• Home
  • Shop Exclusives
  • Wholesale
  • Contact
  • Log In
All
  • Subscribe
  • Checkout
  • 0Shopping Cart
The City Farm
  • Exclusives
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / Blog2 / 20143 / August

Blogs for August, 2014

checkout the archived city farm blog articles to learn about our takes on farm & city life

Growing Radishes: Harvesting for Fall Food

Growing Radishes: Harvesting for Fall Food

August 26, 2014/in Grow /by Rebecca

Remember that time you didn’t take a bath for days, and a crop of radishes starting sprouting from your arms and legs?

Right, me either.

But as a child with an over-active imagination, parented in part by Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, I was oft worried / left wondering if perhaps the Radish Cure could happen to me. Prescribed by Mrs. P-W to solve the problem of Patsy, the story of a little girl who wouldn’t take a bath, and her parents who turned for advice to the wise Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, who, by the way, lived in an upside down house.  Mrs. P-W’s solution? Let Patsy skip bath time.  And while she slept, her parents secretly planted radish seeds into the layers of dirt that built up on her arms and legs.  And voila!  One morning, Patsy’s little limbs had turned into a vegetable garden!

It was both terrifying and tempting – could I *get* that dirty that a garden would grow on my arms?  And now that I’m all grown up and (mostly) don’t believe in fairy-tales, is it freaky to harbor the idea of using EVERY surface to harvest food?  (Don’t answer that.)
If getting so dirty that you could grow arm-veggies does not appeal to you, here’s how to grow radishes the (yawn) regular way.

  • Pick a place, in your open garden, a raised bed, or a container.  In any space, you will plant the seeds directly into the earth.
  • Radishes will grow fastest in full-sun, and according to MadAboutGardening, a quick ripening provides the best taste and crisp texture.  But if you’re planting in the full-hot-heat of summer, choose a spot that offers a little shade.
  • Prepare your soil with a mix of sandy loam and compost, so the radish roots can easily burrow deep down.
  • Plant seeds 3 to 6 inches apart.
  • Water evenly to keep the soil moist.
  • Watch them grow.
  • Harvest when you see the red radish tops pushing up through the soil.
  • Eat: add raw to a salad, or roast if the weather has cooled down!

Radishes are annuals that produce one root per seed planted, so consider waiting a couple weeks and planting another row, to have an ongoing harvest.  Check with your seed-seller for the best variety for your region and when you plan to plant.  MadAboutGardening, based in Portland, Oregon, likes to plant in the spring, but late summer is a great time to plant radishes. As Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle knew, they grow quickly, and can be ready to roast and add to your fall menu in three weeks to a month.  Bon appétit!

(Photo Credit: Wild Roots)

https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/radish.jpg 565 848 Rebecca https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-cityfarm.png Rebecca2014-08-26 06:00:312015-03-30 20:41:07Growing Radishes: Harvesting for Fall Food
Growing Grasses: Living the Little House Prairie Life in L.A.

Growing Grasses: Living the Little House Prairie Life in L.A.

August 19, 2014/in Grow /by Rebecca

It took a few days for my friend to admit that she was one-half of the twin-set who played Baby Grace on Little House on the Prairie.  College roommates, she unpacked a photo of her and her twin at age four, posing in skates on the roller rink. “It’s so strange,” I told her, gazing at their cherubic faces, framed by blonde hair. “It’s like I knew you then.  It’s like I grew up with you.”

I’ve always had that feeling that part of me grew up in Walnut Grove. I dreamed of reading by candlelight, a hazard for a near-sighted child.  I wished I’d studied in a one-room schoolhouse, and on occasion, I addressed my mom and dad as ma and pa.  The only connection I have now to my beloved faux-prairie-life is the street that leads me downhill from my apartment to a bustling junction of cafes, shops, and my bus stop is lined by tall grasses blowing in the wind.  I close my eyes to block out the hipster dog-walkers around me and run my hands through them. I can almost imagine that I, too, am toppling down that hill in the opening credits of Little House.

If you want to create your own version of prairie life, consider planting one or more of these low-maintenance grasses.

