r/SoCalGardening

I think my neighbors did a really nice job getting rid of their lawn. The ground cover is kurapia and the added beds with succulents. Zone 10a.

I used to follow the spacing rules and decided to go crazy with it this year. Best decision ever.

I grow in raised beds and containers. I have some Roma tomatoes in grow buckets that I got a few years back. I figured that since there is a water at the bottom that wickst would last a few days but I'm finding that some of the buckets need to be filled on the daily during hotter days.

My garden this year is totally deflating my gardening sail. First, my tomatoes had black seed aphids. Got rid of those. Now they have mealy bugs(? - see picture). And the tomato leaves look diseased (see picture). They are still producing great fruit but they look terrible. My jalapeño and bell peppers also look nutrient deficient or diseased (see picture), and my yellow squash has powdery mildew.

Can anyone tell me if I can save my tomatoes and pepper plants? And offer their fixes? Talk me off the ledge of ripping all my plants out…

I bought these seed packets from each in the spring, but thought it was interesting to see the weight comparisons. None of the packets have been opened (waiting for fall)

Tried looking back on my receipts for prices but couldn't find either. Iirc each packet was around the same price.

I've seen people express wariness because the Walqaqsh website is a bit vague on precise amounts, but having bought dozens of seed packets at this point I've never gotten one where I feel I got less than I expected.

I still buy from CNPS too (got some goosefoot, sneezeweed, + morning glory sprouting from them currently), but I've yet to see anyone beat Walqaqsh on bang for the buck.

Somewhat unrelated but I've heard Chia likes being mixed with ash to germinate. What's your experience with it?

Happy germinating, everyone 🤟

(Photos for visibility and for bragging) I have a small plot in a local community garden that is thriving, and I have been very successful at starting everything from seed - except peppers! I’ve tried a number of different methods, and never once have I gotten even one seed to sprout.

What I *have* successfully grown from seed:

Tomato

Watermelon

Many different squash varieties

Cucumber

Basil

Cilantro

Kale

Romaine

Nasturtium

Marigold

Arugula

Various beans

Onions

Dill

Parsley

Carrots

Beets

Eggplant

Radishes

WTF is going on with peppers?! I’ve tried 3 different soil seed starter mixes, different fertilizers, tried in little starter pods/seed snail/in ground, tried pre-soaking the seeds, tried on a heat pad, tried in a warm window, tried direct sowing. I tried starting seeds in March, April, May, AND June. I’ve tried 3 different seed packs from 3 different companies. I don’t want to keep buying the seedlings every year. Help! Give me your best tried-and-true pepper germination strategy.

Hi, looking for advice if I should prune my avocado tree, and if so, where. Tree is in my backyard in San Diego CA.

I am considering buying a less expensive vertical gardening planter off of Amazon versus the brand name version. Similar to the one in the photo.

Do you have one, or ever had one?

Do you like it?

Other than flowers, strawberries, and herbs ~ What did you grow and did it do well?

Was it easy to water?

Did all the levels drain well?

Would you buy it again?

Pros and Cons?

What else should I know?

Thank you.

The hedge is Eugenia Myrtifolia. Planted a year ago. The leaves started curdling a few months ago now some leaves are covered with this sticky black dust. The ones that got the black stuff earlier are starting to lose leaves. Only one section of the hedge is getting this but afraid it will spread. The areas that are infected are even discoloring the retaining wall beneath it making it look like it's constantly wet. TIA.

Is this blight? Is there anything I can do?

I can’t tell if this is a nutrient problem, a water problem, a bug problem, or if my plant is just a goner. It’s almost everywhere so if I remove all of the leaves like this I won’t have much of a plant left.

The plant has started flowering but has yet to produce fruit. Buds seem to dry up before growing any :/

I have been spraying with neem oil every other day.