San Diego Seed Company

06/24/2022

STRAWFLOWER
We've partnered up with BeeWorthy Farms to give away seed packs of strawflower, gomphrena, and scabiosa.
Strawflowers are a neat addition to your cut flower garden! Their blooms are exceptionally durable and great for making arrangements.
Plant in spring for blooms until late fall. Can grow as a short-lived perennial in mild climates.
The more blooms you harvest, the more blooms the plant will produce. Harvest blooms after the first 2-3 layers of petals have unfolded but before the flowers are fully open. The flowers also dry well and last for extended periods. Hang to dry.

06/22/2022

Watch the full video about composting here: https://youtu.be/Zq01NOxOZCI

It's time to get down and dirty! I'm sitting on a big ol' pile of compost from a local farm here at our Ramona seed production facility. It has a special place in my heart - and on our farm - right next to mulch. But what is it, how do you use it, and why does it even matter?

Compost is broken down organic matter, and it's vital to a happy & healthy garden.

It serves several purposes:

-Compost holds 2-3 the moisture as regular soil particles
-Compost add micro-biology to the soil
-Compost adds some nutrients

Because Southern California is a desert climate (we usually get around 10 inches of rain per year), we need to be responsible with our water usage. We don't have sprinklers shooting water all over the place every day. We set up drip irrigation, pile on mulch, use shade cloth, and add compost. Compost is able to retain moisture so much better than dirt, and that means we can do more with less.

Compost is also full of life, and we want to encourage that in our garden. Because it's made up of organic matter, compost has mycelia, microbes, and other micro-organisms that will spread out into our farm. That expansion of life helps the entire ecosystem thrive.

If you are composting in your own backyard, that's really the best! It's locally made and really full of life. Commercially-produced compost tends to be hotter and drier. They have standards that they need to hit in order to make it safe, but that also can be overkill in some ways.

If you live in San Diego, you have an EXCELLENT resource at Miramar Greenery at the dump. It's free to load it up (or you can pay a small amount to have it loaded), and it's pretty good stuff. Over the course of 15+ days, it's heated to 140-165 F which eliminates pathogens and most seeds. It's one of the best programs in the country, and other counties & municipalities have come to Miramar to learn how we do it here. I highly recommend it! If you live in another city or state, definitely reach out to your local groups.

So let's get to the big question: can I use compost instead of fertilizer? In short, no. Compost will add nutrients to your soil, but it should be ADDED TO your fertilization plan instead of REPLACING IT. I absolutely recommend every gardener amend their soil with compost, but you do need to give your plants that little bit of extra love as well.

06/21/2022

Celebrate Summer in the Garden - https://mailchi.mp/sandiegoseedcompany/is-it-too-late-to-grow-a-summer-garden-5588476

06/18/2022

We are doing some early weekend planting and hopefully “catching”. We got some gophers munching :/
Looks like it’s time to harvest carrots and make carrot fries.

What’s your weekend garden goals?

#gardeninglife #weekendwarrior #gardengoals #getthosegophers #gophers #gopherssuck #carrotfries #gardengoodies #zone9b #zone10bgardening #zone10gardening #socal #marigolds

06/14/2022

In zones 9 and 10, you can start pepper seeds in April or even earlier if you are doing them inside or on a heating mat. You can get them started as late as August, so there's still time to get your plants going whether you prefer sweet or spicy varieties. But how about a little bit of both?

Padrons peppers are VERY similar to Shish*tos, and they're just as fun to eat as they are to grow.

https://sandiegoseedcompany.com/product/vegetables/peppers/padron-pepper-seeds/

We love to saute them up with a little bit of olive oil and salt, and then the fun begins. Grab a friend or two and take turns eating the peppers. Someone just might get a hot one!

06/11/2022

Growing pumpkins in a small space

If you're low on space, go UP with your pumpkins 🎃

✨ SAVE THIS VIDEO AND SHARE WITH A FRIEND ✨

We have a NEW YOUTUBE video launching later today to walk you through everything you need to know about growing your own pumpkins. Whether you want to make pie or jack-o'-lanterns, give it a watch later today and let me know if you have any questions. Plus, we're doing a PUMPKIN SEED GIVEAWAY 🎉

As gardeners, we're always trying to get as many plants in our space as we can. This is especially tricky for urban gardeners. So what if you want to grow a plant that takes up a ton of space like pumpkins?

