L.A. is dry and soil quality varies.

Overall, oriental lilies grow best in soils that are well-drained and rich in organic matter. The ideal pH should be slightly acidic (5.5 to 6.5), but neutral soils are also tolerated. Lily bulbs planted in the ground will thrive if the soil is amended with Black Gold Natural & Organic Garden Compost Blend. If you plan to pot your lily specimens, I recommend potting them in Black Gold® All Purpose Potting Mix or Black Gold Natural & Organic Ultra Coir, which is rich in organics but drains well. Choose a fertilizer specially formulated for summer bulbs. They are balanced fertilizers with added bonemeal, and there are many fine choices available at garden centers.

Happy gardening!

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

When Do You Prune Blueberries?

“I live in zone 8 and have Blueberries. Do you prune Blueberries, and if so when?” Question from Lynn of Sacramento, California

Answer: Blueberry pruning is done to maintain crops as well as shrub shape and size. There are several rules when it comes to pruning blueberries. First, wait until shrubs are mature and fruit-bearing (at least five years old) before pruning for the first time. Next, like most fruit-producing shrubs, you need to wait until after their fruit has matured to prune. Blueberries produce flowers on old wood, so if you prune any later than post-fruit production, you will remove next year’s flowers. It is also essential to maintain strong fruiting wood, while removing weaker, spindly stems.

Four Blueberry Pruning Guidelines

Here are four guidelines to follow when pruning blueberries.

  1. Prune just after berry harvest.
  2. Maintain one strong fruiting cane (branch) for each year of growth, starting in the shrub’s fourth year.
  3. Older canes can be replaced by stronger, newer fruiting canes after the shrubs have reaches 8-10 years.
  4. Remove smaller, weaker, lateral branches to encourage stronger fruiting branches.

I hope that these pruning tips help! You also might want to watch the video below about how to grow blueberries with success. (Click here to learn more about great blueberries for western gardens.)

Happy gardening,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

What Are Some Everblooming Flowers for Northern California?

What Are Some Everblooming Flowers for Northern California?

“I live in Northern CA– in the Bay Area. What are the flowers I can plant that will bloom year-round?” Question from Floredia of Vallejo, California

Answer: You live in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. Thankfully, there are lots of everblooming garden plants that continue to look pretty year-round. Here are some suggestions for your zone and mild, arid climate.

Six Everblooming Flowering Plants for Northern California

Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens, Zones 9-11): New varieties of this daisy from the Canary Islands have been bred to bloom continuously. Vanilla Butterfly® is an especially pretty, high-performing type with ivory and butter-yellow blooms. Established plants tolerate heat and some drought. Bees and butterflies will visit the flowers.

Everblooming Roses (Rosa spp., Zones 5-10): Most new roses are continuous bloomers that tend to flower most vigorously in spring and then in bursts when weather is favorable throughout the year. (Click here for a great list of roses recommended for the West Coast.)

Lynn’s Legacy Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’, Zones 8-10): Beautiful lavender-blue flowers cover this evergreen Mexican shrub through most of the year. Plant it in a well-drained spot. The Chihuahuan Desert native needs dry soil once established.

Mes Azur Sage (Salvia ‘Mes Azur’, Zones 6-9): Here is a tough evergreen everblooming salvia that bears loads of small purple flowers all year round. It will only slow down a bit during the hottest driest times of the year. It is a great plant for bees.

Red Neck Girl Forsythia Sage (Salvia madrensis ‘Red Neck Girl’, Zones 7-10): If you like big, bold plants, then this everblooming Mexican salvia is for you. It has huge spikes of yellow flowers on 4-6-foot plants. Hummingbirds love them.

Redvein Indian Mallow (Abutilon striatum, Zones 9-11): Pendulous flowers of yellow with striking red veins cover this shrub through the warm growing season. Specimens can become quite large (8-10′) but take well to rigorous pruning. It also grows well in pots.

There are hundreds more flowers for your area that bloom almost year-round, so let this list be the start of an ongoing search.

Happy gardening,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

What Are Some Good Perennials for Southern California Rock Gardens?

California fuchsia is a good, low, flowering perennial for your area.

