Tag Archives


Ask Gardenerd: Squash Vine Borers

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Christy

A troubling question came into Ask Gardenerd this week from Jennifer: “I’m a new gardener (4 years), and EVERY SINGLE YEAR, vine borers eat my zucchini plants. But I keep planting them because they are my favorite!! None of my … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Sage Advice | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Corn Fail – Rats Again!

Posted on July 6, 2016 by Christy

We’re growing Glass Gem popping corn this year, but we may not get to see the results because we’ve got rats again. They’re more aggressive than ever this year, probably because we gave them an in. In dealing with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, What's Growin' On | Tagged , | 3 Comments

YouTube: How to Find Tomato Hornworms

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Christy

You know it’s summer when you see holes in your tomatoes. Tomato hornworms can ruin a perfectly good tomato plant (and experience). We’re here to show you how to find them amid the chaos of tomato foliage. There’s a trick. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, What's Growin' On | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Ask Gardenerd: What’s Eating My Cabbage and Spinach?

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Christy

Ah, pests. Here at Gardenerd, we like to say that having a garden without pests is like having children and expecting them to be well behaved all the time. It’s unrealistic. Most garden pests are telling us something, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Sage Advice | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ask Gardenerd: Preventing Bugs Next Year

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Christy

As we start over with a fall garden in warm-winter climates, or put the garden away in more temperate regions, the question arises once again: “How can I prevent bugs that were problematic this year in my fruit and vegetable … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Sage Advice | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ask Gardenerd: Are Grasshoppers Bad?

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Christy
Grasshoppers bite chunks out of the sides of leaves, but can consume entire leaves over time.

We love it when people ask about bugs before killing them. Better safe than sorry. You may be killing a beneficial insect, so please ask before taking action. Like Dora here: “Are grasshoppers bad for my garden? If so how … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Sage Advice | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Homemade Fruit Fly Traps

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Christy

They’re everywhere! Tiny, annoying fruit flies, that is. They’re trying to get into our tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, and plums. They’re even breeding in our compost bucket. What to do? Break out the big guns. The lowly fruit fly has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, What's Growin' On | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Cats in the Garden: Our New Addition

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Christy

There’s a new member of our garden’s ecosystem, and her name is Mittens. This little black and white cat arrived to our neighborhood in November, and has been courting us ever since. She won us over with her gentle regard … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, What's Growin' On | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Beware the Citrus Psyllid

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Christy

A not-so-new threat to America’s citrus population has recently been found in Southern California. Almost 4,000 sightings of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, including in Riverside and Mar Vista, have been
reported in 2011. The damage from the Psyllid can potentially send a citrus tree to its grave.

The Citrus Psyllid can be a carrier of a bacterial disease called Huanglongbing (HBL) or Citrus Greening disease, which causes the leaves to appear yellow with green veins, and the fruit becomes
misshapen. Eventually the trees die.

…
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in What's Growin' On | Tagged | Leave a comment