Summer’s here in San Diego gardens, and the weather is warming up. This is still a good time to plant subtropicals, summer annuals and vegetables, but hold off putting most plants in the ground until fall when temperatures drop.
Grow Edible Flowers
Grow some colorful, edible flowers to add to salads or use as garnishes. You can eat squash blossoms raw in salads, sauteed or stuffed and fried. Make sure to remove the stamens and pistils first. Nasturtiums add spiciness to salads, butters, cheeses, oils and vinegars. Put chamomile petals in hot or iced tea. They will give it a pineapple flavor. Borage flowers have a cucumber taste. They are beautiful added to salads or floating in cocktails. You can also candy them.
When the weather cools, you can grow Johnny-Jump-Ups, pansies and violets to add color to salads. You can also candy them to use as decoration on desserts. Not all flowers are edible, and some are poisonous or can be a problem if you have asthma or allergies, so start small and stick with those that are known to be safe.
Gardening Books for San Diego Gardeners
Although I spend a lot of time searching the Internet for plant and garden information, I also have some gardening books that are great reference guides for San Diego gardeners. Here are some of my favorites:
- Ornamental Trees of San Diego by Steve Brigham, Photography by Don Walker
This book contains 230 ornamental trees that grow in San Diego County. There are photographs of each tree with most having an address in San Diego County where you can find the tree growing. - California Gardener’s Guide by Nan Sterman
Nan Sterman is a garden designer and botanist who lives in San Diego County. She hosts a show on PBS called “A Growing Passion.” She’s written several books for California gardeners. The book I own is full of plants that will thrive here. Plants are listed by type, like trees, herbs, ground covers, bulbs, vines, etc. Each entry includes a photo and detailed information on planting and care along with suggestions on companion plants and design. - Designing with Succulents and Succulent Container Gardens by Debra Lee Baldwin
Debra Lee Baldwin is another San Diego County resident who is a garden photojournalist, author and “Queen of Succulents.” My sister gave me these books, and they’ve been really helpful with detailed information on different types of succulents and how to use them in your garden or in pots. - Tough Plants for California Gardens by Felder Rushing
This book is also full of plants that work well in San Diego gardens. - The Sunset Western Garden Book
This is the plant encyclopedia for western gardeners. The most recent edition I own was published in 2012, and I don’t see any more recent updates. Does anyone know if Sunset is going to update the book? If you do, please comment below.
Manage Water Use
I just read the news that the San Diego County Water Authority board approved a 9.5% increase in wholesale water rates for its member agencies in 2024. They say they are going to draw on a fund to help avoid rate hikes, but I’m guessing water is going to get more expensive.
How can you keep water use low and still have a beautiful, abundant San Diego garden? Here are just a few things that will help you lower your water use:
- Shrink or remove your lawn. Grass is very thirsty.
- Switch from sprinklers to a drip irrigation system.
- Check your watering system for leaks, overspray, broken heads, etc.
- Mulch your beds. Mulch not only helps your soil stay moist, it also keeps weeds down. Use organic mulch, and it will enrich your soil. For more information on mulching your yard, take a look my previous blog post about mulching.
- Plant native plants and those from other no-summer-rain parts of the world like the Mediterranean, South Africa and Australia. There are many beautiful, flowering plants that don’t require a lot of water.
- Collect water from winter rains, and cold water from sinks, showers and baths for use in your garden or to water potted plants.
San Diego Gardens Tips Source
A lot of information for San Diego Gardens comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.