Nursery News for 2015

Welcome to the first blog of 2015.

As I write this blog the rains, or drizzles are coming down here in San Diego and very much appreciated. Have you noticed your own garden and how much the plants love even the little rain we do get? What a difference natural water makes to how the plants react. If you can capture some of it for your indoor plants as well.

If you only garden in containers be certain to check that the roots have not grown and clogged your drainage holes, or you may end up with ponds in your pots. It is advisable to check when watering your containers that the water does run out the bottom.  Now if it runs out immediately upon you watering you may need to repot them, the roots will have wrapped themselves around the inside of the pots and there is no soil at the bottom. Upgrade one size using fresh potting soil, Edna's Best is balanced for containers for the proper drainage and just the right amount of fertilizer to help in the change.

What is going on in your garden this time of year in San Diego?

Most of it will be resting, roses and stone fruit trees will be in a dormant stage and waiting for you to prune them. Why prune? When you take the time to prune your trees and roses  you are seeing any problems. Diseased or damaged branches can be removed along with wayward branches. When the tree or shrub grows out in the spring there is more air flow and sunlight to get into the middle, thus less disease problems. Not sure how to prune? Come to the nursery Saturday January 17th at 10:00 am for a class, maybe even some hands on. Learn how far to prune, the benefits of pruning and what tools to use.

Our tables are up and being stocked weekly with new bedding plants, pansies are still in demand but following closely are poppies, stock, ranunculus, delphiniums and foxgloves. The perennials showing color are million bells, arctotis, nemesis, and a great filler euphorbia diamond frost.

Kales, cabbages, and lettuces share space with beets while the herb garden is slowing being stocked with basil (protect from the cold), cilantro, dill, fennel (another favorite of swallow tail butterflies), mints, oreganos, and Simon and Garfunkel's favorites Rosemary, Sage and Thyme.

When putting in new plants use the best soil you can get, without good soil your plants will have a harder time adjusting and growing. We strongly believe in E. B. Stone's line. Here is our newest little gardener Lukas sharing his excitement with one of their soils.

 A category in the nursery we have seen great growing interest is succulents. And why not…perfect for the beginning gardener, many can be enjoyed inside as well as outside in containers or in the ground. Less maintenance than some fussy plants. I admit I was not a fan of them for years, but with such a selection we are getting from our growers my interest too has grown.

Update on the status of the nursery…we continue the fight to keep what Kate Sessions begin back in 1910. We have not thrown in the "trowel" and appreciate all of your words of encouragement. If you hear otherwise please do not spread rumors, instead come talk with us we have nothing to hide and will give you updates as things progress.

One of our goals this year is to again find those small growers who grow the unusual, with the economy picking up we hope they will again open and share their passions with us, so we may in turn share our passion of unusual plants with you.

Attention Collectors

For the first time that I can remember in the last 25 years, we will be getting a collector's plant. From the excitement to the unknown has been my thought process for the last 25 hours.

When I did some research on this plant I found it is wanted by many and grown by few.

It will grow 12' - 20', in full sun, partial sun, or full shade depending on your garden's climate zone. It does require regular water as it does not like to go dry.  It is evergreen and when you see the leaves you will be amazed. At least I hope you and I are both amazed, as I am buying it sight unseen.

It is native to the highlands of New Guinea. Some will eat the fruit, but that is not why it is grown.

Okay that is enough teasing, if you want to know more or see this plant, and yes we are only getting one this week, then be sure to stop by the nursery Friday afternoon. I am going out on a limb and buying one with the hope that one of you is a collector and has the perfect spot for this plant in your garden.

I will post photos on Facebook once it has arrived, so if you don't have a Facebook account you will need to stop in.

Ollas what are they ?

Ollas can help you in your garden, raised beds, and containers.

When buried in your garden or planters this terra cotta pot will help get water to the roots of your plants with less effort on your part. You simply fill the pot with water and it soaks into the soil where your plant's roots will find it.

How often do you fill it? This depends on a few factors. What your soil is like, what plants you have growing, and importantly the outside temperatures.  Average refilling is 2x per week for our normal warm seasons.