  • The ravennagrass (Saccharum ravennae) likes full sun and not too much moisture – which makes it perfect for planting to withstand our current California drought.
  • The ravennagrass thrives in zones 5 – 10, and this site claims to have seen one grow to 15’ in Vancouver, B.C.!
  • Purple Fountaingrass is a great way to add to color to your garden, and while it grows best in zones 9 & 10, it is used as an annual in colder climates.
  • If you’re looking for groundcover, check out the shorter-growing Blue Fescue, which only grows one foot, and also adds color to your garden or curb-side plantings, and thrives in zones 4 – 8.
  • If you are limited on space, you may want to consider a planter, or planting just one or two root balls. Unpack the root ball before placing in the ground, and, unless you’re aiming for an overgrown garden, choose spots for your grasses as far apart as you expect them to grow tall, which can often take up to three years, and prepare the soil twice as deep as the root ball.

If you have photos of gorgeous grasses you’re already growing, share them with us on Twitter @TheCityFarm!  And check out my earlier post on homesteading in the city, here.

https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/grasses-collage.jpg 572 800 Rebecca https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-cityfarm.png Rebecca2014-08-19 06:00:492015-03-30 20:42:39Growing Grasses: Living the Little House Prairie Life in L.A.
When You’re Too Busy To Make Breakfast

When You’re Too Busy To Make Breakfast

August 13, 2014/in Cook /by Judy

When I need something in a hurry for breakfast or lunch, Avocado Toast is my go-to meal.  It’s quick, delicious and satisfying, and according to avocadocalifornia.com, “There’s more to avocados than great taste. Avocados provide nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. They also act as a ‘nutrient booster’ by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, in foods that are eaten with it.”  Enjoy!

AVOCADO TOAST

INGREDIENTS
1 ripe avocado
Salt
Fresh lemon or lime
Thick sliced whole grain bread

Scoop half an avocado into a bowl.  Add a sprinkling of salt and a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice.  Mash with a fork.  Toast a thick slice of whole grain country-style bread, then spread the avocado on top.  That’s all there is to it.

Photo Credit: Pinterest 

https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/1934f1aab34ee0114c32f2a16a6549fa.jpg 376 540 Judy https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-cityfarm.png Judy2014-08-13 06:00:352015-03-30 20:43:33When You’re Too Busy To Make Breakfast
A Succulent To Help You Let Go of Your Grassy Greens

A Succulent To Help You Let Go of Your Grassy Greens

August 12, 2014/in Grow /by Rebecca

I remember the first time I visited a friend’s new house in Phoenix, that time she proudly proclaimed her front yard “landscaped.”  As I looked around, she directed my gaze to a square of small grey pebbles and a succulent. Even the plants seemed to know that this part of Arizona was not meant to support life. I tried SO hard to compliment her grey garden, while my inner Oregonian was SO condescending and judgey: I saw a  sad, dry landscape art that longed for lush greens and bright flowers.

Walking my L.A. neighborhood this dry, drought-stricken year, I now find myself more and more drawn to those very desert-like gardens.  But we don’t have to settle for drab or sad drought-friendly gardens.  As more and more of my neighbors are letting their lawns go, I see them choosing drought-resistant plants and gorgeous ground cover, prickly cacti with bright yellow flowers, purple and pink Echeveria that require very little love from the watering can.

The City Farm GROW Blog One street over, I saw a gorgeous succulent starting its life as new ground cover: Crassula erosula, also known as “Campfire.”  A combination of bright lime green and a brilliant coral orange leaves, it will blossom with white flowers in the fall in Southern California and similar growing regions.  A native to South Africa and Madagascar, they grow best in USDA regions 9 – 11.

Growing only six inches in height, Campfire can spread to three feet, making it a great ground cover, as my neighbor’s is clearly intended to be.  But Crassula erosula also works well in containers or hanging baskets to add brilliant colors to your front stoop or porch garden.  Campfire requires full sun and well-drained soil, and a little stress to get the brightest colors, so be sure not to over-water it.

Have you switched up your landscaping to deal with the drought?  Tell us your tips and tricks here in the comments or over on Twitter @TheCityFarm & @RebeccaSnavely.  And take a look at why the prickly pear cactus might be your new favorite food, here.

Photo Credit: Annie’s Annuals

https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/crassula_campfire.jpg 324 374 Rebecca https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-cityfarm.png Rebecca2014-08-12 06:00:152015-03-30 20:49:21A Succulent To Help You Let Go of Your Grassy Greens
It’s a Dr. Seuss World: Adding Wit, Whimsey, & Wisdom to Your Garden and Life

It’s a Dr. Seuss World: Adding Wit, Whimsey, & Wisdom to Your Garden and Life

August 5, 2014/in Grow /by Rebecca

Every morning en route to meet my carpool ride to my last gig, I passed a bottle brush tree. And every morning I was reminded, it’s a Dr. Seuss world, and we’re just living in it. Even before “going green” was really a thing, Dr. Seuss showed us the way through story.

