How to Plant a Southern California Victory Garden

By tapping into the wisdom of gardening from 80 years ago, we can enrich our gardens and address some of the problems of today

With so many radical changes pass day by day , we are all impacted right down to our house , our gardens , and our everyday lives . So as we move into 2023 , it ’s a gross time to reassess honest-to-goodness routine and update our lifestyles .

Southern Californiaweather is becoming less and less predictable . This area , never blessed by frequent precipitation , is drier than ever . night are warming , while days pop the question increasingly acute sunniness . Windsthat used to center onlate autumnare huffing and puff throughout the year . And with convulsing global unrest , disrupted supplying transmission line , and labor shortage , we keep losing our remainder in a technological world where citizenry ca n’t seem to work together .

As gardeners , we learn that everything stable is root in the primer . Rainand sun nourish the earthly source of all that feeds us . horticulture is an fantabulous way to empower ourselves and make an shock — which is not anything human race has n’t done before .

What is a Victory Garden?

Although we can never go backward , we can learn from the past tense . During World War II , communities were throw into an asymmetry that made Clarence Day - to - day live a challenge . provision lines were unreliable then too , and BASIC like food were threatened . The Victory Garden became a proud staple for homes around the creation . It was a place where each family could help feed their neighbour and themselves while reestablishing a sense of independence in a company gone awry . It was a place to root a common sense of intention , mightiness , and to make a dispute .

rent ’s get a line from the wiseness of 80 year ago and revive the Victory Garden . This simple solution during a trying meter in history is still workable today : Anyone can grow a pot of something to eat . Asmall garden , a balcony , and even asunny windowcan become a source of unused solid food or herbs for a household , while larger properties can grow produce to share with Quaker and communities .

Six ways to take part in Victory Gardening

We can facilitate the planet rebalance ; corrode freshman , healthier , and less costly intellectual nourishment ; and apply H2O sagely when we solicit into our SoCal year - round growing conditions . No matter how big or small your garden may be , here are way to take part in today ’s “ Victory Garden . ”

1 . Plantfruits and vegetablesthat grow in harmony

Growtaller plantsover smaller vegetable that need some refinement . For example , the sun can blister tomatoes in hot inland garden , so a little afternoon shading from a neighboring plant can benefit even these sun lovers . Likewise , embracecompanion plantingand memorize how some plants help others thrive , such as growingtomatoesandbasiltogether .

2 . Use body of water wisely

Rainwatercan be collected in decorative containers , gun barrel , cisterns , or ponds . It can also be direct to beneficial places with the help of downspouts , dry riverbeds , or swales to body of water food for thought crops . Just commemorate that while using gray water system is safe for flower garden , never irrigate your victual with it . Also , consider construction and utilizingraised bedsto concentrate water use during restrictive periods . utilize raised bed also helps to protect some botanical treasures frompestsand makes planting , concern , and graze easier on the back and genu .

3 . Grow year round

While many gardener focus on garden during the warmer times of year , there are plenty of cold - loving plants to grow , such aslettuce , kale , cabbage , andpeas . When planning your garden , also leave alone way for some of the less plebeian but more interesting vegetables such as asparagus peas orfava beansthat are so decorative they can even amalgamate happily in the flower garden .

4 . Prepare your harvest for future usage

Canning , drying , or freeze are great ways to continue to benefit from the fruits of your gardening labor long after harvesting . It is also fabulously rewarding to share the edible wealthiness with your family line , friend , and residential area . Pickles , jams , jellies , or compotes also make great gifts for vacation .

5 . Plant SoCal - friendly , distinctiveness edibles

Popular regional victual such asartichokes , goji Charles Edward Berry , and a wide of the mark selection ofherbsare also drought - tolerant and love our heat energy , wry air , and lean soil — making them excellent plants for our locus .

6 . Grow your own grove

Who does n’t jazz deliciousfruits ? You do n’t need acreage to enjoy clean fruit from your own garden . There are manysemi - midget yield treesto choose from that work well for smaller country or even for growing in large pots .

By adopt from the wisdom of the Victory Garden , Southern Californians have a great chance to turnlemonsinto lemonade and to help be a part of the solution when it total to cover shortage , climate changes , soar Mary Leontyne Price , and even chemically treat , not - so - clean , tasteless , import food . We can even forfend fighting traffic with fewer grocery memory trips .

Despite all the negative consequence of our drouth and increasing heat , one welfare is that our wintertime nights are less cold , making right on now an ideal fourth dimension for each one of us to start a winter Victory Garden . Another bonus : kidsand elders can all link into the category fun !

— Jane Gates has more than 35 days of professional experience design and gardening in Los Angeles and is the writer ofAll the Garden ’s a Stage : take the Best Performing Plants for a Sustainable Garden .

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victory garden

Mixing flowers and edibles can turn a showy space into a productive garden. Consider getting double duty with edible flowers like these colorful nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majuscvs., annual).Photo: Jane Gates

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vegetables growing in raised beds and containers

Photo: Jane Gates

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