Can you use fertilizer? Yes as long as you use a liquid fertilizer and mix it before you fill the Ollas it will also seep out without clogging the pores of the Ollas.

How deep do you bury the Ollas? You want the complete Ollas buried with the exception of the neck, this you want above the soil so no soil goes into the Ollas and it keeps the pot from drying by being exposed to the sun and wind. Keep the lid on to keep soil out.

How do I plant with Ollas in the area? You average 12"-18" from center.

We have Ollas in stock and are offering a special now thru the end of September. Regular $39.99 each, buy 3 or more and pay just $32.99 each by bringing in this post.

Driftwood Extravaganza September 6th

We are excited to host a Driftwood Extravaganza on Saturday September 6, 2014

Join us in planting up pieces of driftwood with succulents or tillandsias. You will be amazed at what fun design and centerpiece you put together. There will be a hugh selection of driftwood pieces, some small some big you pick the one that calls out to you.

We will have succulents to tuck into the natural cracks and curves of the driftwood. Or you can choose tillandsias. You are welcome to mix them up also.  Each piece of driftwood is unique, each piece you plant up will become even more Extravagant.  Bring your imagination and join us.

Details:
Fees: $10.00 due when you sign up and secure your spot,this covers soil, misc supplies and refreshment.
You pick and choose your driftwood piece or pieces, succulents and or tillandsias. Make one or many, you are only be charged for what you use.
Class is limited to 10 per session and the sessions are 9am  11am  1pm  3pm

Stop by the nursery to sign up or call us with your credit card. There are no refunds once you have registered for the class.

See you on Saturday September 6th

Monarch Butterflies in your Garden

Asclepia physocarpus

If you are going to want Monarch butterflies in your garden you need asclepias. One variety which will have your neighbors stopping and asking questions is the asclepia physocarpus, aka Hairy Balls or Family Jewels.

The seed pod on this variety are 2" diameter balls covered in soft bristles. Other asclepia varieties have long slender seed pods.

Grow your plant in full sun with regular water, do not use any insecticides or synthetic fertilizers. You may see bright yellow aphids on the young leaves, do not worry, the hungry caterpillars will eat the leaves before the aphids.

March and April you will begin seeing generation one egg and young caterpillar stage. You may find these under the leaves of plants we sell, this is an extra bonus for no extra charge. It averages 4 days for the eggs to hatch. 

The second stage in a butterfly life is the larvae or caterpillar stage

this is when you will see your Asclepia eaten down to the stems.
They are like teenage boys at this stage, eating everything in the house.They are fully grown in just 2 weeks. 

3rd stage is the pupa or chrysalis
if you get a chance to watch as this happens it is amazing
and a bit creepy at the same time. For 10 days you won't see 
much change but there is a lot going on inside.
Then the beauty comes.

Stage 4 is the butterfly. If you are lucky enough to see it emerge from the chrysalis you feel a sense of joy and pride. The butterfly will stay near it's chrysalis while drying it's wings. Slow flapping as it begins to stretch and dry. Then suddenly away it flies, I felt like a proud mommy the first time I watched.

There are four generations every year, as I mentioned before the first generation you begin seeing eggs in March and April. The second generation follows May and June, third July and August. The first 3 generations have a short life cycle 2-6 weeks. It is the last generation which emerges September and October that stays around 6-8 months. This is the generation which we see the rest of the year hanging in our gardens. In other parts of the country this generation leaves heading south, some coming to California others to Mexico. Then they head back to begin the generation cycle over and over. Amazing how Mother Nature works.

For more information on the Monarchs please click the link, I think you will enjoy the site.

And to get Monarchs in your garden come visit us and pick up a plant or two.

Water and your garden

An area of conversation is water conservation and our gardens can still look good with the proper watering. Do you have automatic sprinklers? When was the last time you checked them and watched the cycle? We suggest you do just that, as many systems come on early in the morning we don't know there are any problems until we get the water bill or plants begin to die.

