New limes

My lime tree is still producing well. Here are the new limes for the new year.

On planting chile peppers for 2015

Inspired by Mark over at Mark's Veg Plot, I decided to expand my chile horizons for this year. Last year, I had one chile negro pepper plant, and my one plant was quite successful. This year, I decided to focus on two different varieties: early Jalapeno and banana pepper. As I don't have much space in my community garden plot, I will likely plant only one of each.

I am treating the seeds as I do my tomato seeds. I soak them over night in a bit of water. Next, I plant at home where they are in the window sill where there is plenty of light and warmth.

Sungold tomatoes still hanging in there

In the interest of space and time and everything else, I will likely pull my Sungold tomato plant soon. While they are still setting fruit and still blooming, I need space for the winter garden, which is actually quite late in the planting.

Roasted chile negro peppers

The chile negro peppers were roasted in the oven at a low heat for several hours and then stored in a container. I am now researching mole recipes so that I can actually make use of them. I suppose I could use them in any recipe calling for a mild chili. Here's what they looked like before.

Emerging yarrow

In the drought-tolerant portion of my garden, I rarely water which works well enough for Southern California native plants in my garden. Today I found the yarrow emerging, a reminder our native Southern California flora finds winter as one of the most active growing seasons.

California poppy leaves

In the drought tolerant portion of my garden (that is, the no-watering zone), the California poppies have self-seeded as I have noted in the past. Today, I admired their delicate fronds.

New potatoes for the new year

I harvested these tasty treats from one pot. Not much, for sure, but just enough to accompany a small meal.

And a fava new year to you as well!

After a cold start, the fava beans appear to be thriving. The plan is to plant more in the next week in the spots where the tomatoes grew, my version of crop rotation when space is limited. I alternate Solanaceae family (tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes) with Fabaceae members (snow peas, fava, green beans).

Today in the gardens, I was excited to hear the extremely high pitched whistle of a Costa's hummingbird, normally a desert resident, in our beachside gardens. Then he flew by and flashed me, the thing that hummers do with their plumage. Male, of course. He was too speedy for me, alas, so no photo. Calypte costae

New year's tomato

It has been cold for southern California, with overnight lows in the low 40s F. I finally picked this today, New Year's day, to ripen at home. This has been the last Black Krim. I still have some Sungold (no photos) but the quality of the fruit drops when it gets chilly. I'll probably pull that one soon as well.

To all, wishing plenty of happy new year thoughts and all the best for a good gardening year!