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A Gardening Blog for the East Side

The climate of the Eastern Sierra is very different from most of California and so gardening here is different, too! 

Preparing the contents of the pile.

In this blog we examine some of the quirks of gardening on the East Side, and cover horticultural issues that are important locally. Note that if you're visiting our site from the outside our little corner of California, you may find this information may not apply to your area.

Articles are written by local UC Master Gardener volunteers or the local Farm Advisor. 

 
And a website...

The Inyo-Mono Master Gardeners also have a website with local gardening and soil information. Visit it to learn more about our program and gardening.

 

Hydroponically grown basil.
Article

Grow Hydroponics: Save the World and Your Back

June 20th, 2021
When most people think of hydroponics, they think of growingwell, cannabis. However, hydroponics is a great method for growing all kinds of herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Hydroponics involves growing plants in a water and mineral nutrient solution without soil.
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Hand tool for removing tap rooted plants
Article

It's Time to Get out the Hoe!

June 16th, 2021
Even in the best managed gardens, as soon as the soil warms up weed erupt and need to be controlled before they get the upper hand.
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Wilted purple bachelor button flowers in a garden.
Article

The Bachelor's Button Blues

June 14th, 2021
By Dustin W Blakey
I always like to grow some flowers in my garden. I usually grow cosmos, zinnias, or marigolds, all of which do great in the Owens Valley. This year I had a great plan to try to have my garden mostly done by July. It didn't work out, but before I abandoned that goal, I planted bachelor's buttons.
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A golden pothos houseplant with leaves draping down a wood cabinet.
Article

Watering Your Houseplants

June 1st, 2021
Overwatering is the number one killer of houseplants, says Mr. Ernesto Sandoval, Manager and Curator of the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory. Overwatering encourages disease, pests, and can smother roots that need oxygen. With overwatering, roots can die and rot.
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IMG 2154
Article

Black Cherry Aphids

May 19th, 2021
At this time of year it pays to check any cherry trees for infestations of black aphids, Myzus cerasi. These appear most usually on the tips of the terminal shoots, but also on the spurs and they tend to prefer sweet cherry varieties over the sour ones.
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