If you do have a system and it is running fine and coverage is fine now may be the time to adjust the length of time it runs in each area. Do not let your system run until there is run off, instead set it to water more often for less amount of time. Also set it to come on early in the morning, not in the evenings.

If you do not have a system you may want to consider installing one, the newer choices give great coverage with minimal care. Or if your garden is small and you hand water remember to water early in the day so that water is not sitting on your plants over night, this leads to more diseases. If you garden consists of more containers than ground do you have a drip system? You can purchase ones which are homeowner friendly. Again we suggest you water in the morning, causing less stress on your plants are the days heat up. Yet check your containers again in the evenings as the sun is setting, some plantings will require a second watering after a very hot day. Consider also adding a product to help the soil stay wetter longer, or a Plant Nanny which holds the water and releases it as the soil needs a drink.

Your spring vegetable garden should be giving back to you this month, vine ripe tomatoes, squashes, cucumbers, beans and so much more. When choosing what to plant now remember many of the lettuces and kales will prefer a spot in the shade next to your herbs as the weather warms up.

Color for your garden is a blaze with zinnias, lisianthus, salvias, and portulaca plus others which like the heat. California Natives which are showing their beauty and we bring our selections in from Moosa Creek Nursery.

Looking to spend more fun time in your garden and less "work" time? Give us a call and we will gladly quote you on weekly or bi-weekly maintenance, we are not the blow and go type of service. And if you are wanting a complete new look we can work with you on this also, everything from demolition of your existing to installing plants and hardscape, we work with you to turn your yard into your garden paradise.

April 1, 1989 we took a big step leaving behind a regular paycheck to do what Fausto had been dreaming of for many years. I won't say it wasn't scary and I won't say it hasn't been hard but what I will say is that it has been a ride.

With the help of family, not just at the nursery but at home caring for the kids when hours were long, working side by side watering plants, stocking shelves, helping customers we have grown the business. This business helped put our kids through school, participate in outside athletic teams, and show them some pretty amazing vacations. It has provided for many employees and their families. Some learning from us and going on to start their own companies.

We took a San Diego business which was already 79 years old and have continued growing it to what it is today. There have been really great years when housing market was booming, no talk of water rations, and people were investing in their homes. There also have been very lean years, when housing market died, water rations were not being talked about but were a reality and feeding your family was much more important than planting a new tree.

Yet we open the gates each day believing in what we do. We have always told ourselves do your best, provide more than the basic plants, teach others, and don't be afraid to get dirt under your nails. We have gone home with aching backs, sore feet, bumps and bruises and yet each morning we get up and do it again. It must be in our blood and in the fact that you are customers keep coming back to us.

As we head into another chapter of our company's history we look forward Believing.
Believing Fausto's design magic will continue to go from his thoughts to paper to reality. Tiger will continue taking his crew out into yards and turning them into oasis for homeowner and business owners to enjoy and relax in. Believing that with our continued hard work and honesty we will be serving the gardeners of San Diego for more years to come.

The Birds and the Bees

Officially spring is 9 days away yet the birds and bees are out and about every day at the nursery.

Last week we had to call in a beekeeper to remove a swarm of bees that had set up house on a lemon tree, usually after 10 hours they move on but this group wanted to stay. Not a possibility as the tree is for sale and was sitting on a pathway.

Without any problems the bees gladly moved into the bee box and 24 hours later were transported to their new home. In exchange for the bees we received a jar of honey, nice trade.

We will have more swarms as the season goes on, please be careful if you are walking about and see them. My understanding is they are so focused on finding a new home for the new queen they won't bother you unless you begin waving your arms and bother them. We need the bees to keep the flowers blooming and the fruit trees fruiting. Now think about it if you were a bee wouldn't you enjoy living at the nursery? Sunshine, protection, water and no insecticides.

Blackberry finally got a name, she is our black 10 month old hen. She and Ash cruise the nursery looking for insects, nibbling on plants, and hoping for treats from anyone who has something to eat. Please watch your children if they are walking about with food in their hands, Blackberry thinks since the child is just her height that the cookie in their hand is for her. Both hens lay one egg a day, and getting the meals they get along with plenty of exercise and sunshine the eggs are beautiful and tasty. Sorry we can't share them with you, we are not set up to sell dairy products.