Go up! We're standing under a cattle panel arch being used as a trellis for the plant to grow on. These plants on irrigation (consistent, regular watering and helps prevent powdery mildew) and set up right next to this trellis.

We're training the plant to go upward and lending some extra support with plant clips too. In a matter of weeks, this is going to create a great shady area to hang out in too!

06/09/2022

We have a great squash plant growing here in the garden, but what's going on with its leaves?

The green leaves have white on them, and that could be mistaken for powdery mildew or downy mildew. In this case, it's something called variegation.

We know it's not mildew because you won't see any fuzzy growth on the leaf when you look very closely. Some squash and pumpkin varieties have natural variegation, so you want to be aware of that before you spray or prune your plants.

06/07/2022

Summer is around the corner. Are you ready? - https://mailchi.mp/sandiegoseedcompany/summer-is-around-the-corner-are-you-ready-5588455

06/06/2022

We have a new YouTube video coming out tomorrow morning all about plant biology so here's a little sneak peek for you.

I'm standing next to lettuce that has gone to seed. It's no longer good for eating.

The leaves are long, tough, and bitter. If you're seeing this happen in your garden, you either want to swap out this plant or let it keep doing its thing and save the seeds for next year. Most gardeners are going to want to bring in the summer crops like tomatoes.

06/06/2022

We're an organic farm, and "plastic" is quite the bad word for many gardeners. So why do we have all of this?

This plastic helps keeps the soil moist for our plants, and it suppresses weeds. It's more than a barrier, though, since it also insulates, so I was able to get plants in the ground earlier than usual.

If you don't want to use plastic, cardboard or mulch (normally my preference, but this farm is new to us and much larger than our urban location which has several inches of mulch EVERYWHERE) are great options too.

For the full-length video, check out https://youtu.be/k2QzGLkD6-4

06/06/2022

NOW is the time to plant your pumpkins 🎃 Don't wait until Halloween! What else should go in the ground this month? We've got you covered.

💚 SAVE THIS POST & SEND IT TO A FRIEND 💚

VEGGIES 🍅
Beans
Cantaloupe
Cucumber
Eggplant
Heat Tolerant Kale
Melons
Okra
Peppers
Pumpkins/Gourds
Squash
Sweet Potato
Tomatillo
Tomato

POLLINATORS 🌻
Amaranth
Borage
Flax
Foxglove
Gaillardia
Hollyhock
Lupine
Marigold
Sage
Strawflower
Sunflower
Zinnia

HERBS 🌿
Dill
Marjoram

06/03/2022

Our new YouTube video all about Tomatillos is up! Check it out for growing & harvesting tips + a seed pack giveaway 🥳

Watch the full video on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0sHq4YavGc

05/31/2022

🌱 Beginner Gardener Online Class THIS Thursday, June 2nd - https://mailchi.mp/sandiegoseedcompany/beginner-gardener-class-this-thursday-june-2-5588459

05/31/2022

Have you ever seen a fluffy sunflower before? 😍 This beauty is our Dwarf Sungold Sunflower!

🌻 This cheerful plant produces adorable short sunflowers with the softest unique flowers. Unlike normal sunflowers, these fully petaled heads are so fun and unique!

🌻 Sunflowers can be grown year-round in Zones 9 and 10 but are the happiest in the warm season.

💐 Pro Tip! Harvest sunflowers early in the morning and place blooms directly in a vase of room temperature water.

➡️ Show this unique sunflower variety here! https://sandiegoseedcompany.com/product/flowers/dwarf-sungold-sunflower-seeds/

05/29/2022

Plant pumpkin seeds this spring for a bountiful pumpkin patch in the fall! 🎃

🏡 Plant a couple of plants & share pumpkins with your whole neighborhood!

🌱 Pumpkin seeds can be directly sown into warm soil or planted in starter pots and planted out into the spring garden.
🌱 Plant pumpkin seeds 1″ deep into well-worked soil, watering deeply at the time of planting or prior.
🌱 If you are starting seeds in starter pots or trays, plant the seeds 1″ deep into a pre-moistened high-quality seed starting mix.

