The Backyard Gardener

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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!

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.

We are part of UC Cooperative Extension in Inyo and Mono counties.

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Searching for Natives

February 18, 2019

I live at the very edge of the Volcanic Tablelands in West Chalfant.

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Kadota fig with well developed breba fruits in March

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Fig Frustrations

February 1, 2019

When we relocated from Silicon Valley to the Owens valley the very last thing to be thrown into the moving van was a rooted piece of a Brown Turkey fig.

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Know Your Onions Part 2

January 16, 2019

Editors note: This is the second article on raising onions. You can read Part 1 at this link. Cultural Requirements. Onions need full sun and prefer a loose, rich, well-drained soil. They are very shallow rooted so need regular irrigation to avoid drying out, and benefit from careful mulching.

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Monastrell still glistening after 4 months in storage.

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Know Your Onions Part 1

January 4, 2019

Onions (Allium cepa) are biennial members of the Amaryllidaceae family and Allium genus which also includes leeks, garlic and chives and shallots. They are an important food crop worldwide, and feature in the cuisine of many different cultures. Numerous varieties of onions are available.

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eggs and chicks © 2006 John Isaac Holson

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Most Unusual Biological Control?

December 7, 2018

Biological controls seem the ideal solution to insect pests. No poisonous residue to harm the plantor the consumer if the plant is one grown for food. Unlike broad-spectrum insecticides that can damage beneficial insects along with the pest, most biological controls target a specific organism.

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