So as we get ready to celebrate spring, we are grateful for our birds and bees at the nursery. If you are having an off day grab yourself an ice-tea and come sit for a bit. Watch the hens and I can almost guarantee you will feel better.

Gerbera Daisy for your Valentine

Valentine's Day is coming up, Friday February 14th.

One year I made the mistake of telling my husband I didn't want roses for Valentine's Day. He took it to mean I didn't want any flowers and thus there were many years without. What I was meaning to say was that I didn't want cut roses on the one day of year when they are brought over from other countries and do not have any staying power.

My favorite cut flower had always been the carnation, it lasted for quite a long time and had much more fragrance than roses which are stored in such cold storage and grown for their longevity, which really isn't very long, that many varieties used by florist have lost their fragrance.

Then one day my husband went out into the nursery and cut me a bouquet of whatever flowers were blooming, now that was one that I loved and it lasted much longer. Thus began my planting of "cutting" flowers. Our garden had lilies, alstromerias, daisies, sages, yarrows and other herbs. A few of my favorites were cosmos and Gerbera Daisy. The cosmos stood tall and danced in the breezes, when cut they were perfect fillers to my vases. Gerbera Daisy is such a bright cheery plant and ranks as the 5th most popular cut flower in the floral industry.

This is a wonderful month to get Gerberas planted in your garden, they work wonderfully in containers and can be enjoyed as a plant inside with plenty of sunlight. Plant in full sun to partial, keep soil moist but not wet. Here in San Diego they are perennial, so don't toss them out when the blooms stop. This week we have a shipment coming in that will be assorted colors all blooming and standing tall.

If roses are on your Valentine's request how about giving one that will keep giving?  Yes the rose bushes in stock now are still dormant or just beginning to leaf out, but if you plant it this winer your Valentine will be cutting roses all Spring and again in the Fall, plus you get the added bonus of choosing one which is fragrant and beautiful.

What's ugly now turns pretty later.

January the month when the nursery is filled with sticks and strange looking pieces which sometimes are hard to distinguish top from bottom.

Dormant season, a time for many plants to shed their leaves and go into a resting period. This is a perfect time to get these plants into your garden for rewards in the spring and summer months.

One area that has been seeing a surge in planting is the edibles, and this year will be no exception. More of us are aware of where our foods come from, we are going back to the time when we ate fruits and vegetables when it was their time in our zone. We have been spoiled with just going into a local grocery store and picking up a bag of grapes, but wait it isn't grape season here so where are those grapes from?

To help you and your family eat healthier and wiser we have brought in a very nice assortment of fruits and vegetables that you will want to plant in your garden.

We all need our greens and two which you want to plant this month and next are Asparagus and Artichoke. You have to be a bit patient with these guys but the rewards are worth it.

Berries provide us with antioxidants and go well with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pop them into your cereal or bake into a muffin or pancake for breakfast. Mix into salad with lunch and top a pork roast at dinner. So versatile.

Grapes, nature's candy. Such an easy fruit to carry with you, just pop in your mouth no mess no peeling no wrapper.                                                                                                                                            

Christmas tree buying San Diego Style

Where, how, and why……Christmas tree buying San Diego Style

Where? Mission Hills Nursery beginning the week of Thanksgiving until December 24th, or sooner if we sell our 1,000+ trees earlier. Don't wait too long to pick your families beautiful fresh cut Christmas tree. Our trees are grown by a family in Mossy Rock Washington, freshly cut and trucked down to us within 48 hours

How? Just stop in and select the perfect tree for your home or office. This year we are bringing in Noble Fir, Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir, Nordman and Natural Nobles. A Natural Noble has not been sheared over the years and grows with an openness between the layers. Perfect for hanging your large ornaments.

Why? We are San Diego's oldest retail garden center and we operate 12 months a year, so we don't just show up on a corner during the holiday season. We stand behind our trees. We give each tree a fresh cut and put it in a stand with water to keep it fresh. We can deliver your tree to your home or office and take it inside, you just add water and ornaments. We then can pick it up, after you have removed the ornaments and water. How simple is that?