🎃 Prepare to plant! Grab seeds here: https://sandiegoseedcompany.com/product-category/vegetables/pumpkins/

05/28/2022

We're still swooning over @fiddleandfernsgreenhouse Zone 8, Georgia greenhouse! 😍 It is absolutely incredible. 💚
-
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUM7dLgrVZH/

05/27/2022

Join Our Online Zones 9 & 10 Beginner Gardening Class! ✏️

➡️ Are you a struggling new gardener? Let us take some of the guesswork out of growing in Southern California!

⏱ When: Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 6:00 PM (via Zoom)

🎟 Reserve your spot here: https://sandiegoseedcompany.com/product/workshops/beginner-gardener-online-class-for-zones-9-and-10/

🌱 Join us for our online beginner gardening class that is all about growing your own food in Zones 9 and 10. During this course, we will cover everything you need to know to start, grow, and harvest basic food crops in your garden, on your patio, or in your backyard!

Our online course is roughly 2 hours and will cover the following:

📍 Growing seasons in Zones 9 and 10
🪴 Seed starting basics
🪱 Creating healthy garden soil your plants will thrive in
🐿 Common gardening pests
💧Watering basics

This beginner gardening course is intended for beginner gardeners or gardeners that are new to growing in Zones 9 and 10. We will focus on growing food crops.

Each section will consist of 15-minute sessions followed by Q&A. Gardeners will also receive valuable links to educational materials that can be used to continue their education.

05/27/2022

Yum! 😋 @urban.farmin's strawberry plants are thriving in their Zone 9b garden! 🍓 How are your berries doing this season?
-
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb3JkwhPOZ6/

05/26/2022

Melon seeds are easy to direct sow in your garden and allow you to grow hundreds of varieties of melons from around the world that are only available from seed! W

With more than 40 types of melons cultivated and diversified for over 4,000 years, growers could grow a new melon every season and never try them all! Even with the wide range of colors, flavors, and textures available, melons require the same cultural practices.

Melon seed should be planted in the warm season when the soil has warmed adequately. Keep soil moist during germination to guarantee even and quick germination of seed.

Melons enjoy growing in warm weather in full sun. Water deeply and regularly for the best production.

In hot and dry climates like those of Zones 9 and 10, mulch heavily around plants to retain moisture in the soil and reduce evaporation. Avoid overhead watering to prevent foliar diseases.

In areas with frost, melon seeds can be started indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost and planted out after the threat of frost is gone. Row cover and high tunnels can help melons thrive in colder climates.

Harvest melons at their peak ripeness. To accomplish this, mark the days to maturity on your calendar to give you a good baseline of when your crop should be ready. Look for the drying of the tendril closest to the melon to indicate that the melon is no longer receiving ample nutrition from the vine and is ready to harvest.

Our melon seeds are chosen for high yield in small spaces, flavor, and disease resistance. Plant a new melon variety in your garden this season! https://sandiegoseedcompany.com/product-category/fruit/melons/

05/26/2022

➡️ Swipe to watch this gorgeous garden transform! 🤩 🌱
-
This stunning garden was designed by Jen McD Home , Rooted Garden , & Gardenary for @audreyshook_ in Houston, Texas.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUigYO6pLeB/

05/25/2022

Growing cucumbers from seed can be easy and fun when armed with a bit of knowledge! 💪🏼

Read below & follow this link to learn everything you need to know about growing cucumbers! https://sandiegoseedcompany.com/growing/growing-cucumbers-from-seed/

Cucumber Growing Tips:

🥒 Cucumbers like warm temperatures, ample moisture in the soil, and a climbing variety will require a trellis or structure upon which to grow.

🥒 In Zones 9 & 10, cucumbers enjoy growing in the warm season, typically from April through September.

🥒 In Zones 3-8, cucumbers will grow best in the warmest part of the year. Soil temperatures should be at least 50 degrees, but cucumbers do best germinating in soil that is 70° F.

🥒 Cucumbers can take anywhere from 50-70 days to mature, so ensure you plant them with ample time.

Happy Planting!

05/25/2022

When beauty meets function 😍 These unique raised beds are the perfect, space-saving shape for this stunning new garden!
-
Amazing design by @christian_douglas_design and @thebackyardfarmco
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdLwXcpF2l5/