Pam Pierce, a plant expert for decades, has been successfully growing her own produce in the Bay Area. More importantly, he planted the seeds so that others, even those who had lost their pumpkins in desperation, could do the same.
Pierce wrote his 1993 book Golden Gate Gardening , now in its fourth edition, to show novice gardeners, including late bloomers in the San Francisco Bay Area, that with the right guidance, gardening can turn into a bed of roses.
Even in cities with thick fog, cloudy skies, cold climates and limited space, people can grow huge quantities of edible vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers.
Furthermore, it demonstrates that unique climate, soil and precipitation conditions should not be a thorn in anyone's side. They are really helpful when planting an award-winning garden.
400 page book This 30th anniversary edition , the first update in 10 years, takes into account the changes in climate conditions that have driven the climate crisis, crop yields and pest management over the past decade.
Clear diagrams, sidebars, illustrations, maps, and resource lists make this information-packed gardening bible an essential tool for growers with or without a green thumb.
In our latest interview, Pierce, who will soon be at two local events to promote his latest book and offer tips on growing food in the garden (see end of this article), addresses common obstacles gardeners face and dig deep into the ground for a simple solution: .
What are the five Golden Gate 48 Hills gardening tutorials ?
PAM PEARCE 1. You can garden here all year round. 2. A green thumb does more than just take care of plants, so pay attention to them and take the time to learn how to grow them. 3. You can reduce snail damage by hunting a few nights a year. It will be easier if you wear a flashlight. 4. If your microclimate is too cool for tomatoes or watermelons, or if indoor summers are too hot for some plants, you can plant more. 5. Planting certain varieties can make a big difference, and finding pest-resistant varieties can make a difference in yield growth.
48 Hills Can you explain the main climatic factors that differentiate San Francisco from other cities and how they influence gardening practices?
PAM PEARCE Currently the summers are dry and the winters are slightly rainy, a typical Mediterranean pattern. We also have long, cool springs compared to the cold, hot springs of most of the country. There is often little difference in core temperature 200 miles north and 10 miles south.
To learn about your microclimate, evaluate it based on the description in the book, then use one of the four planting calendars provided. Track the results and then determine yield and planting time based on the first year.
48 Hills What are your favorite low-maintenance plants for your Bay Area garden? And what is the hardest thing?
PAM PEARCE vegetable gardens generally require little maintenance. Perhaps two-thirds of the garden work goes into harvesting. However, some of the easiest plants to grow include perennial herbs, parsley, arugula, lettuce, green beans, and lemons (fertilize and water citrus trees regularly, trim lemon plants for light; no other citrus pruning is necessary).
What's difficult? Timing your rainbow can be tricky, but you can learn how to do it. People planted Brussels sprouts in the spring, but the results were not good. Plant on June 21st, the longest day of the year. Usually, cabbage harvesting can be hindered by pests, but if you learn to outwit them, it's easy to do. In general, weather and pests make harvesting difficult. You can find out the time. The presence of certain pests may make it impossible to grow certain plants in certain locations, or you can learn tricks to avoid such pests or find varieties that are not affected by them.
The growth of summer plants is particularly hindered by low temperatures. Near the coast the climate is cooler in spring and summer, which means the ground is cooler. In San Francisco, the first few inches of soil in May can reach 60 inches, which is still a bit cool for this plant. Additionally, nights along the coast are often too cold for the flowers to reproduce without fruiting.
To increase your chances of getting this plant:
- Choose early varieties and those that produce many small fruits rather than a few large fruits.
- Provide the plant with the sunniest location and best protection from the wind.
- Grow plants in the garden under row covers (non-woven polyester covers).
- Try plants suited to our climate. In areas with cool summers, we can grow common cool-season crops like broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lettuce and more all summer long. I also include a lot of "underplanted" plants in BFG , mostly because they don't care. Some plants do not like the cold, such as cherries, celery, Florentine dill and chives. Home gardeners can also explore the low-growing summer plants included in the BFG , such as Malabar spinach, sweet potato and prickly pear.
48 Hills What common mistakes do gardeners make and how can they be avoided?
Pear palms are planted very late in autumn, so the flowers bloom before the biennial plants have time to grow. Solution. Read BFG planting instructions and plant early. Harvesting is simply a waste of time, energy, water and not eating. Solution. increase the amount of food you eat. Discover recipes you can use as you grow and enjoy food. Use the recipes on GGG or my blog or look for recipes in cookbooks. see the suggested reading at the end of the BFG. If you produce too much food, give it away. Prune fruit trees to keep them shorter or look for mulch to prune fruit trees. (Libra will share its fruits with you and give you extra).
48 Hills How do you see the climate crisis impacting San Francisco Bay Area parks and what adjustments are needed?
PAM PEARCE Summer heat in the suburbs will kill the plants in your yard. The fire, of course, will be like a flood, which will remain in the water for a long time. Prolonged drought is already a problem. When the winter is mild, fruit trees, roses and other plants that need to overwinter may be overwhelmed and not produce. Coastal areas can become foggier and colder than warm, but if they warm up in the summer, this can bring insects such as tomato worms and zucchini bugs closer to the coast. As winter nights reach into late fall, some pests such as leafhoppers and cabbage thistles become active near the coast in late fall.
48 Hills Do you have any tips or tricks for gardening in small spaces, like balconies or city yards?
PAM PEARCE Balconies require attention to wind and sun. The northern terrace receives no sunlight for much of the year and is therefore not suitable for growing food crops; An east or west balcony receives half a day of sunlight, suitable for leafy plants, perhaps roots, but not for fruiting plants; The south-facing balcony receives sunlight most of the day. However, all the terraces and roof gardens in our area are exposed to strong north/northwest winds. Covering the side fence of a rooftop garden with clear shade cloth can help reduce wind.
Follow container planting guidelines. use potting soil, not potting soil, and avoid planting in small containers or crowded plants so that the plant has everything it needs to grow. Container grown plants are more sensitive to heat, cold, drought and overwatering, so they need to be cared for. They can also take fertilizer in fresh potting soil, so you may need to add liquid organic fertilizer as they grow; The most common symptom is yellowing of the lower leaves. If you have space, install a high bed. Before filling the beds, read the BFG in the soil.
Gardening in the 48 Hills can be rewarding and rewarding. Can you share a story or personal experience that highlights the joys of gardening in the Golden Gate area?
PAM PEARCE Last fall/winter I bred nine beautiful Florence Morey heads. I use it in a Sicilian bean and vegetable soup made with dried white beans and dill cooked with lemon. Once cooked, fennel loses its anise flavor but acquires a unique sweet flavor. I also make pickled white green beans for a delicious appetizer or cold entree.
During quarantine, I always enjoy a source of fresh greens for salads. The numbers continued to grow during quarantine and I was able to share them with friends and neighbors who couldn't shop often enough to stock up.
Additionally, I am happy to know that families love eating in our area gardens year-round thanks to Golden Gate Gardening , and that young people whose parents have used this book are now teaching their children to garden here. Happy third generation gardening!
Golden Gate Gardening 30th Anniversary Book Launch Party (4th Edition), Sat/23, 2-4pm, Gardens for the Environment, San Francisco. More information here .
Posted by Pam Pierce, Golden Gate Gardening October 15, 2:30pm, Bernal Heights Branch Library, San Francisco. More information here .