What makes it San Diego Style? On December 7th we will have Casanova Fish Tacos

 set up out in front of the nursery cooking their award winning fish tacos. Now that says San Diego. Casanova will be selling their fish tacos, and shrimp tacos from 11:00-3:00 or longer, you keep buying he will keep cooking. Buy lunch and shop, how much funner could your Saturday be?

We support local businesses and Casanova buys his fish locally, win win scenario.

We are Thankful

As we count down the days to Thanksgiving we want to stop and give Thanks to everyone who works with us.

Juan keeps the nursery clean and watered. Enrique changes the display areas, carries out those heavy bags and trees and now rings up sales transactions on the register. China who is the queen of the bedding area, designing container gardens with love and speaking of love has a following with Socks the cat and our two hens. She keeps the vegetable area filled with seasonal varieties.

Unless you have our crew maintaining your home or business garden you may never have met Ulysses and Henry. They are on the truck keeping yards neat and tidy, from small yards to downtown high-rise complex and everything in between.

If you have gotten a delivery you most likely have met Richard B, he is our trusted driver who will be working more hours as we go into the Christmas tree delivery season.

On the inside you find knowledge on trees, shrubs, fertilizers and more by chatting with Richard L who is also on our holiday decorating crew. He loves to shop and display his special finds.
A growing area for the nursery is maintained by Casey, not sure the difference between a cactus and a succulent? Just ask. Casey also has a broad knowledge of herbs and their uses, she does grow some of the unusual herbs and vegetables in her own home garden.
Our newest member is Emily who you will find at the cash register or off doing any other task we assign her.

Then of course there are our growers and vendors to Thank. We have seen our industry go through many changes with some of the big growers either going out of business or downsizing their operations. Plants come and go and we try to stay up on the latest trends that we feel you will appreciate. Our lines of fertilizer and insecticides have moved to almost 100% organic along with our soils, both for in the ground amendments and container gardens.

Last but not least we want to Thank You our customers. Many of you have been with us from the day we took over almost 25 years ago, you have seen the nursery full and at times almost empty as the economy rose and fell. You have seen Tiger run around and jump from the pallets of soil to begin taking over the daily operation and growing it with his own passion.

Each night as the computers are shut down and the gates locked we say Thank You for allowing us to open again another day.

When we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner we will be thinking of all we have accomplished in 2013 and acknowledging what we have planned for 2014.

Fausto, Toni, and Tiger along with our families wish you and yours a Bountiful Thanksgiving.

Time to Plant Seeds

Seed + Soil = Plant

What to plant now? As the summer is winding down, it’s time to start thinking about your cool season vegetable garden. Plant seeds now for greens like arugula, bok choy, chard, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, and spinach, and vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, radish and turnip.

If you sow directly in the garden bed, remember to first mix in some Soil Booster or Planting Compost for the best results.  For container gardening, I recommend the Recipe 420 Potting Soil by EB Stone as both a seed starter and planting medium.  As a certified organic potting soil, Recipe 420 is an excellent choice for growing edibles, and contains diverse nutrients and beneficial microbes to protect and nourish young plants.

I’ve found the easiest way to sprout seeds for transplanting is to use the Jump Start Mini Greenhouse.  The small 4”x 10” box holds a dozen peat pellets, and converts into a highly effective greenhouse by simply snapping the clear plastic lid over the tray holding the pellets. I used the mini greenhouse to start my bok choy seedlings outside on a south facing window ledge. The greenhouse design traps heat and keeps enough moisture in for ideal sprouting conditions. Even though I forgot about my seed experiment and cracked open the lid a week later, I was delighted to find 12 perfectly sprouting plants!

Additionally, greens like bok choy can be sensitive to transplanting; they prefer not to have their roots disturbed.  Transplanting my seedlings outside to a 15 gallon container filled with Recipe 420 Potting Mix

was a breeze—the thin “skin” that holds the peat pellet together peels off easily, allowing for a seamless transition from starter plug to planting site.