“I’ve looked into a lot of options and have decided that Aubrieta / Rockcress is best for our needs. I have not finalized a choice as far as variety. I found it difficult to buy potted plants (even for ones on sale for 2021). I’m going to go ahead and get seeds. *BUT* … as I’ve been reading I’ve run into 2 or 3 sites that say – they will bloom in their second season in the year after planting them (and then every year after that). Is that true? I’ve done my very best to search for an answer…and I’ve come up with nothing more than when I started… I was hoping someone could let me know what the deal is? And/or If there is a way to jumpstart the progress – so I wouldn’t have to wait a year for them to bloom? I forget what number zone I’m in – but if it makes any difference at all… I live in West LA (zip = 90064). I’m also wondering if I can mix some type of Phlox seed with whatever variety of Aubrieta / Rockcress I choose? Is that doable? Or would I need to carefully separate which area I put 1 variety of seed and keep it separate (being careful not to mix) the phlox seed in? I so appreciate your time in this and would very much be thankful for some guidance.” Thank you! Jess of Los Angeles, California

Answer: Sadly, your 10b USDA Hardiness Zone is too warm for rockcress (Aubrieta spp.). The alpine plant requires survives in Zones 4-9, which means that it needs more winter cold to survive from year to year. With that said, there are many other evergreen, flowering, low-growing, rock garden plants that will perform well in your Los Angeles garden. I’ve opted for native options that are as tough as nails. Here are five from which to choose.

Flowering Perennial Groundcovers for Southern California

  1. Wayne Roderick Daisy (Erigeron glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’): Beautiful little pale violet cover this tough spreader through the growing season.
  2. Margarita Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Margarita’): This tough, drought-tolerant spreader bears beautiful blue flowers in summer.
  3. Coastal Groundcover Gum Plant (Grindelia stricta var. venulosa): If you like yellow, you will love the sunny daisies that cover this spreading California perennial. Bees love them.
  4. Sierra Penstemon (Penstemon heterodoxus): Expect this drought-tolerant California alpine to remain evergreen through the hottest weather. Its purple flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.
  5. California fuchsia (Zauschneria septentrionalis ‘Mattole River’): Hummingbirds cannot get enough of the bright red flowers of California fuchsia.

I hope that some of the options interest you. All are so pretty and should grow beautifully where you live.

Happy gardening,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

What Rosemary Varieties Survive in Southern California?

What Rosemary Varieties Survive in Southern California?

“Will rosemary plants survive a mild winter in Zone 9?” Question from Linda of Fresno, California

Answer: Yes! Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a drought- and heat-tolerant Mediterranean shrub made for California growing. Here are my top four favorite rosemaries that will grow beautifully where you live. Each is unique in its own way.

Top Four Favorite Rosemary Varieties

  1. ‘Blue Boy’ dwarf rosemary (Zones 8-10): The low-growing ‘Blue Boy’ stays 6-8 inches tall and spreads to a foot and a half. It’s perfect for containers and flowers well.
  2. ‘Irene’ weeping rosemary (Zones 8-10): Plant this along the edge of a retaining wall or large pot. Its lavender-blue flowers, flavorful stems, and cascading habit make it a very impressive choice.
  3. ‘Arp’ hardy rosemary (Zones 6-10): Here’s the rosemary that I grow on the East Coast. It is big, bushy, flavorful, and will survive very cold winters.
  4. ‘Tuscan Blue‘ (Zones 8-10): Noted for its vigorous nature, bushy habit, and wealth of spring flowers, ‘Tuscan Blue’ is also exceptional for cooking.

I hope that some of these great rosemary plants interest you.

Happy gardening,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

How Do I Repot and Care for My Plumeria?

My Plumeria needs repotting. What is the best soil and pot type?  What amount of sunlight is best – morning, noon? Watering schedule? Question from Jean of Diamond Bar, California

Answer: Frangipani or Plumeria (Plumeria species) shrubs are tropicals that are native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. There are many species that have been bred to create a fine array of colorful varieties–nearly 400 garden varieties are registered.

Plumeria Growing Needs

There are several things that plumerias need to grow well. They grow and flower best with full sun (6 hours or more per day) and warm temperatures (60 to 90 degrees F). Because they are susceptible to root rot, they require contains and potting soil that is slightly acid (6.4 to 6.8 pH) and drains well. Black Gold All Purpose Potting Mix with a little added Black Gold Perlite would be ideal.  There are specialty plumeria flower fertilizers on the market or you can choose, or you can simply use a fertilizer formulated for flowering shrubs.

How to Repot a Plumaria

Repot your plumeria every two to three years. A new pot should be at least three inches larger than the last. Plumerias emit a milky latex when damaged, which can be irritating to the skin and eyes, so wear garden gloves and long sleeves when repotting them.

Cover the bottom of the pot with a shallow layer of mix. Then gently lift your plumeria out of its old pot. Adjust and center the root ball in the new pot. Add new soil to the base as needed. Once planted, there should be 2 inches of headspace at the top for watering. If the roots are intertwined, or pot-bound, then gently tease them apart along the bottom and sides to increase establishment and water and nutrient uptake.