“I am the Lorax.
I speak for the trees.
I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”
…
“Unless someone like you cares a
whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.”

What better way to bring a little rhyme and wonder to your garden than to grow a few plants that look straight out of Seuss’s storied lands? One of my favorites is the allium. There are over 700 types of alliums in the world, and while onions, shallots, and garlic are part of this family, many of the ornamental varietals look straight out of a Seuss story book.   
 alluim collage

As Gardener’s Supply Company notes, in the late 1800s, “Russian botanists began collecting some of the spectacular alliums from Central Asia and introducing them to avid horticulturists through the Imperial Botanical Garden in St. Petersburg. … It didn’t take long for the consummate plant hunters, the British, to get wind of this ‘new’ family of garden-worthy plants. Their expeditions yielded many more interesting alliums varieties.” 

Alliums will grow well in any well-drained soil, and thrive in full sun. And the best time to plant them is in the fall, so get ready to add one plant, two plants, three fish, blue fish — sorry, it’s so easy to get sucked into Seuss — to your garden.  Now is a good time to check with your local nursery about buying bulbs in time to plant, and order online if they are not readily available.

A few of my favorites to add a little Seuss whimsey to your yard? The Everlasting allium, the Purple Sensation, and the Ozawa allium, which might help bring back the bees, who love this flower.

You know who else loves this flower?  Martha.  Watch her video of planting bulbs in the fall for a late spring bloom and gorgeous flowers into summer. Martha makes her own compost.  (Of course she does.) But you can purchase that, as well as the bone meal to prep the soil.  

While you plant, keep in mind a little wisdom from the doctor:

“You’ll get mixed up,
of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with
many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great
tact and remember that
Life’s A Great Balancing Act.

“And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)
“Kid, you’ll move mountains.”
~ Oh, The Places You’ll Go

What’s your favorite allium, and/or Dr. Seuss book / quote?  Tell us in the comments, or over on Twitter @RebeccaSnavely@TheCityFarm

Photo Credit: Bottle Brush – Art.com, Purple Sensation – Iam9.eu, and Ozawa – Arrowhead Alpines; Everlasting Allium – Gardener’s Supply

https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BottleBrush.jpg 450 338 Rebecca https://thecityfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-cityfarm.png Rebecca2014-08-05 06:00:072015-03-30 20:46:25It’s a Dr. Seuss World: Adding Wit, Whimsey, & Wisdom to Your Garden and Life

Featured Products

  • Avocado Honey
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $15.00

Blog Categories

  • Cook (37)
  • Enjoy (56)
  • Grow (97)
  • Pet (43)

Blog Archives

  • March 2016 (3)
  • January 2016 (1)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • November 2015 (2)
  • October 2015 (1)
  • September 2015 (1)
  • August 2015 (2)
  • July 2015 (2)
  • June 2015 (2)
  • May 2015 (1)
  • April 2015 (2)
  • March 2015 (2)
  • February 2015 (4)
  • January 2015 (6)
  • December 2014 (7)
  • November 2014 (8)
  • October 2014 (7)
  • September 2014 (7)
  • August 2014 (5)
  • July 2014 (8)
  • June 2014 (6)
  • May 2014 (8)
  • April 2014 (6)
  • March 2014 (5)
  • February 2014 (4)
  • January 2014 (10)
  • December 2013 (10)
  • November 2013 (8)
  • October 2013 (9)
  • September 2013 (8)
  • August 2013 (10)
  • July 2013 (11)
  • June 2013 (11)
  • May 2013 (8)
  • April 2013 (8)
  • March 2013 (6)
  • February 2013 (11)
  • January 2013 (7)
  • December 2012 (9)
  • November 2012 (5)

Need Help

Contact Us

SAVE 10% – ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS:

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Shop

  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • My Account

About

  • Our Story
  • Image Gallery
  • Wholesale

Legal

  • Returns
  • Shipping & Delivery
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
© 2023 THE CITY FARM®, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | WEB DEVELOPMENT BY ONCE INTERACTIVE
  • Email
  • Contact Us
Scroll to top