Stop by the nursery and browse our new assortment of cool season seeds from Botanical Interest. 

Look for a variety of Beets from Renee’s Garden, as well as some new Kale varieties like striking Triple-Curled and versatile Portuguese.  And don’t forget San Diego Seed Company’s local seed selection—all their seeds are especially suited to grow here in Southern California.  Have fun in your garden!

What I've learned about succulents.

Like it or not succulents are becoming more prominent in our local landscapes. Depending on your own particular aesthetic for plants, you may already love these water thrifty wonders, or perhaps instead turn up your nose at their odd shapes and growing habits.

I myself was mostly indifferent to succulents before coming to work at Mission Hills Nursery, preferring tropical look of leafy plants. Yet I have changed my tune. Why the change? I stopped and took the time to really look at them. I've learned the value of their undemanding character and their hardiness for both indoors and outdoors.

Succulents are a great choice for shady spots, they do acclimate to sun but will always look better with some shade, especially in hot areas of the county. Found naturally in the wild sheltering under overhanging bushes. At Mission Hills Nursery we have a large shade cloth/sail to protect them from the hottest part of the day.

Echeverias, the rosette style comes in a range of colors, from sunset reds, pinks and yellows to cool aquamarine blues and creamy lavenders. Alternately, the bold reds tingeing the leaves of succulents such as Flapjacks (Kalanchoe thrysiflora) and Sticks on Fire (Euphorbia tirucalli) are due to direct sun exposure.

String of Pears (Senecio rowleyanus), Donkeytail (Sedum morganianum), Haworthia and Hatiora are excellent choices for houseplants. Depending on your home environment you may have to only water your succulent houseplants one per month....pretty simple right?  If you want to really keep them happy water them with Cactus Juice, a calcium rich fertilizer you mix in water.

Another trait of succulents is how well they do in poor, rocky soil...many times you can just plunk them down in a bare patch of earth and they will get right down to growing.  That bare stip alonside the garage that you never remember to water?

Try succulents for a no fuss ground cover, or think about adding a couple of new specimens for a low maintenance, ever-evolving plant mosaic.

It's true, succulents eschew the typical plant look, opting instead for bold statements made with chunky, funky thick leaves that hold water, change color in the sun, and take root just about anywhere.

If I have peaked your interest in succulents stop in and see me, I'd be happy to help you navigate the wild, wonderful world of succulents.

Casey

Butterflies and Summertime

Longer days, warmer weather…the perfect time for this season’s sun-loving flowers to shine!  Many classic San Diego ornamental trees are blooming all around us, from the ferny leaves and lavender flowers of the Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia), 

to the vivid canary-edged orange cup like blooms of the African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata).  Flowering vines are also putting on a good show…Passionflower vines both edible and ornamental, Red Trumpet vines with forked leaves and delicate tendrils, and the large open flowers of Mandevilla dipladenia 

are lovely draped over arbors or gracing trellises.  Best of all, these bright blooms do more than just liven up the scenery; they welcome neighborhood friends of all sorts to visit!

You might already know that both hummingbirds and butterflies fall head over heels for red, tubular flowers of all kinds…but did you know certain plants act as a home base for many kinds of butterflies?  For instance, Milkweed (Asclepias) 

is a popular plant as it is both a main food source for Monarch larvae and a parent plant that adult butterflies lay their eggs on.  We have garden varieties of Milkweed with flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red, and also carry a native Milkweed in our Native Plants section.  Narrow Leaved Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, blooms with creamy white flowers, is a valuable food source for Monarch butterflies, and grows well in full sun.  

Butterflies have several other favorites in the garden as well….the aptly named Butterfly Bush, or Buddleia, boasts plump spires of tiny sweet smelling flowers that tempt hungry butterflies to stay and drink their nectar.  Sage (Salvia) and Penstemon species come in many colors, leaf shapes, and sizes; their tubular shaped flowers are magnets for hummingbirds and butterflies alike.  Native plants like Red Buckwheat and Monkeyflower are tough little beauties that are very low maintenance once established, and entice native fauna to your landscape.  Be sure to notice the butterfly icons on the signs describing our native plants, as they will indicate which plants are best for drawing in fluttering friends.