Add fresh mix along the sides and work it down firmly to increase soil-to-root contact and remove air pockets. Water in your new plant until water runs from the bottom of the pot. Fill in any receded spots along the sides and water in again. Begin to fertilize a week or two after planting. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Happy plumeria planting!

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

 

What Are Good Container Flowers for Northern California?

Bolivian Begonia is an excellent container garden flower that can be overwintered indoors. (Image by Jessie Keith)

“I rent my house but I have always wanted to grow a flower garden. What’s the best way to grow flowers in containers that are movable and what kind of flowers grow best in containers?” Question from Jenna of Magalia, California

Answer: Container gardening is certainly the best option for renters. If you really want to create a movable garden, start with quality pots that will be easy to transport in a move. Choose large containers for vegetables or multiple flowers. The larger the pot, the more plants you can grow in it. Thick, glazed ceramic containers resist weathering and retain water well.

I determined that you have warm, dry, mostly clear summers and cold, wet, partly cloudy winters with temperatures that range from 33°F to 88°F–rarely dipping below 25°F or above 96°F. Considering your drier summers and cool, wet winters, here are five drought-tolerant container perennials that should grow well for you in pots.

Annie’s Annuals, which is based in Richmond, California is one of the coolest mailorder flower nurseries around, and they sell loads of flowers suited to your climate. I recommend visiting to get ideas.

Planting Flower Containers

Choose plants that you like and pair them according to color, size, height, and texture. A good potting mix for drier climates is Black Gold Waterhold Cocoblend, which has excellent porosity, water-holding ability, and is OMRI Listed for organic gardening. Keep in mind, containers need regular water, even if you plant drought-tolerant plants, so plan to water your containers daily or once every couple of days. Feed them with plant food for flowers, such as Proven Winners® Premium Water Soluble Plant Food for Flowering Plants. Once hard cold hits, trim back any dead or dying stems to keep your pots tidy through winter.

I hope that this helps.

Happy gardening,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

When is the Best Time to Plant Lettuce in California?

When is the Best Time to Plant Lettuce in California?

“When generally is the best month to start lettuce planting [in California]?” Question from Rebekah of Clovis, California

Answer: Lettuce is a cool-season crop, which means that it thrives in cool weather and can even take a light frost but not hard freezes. When the weather becomes hot, most lettuce varieties quickly become bitter-tasting and set seed (bolt).

Based on the Clovis climate summary, your weather remains cool enough for lettuce from October through to April or May. Within this time, you should be able to grow more than one crop. Just be sure to grow it in fertile soil and keep the beds well irrigated during dry weather. We recommend drip irrigation for dry California climates. (Click here to learn about adding drip irrigation to raised beds.)  If you anticipate an unexpected frost, cover your plants with frost cloth.

Clovis, California Climate Summary

I encourage you to watch the following video about the 10 best lettuce varieties and how to grow them from seed.

 

Happy lettuce growing,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

How Should I Irrigate My Santa Rosa Plum Tree?

How Should I Irrigate My Santa Rosa Plum Tree?

“How often should I water with drippers my 20-year-old Santa Rosa plum tree?” Question from Gloria of Morgan Hill, California

Answer: Even established trees with deep roots need supplemental water during dry spells. In arid areas where soils are poor, irrigation is even more important, as is fertilization. Let rainfall decide when you irrigate your Santa Rosa plum tree (Prunus salicina ‘Santa Rosa’). During extra dry periods, you may need to water it two to three times a month. Remember that tree roots flare out, and most feeder roots are along the periphery of the flare, so avoid just watering near the trunk. The flare often follows a tree’s branching, so water further out to really irrigate properly.

Plum trees grow best in fertile soils that drain well. Adding a layer of compost, such as Black Gold Garden Compost Blend around the roots each year can help slowly feed the soil and hold in needed moisture.

Happy gardening!

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

Can I Grow Honeyberries in California?

“How can I grow honeyberries in zone 10?” Question from Nestor of Anaheim, California

Answer: Sadly, you cannot. Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea) is a temperate shrub that survives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7. This means that it requires winter cold to complete its life cycle each year and survive. For this reason, you are unable to grow honeyberries where you live, but you can grow so many other wonderful fruits where you live, like figs, apricots, grapes, citrus, and even pomegranates. Here are a few articles that you may consider reading on fruits for your zone:

Growing Figs in the Garden

Seven Mediterranean Food Plants for the Dry Edible Garden

The Best Pomegranates for Home and Garden

Happy Gardening!

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist