Re: Where is everybody

In a message dated 10/5/98 2:16:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
pgp@globalnet.co.uk writes:

<<  What I would love to know about gardening in such a super
 climate as California offers, is when, if at all, does the season end? Can
 you plant most things whenever you like?  What is your expected lowest
 temperature of the year?  >>

I am in coastal so. california,  near santa barbara.  I live in the foothills
about 2 miles from the ocean,  about 15-20 miles from Reagan's old rancho.
There have been two brief episodes of frost here on my street in about 25
years.  There has been none since I moved here 7 years ago.  Just a mile away
down the hill and in most of the area,  there are more frequent frosts,
perhaps every two years,  but not always.  I would expect the lowest temps to
be in the low 40's.  I have lived within 25 miles of here since 1954,  and the
lowest temp I remember is in the 20's,  and that was an extremely rare
occurrence,  and alot of the ornamentals in peoples yards were hard hit --
banana trees, citrus,   bouganvillas, etc.  On occasion there is a dusting of
snow in the mountains above us,  at 3,000 feet,  but it usually melts by late
morning. 

The growing seasons here are far more loose than elsewhere,  but the cool
things are generally grown in fall, winter and spring,  and the summer things
in summer,  tho there is more overlap.  I have young tomatoes out and the new
fruit is about the size of a quarter.  When they ripen,  it will be november
or dec,  and will be red,  but the flavor will be nowhere as good as now.  The
vines will grow throughout the year but the nighttime temps eventually get
below 55F so there is no new fruit set.  I have picked sweet corn the week
between Christmas and new years,  but the length of time it takes to grow
really late season corn doesnt warrant the garden space.  Green beans grow
into october,  but the fruit gets sort of hollowish or papery when the days
get too short and the weather too cool for success. And it isnt really hot
enough in summer here for good melons,  tho some varieties do moderately well.

Cool weather crops such as lettuce,  the coles,  beets., spinach, celery,
peas, chinese greens, etc,  can be grown year round with little problem other
than having to start the seeds in containers,  which I do in summer as well.
In dec., jan and feb the rate of growth is much slower because it is cooler
and the days much shorter,  and sometimes the ground is wet and digging is
more difficult,  tho it usually dries in a couple of days.  

Take care,  janet.
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