And of course, summer is the perfect time to relax and enjoy your garden— and appreciate all the hard work you’ve put in earlier this season!  Mission Hills Nursery offers everything you need to put the finishing touches on outdoor entertaining, from cheerful paper lanterns and hanging baskets, to handmade patio furniture and hand painted ceramic table top torches.  Be it a neatly kept container garden on an outside patio, a monstrous vegetable garden rich with the smell of sun-warmed soil and ripening tomatoes, or a pocket garden just starting on a sunny kitchen windowsill, find time to share your growing plants with the ones you love.  Sip a glass of wine with a friend, laugh at the antics of the local wildlife, and watch the sun sink down over your own carefully tended bit of nature.  Cheers to the joys of gardening!  Cheers to summer!

Bok bok bok bok Ba-GOCK! Have you seen our full grown black and white chicken roaming the nursery? Her name is Ash. Ash likes following Juan and Enrique when they are cleaning up and moving plants because there are usually treats, worms, earwigs, and crickets under the pots. She gobbles them up along with snails and centipedes. Her favorite employee seems to be China because she is the one to let her out of her coop each morning and fills her feeding spots with grain. Ash lays beautiful brown eggs, and in the warmer weather we average one egg a day. 

This month Fausto decided that more the merrier when it comes to chickens, since they are social creatures. Thus he brought in a brood which arrived in the mail peeping very loudly on their first day and each day since. They are quickly outgrowing their temporary housing but love to cuddle under the heat lamp between meals and play time. We are planning on keeping a few to grow up here while the others are ready for you to purchase and take to your own garden.

We have two types, Top Hat Special (photos from the internet)

 which have little puffs of fluff on their noggins and range from blonde to russet to charcoal gray. They grow up to sport stylish hair do's.

 Also in the mix are New Jersey Giants, they grow up to be big docile black chickens that are excellent egg layers.

Do you think we will ever see Fausto walking his around Mission Hills like this guy?

If your curiosity is piqued, check out the City of San Diego's page on keeping chickens in residential areas. The page can answer some Frequently Asked Questions as well as elaborate on the city requirements for chickens. Be sure to check your own city's or county's requirements before purchasing your new family members.

http://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/pdf/news/keepingchickens.pdf

Stop in and hang with our "peeps", we hope to have them in their new coop next week as they are growing bigger and funnier each day.

blog written by: Casey

May in the garden

As I sit down to write this month's blog I poured myself a hot cup of Woolly Blue Curl tea

 from Moosa Creek Nursery, added a touch of honey and am enjoying hearing and seeing the rains wash clean all the plants in our courtyard.

It doesn't matter if you wash your plants regularly from a garden hose or squirt bottle, there is something magical about rain that makes everything shine. The tallest trees not only get a good shower and clean leaves but it is a slow and steady rain soaking into the ground and not all washing down the gutters into the ocean. Hopefully you put fertilizer out this last weekend too.

May in our local gardens is one of my favorite months. The weather is for the most part in the mid-70's sunny with a slight breeze. Flowers are blooming in every color, from the palest pastels to the brightest oranges. If you planted vegetables early enough you are beginning to harvest them. And your herbs certainly are adding flavors to your dishes. Tomatoes are flowering and begin setting fruit along with squashes, beans and peppers. It isn't too late for leafy greens, we carry a variety of lettuces, just remember to plant them in a bit of shade. We buy from different growers so we can carry an array of vegetables and herbs. This week one of the most aromatic herbs selling has been a variety of Thyme.

Look for pizza thyme in eco-pots which you plant right into a container or the ground.

A new line of Organic Fertilizers and Insecticides has been added to our shelves. Espoma a company which began in 1929, just 19 years after Mission Hills Nursery. We are their first retailer in the San Diego area and look forward to a strong relationship. From when we first took over Mission Hills Nursery our fertilizer and insecticide lines have drastically changed from synthetic to organics, we believe in what we sell and will not sell any product we would not use in our own gardens.

May is the month you really should be enjoying your garden, your hard work was done earlier in the year and now you sit back and reflect on the beauty and bounty of your garden. Are you looking for new ideas and inspiration? Then it isn't too late to get your ticket for the Mission Hills Garden Club's annual garden walk, this is their 15th year and the theme says it all....."Something for Everyone"
tickets are available at the nursery thru Friday, May 10th just $25.00 each (cash or check), day of the walk, Saturday May 11th ticket price is $30.00.

Tomato Time

Now is the time of year when we can go a bit crazy with choices of tomatoes to plant in our gardens. Everything from super sweet 100's

to extra large and dark Black Krim.

 There has to be at least one favorite variety you have.  If you could only plant one which would it be?

Tomatoes require enough space to spread out and grow up. They do not want to be crowded as they enjoy air circulating around them. Give them as many hours of sun as possible, with a minimum of 6 for the best crop production.

Also consistency, keep the soil moisture level and temperature consistent. Plus feed, feed, feed.  To produce as much fruit as possible your plant needs to be fed. We recommend organic fertilizer because it stays in the soil longer and your plant takes up what it needs without worries of over feeding. Read the label of what you use and if you don't have any fertilizer then come see us for our recommendations.

If you have had problems in the past growing tomatoes then we have another option for you, Mighty Mato grafted tomato.

Reason #1 Mighty ‘Matos Are Created Naturally

 Hey, what is a grafted tomato anyway?  Grafting is the technique of lining up two different plant stems, and tying them together so the plants end up growing together as one plant.  Similar plants can be grafted together…you might have seen the “cocktail citrus” trees we sell here at MHN. Branches of lemon, lime, orange, and other citrus plants are skillfully grafted onto the branches of a single young citrus tree.  Since all the new additions are in the general citrus family, the tree readily adopts the newly introduced branches and you end up with a tree that produces a variety of fruit.  In the case of the tomato, one plant is selected for its vigorous root system (but maybe doesn’t produce particularly tasty fruit), and it is topped with a plant that produces delicious tomatoes (but doesn’t have an exceptionally strong root system).  Grafting is NOT the same as genetic modification (GMO).  Grafting is a time tested technology dating back in ancient China as far as 2000 BC!  Grafting gives the gardener a leg up on producing natural, homegrown tomatoes.

Reason #2 A Great Introduction into Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes can be some of the biggest, tastiest, and most visually striking members of the tomato family.  However, some beginning gardeners have found growing heirloom tomatoes in general to be more challenging than growing other tomatoes.  Mighty ’Matos are a great introduction to growing heirloom tomatoes because the hardy root stock offered by the grafted Mighty ’Mato gives an immediate advantage over the traditional heirloom plant, including…

Reason #3 Mighty ’Mato Plants Have a Better Resistance to Soil-borne Disease and Pests

In general, the superior root systems of Mighty ’Mato plants are not as susceptible to soil-born diseases and nematodes as the root systems of heirloom tomatoes.  Additionally, they are better able to withstand extreme temperatures and temperature swings.  Healthier plants mean…

Reason # 4 Mighty ’Mato Plants Typically Yield More Fruit

The super strong root stock is more efficient at pulling up nutrients and water from the soil, so the overall plant is more robust, and can produce more tomatoes over a longer period of time.  Finally…

Reason # 5 Ace in Your Back Pocket

It’s so tempting to try out new tomato varieties every year, especially once you’ve gotten the taste of sweet summer success! When you’re spending valuable time and resources planting your vegetable garden, wouldn’t it be nice to count on harvesting from a tried and true tomato?  Might ’Mato gives you that peace of mind: a tomato plant that produces bigger fruit, longer into the season; is less likely to fall prey to soil pests and diseases; and not only grows but thrives in many types of San Diego soil.  When planning your summer garden, it’s worth considering investing in a Mighty ’Mato tomato plant.  If you have any questions about grafted tomatoes or tomato growing in general, the staff at Mission Hills Nursery would be glad talk to you about gardening.  Come on in and visit us, and be sure to check out our many tomato varieties.  Have fun digging in your garden!