5 things to do in the garden this week:
Fruits. Strawberry tree is a moniker attached to two arboreal species. One of them (Arbutus unedo) is a popular ornamental tree prized for its domed canopy and cinnamon bark. Its pebbly, spherical red fruit are also attractive. Yet, although edible, this fruit is insipid, explaining its species name of unedo, meaning “I eat (edo) only one (un).” The other strawberry tree (Mutingia calabura), with flowers resembling those of the strawberry plant, is also known as Jamaican cherry due to the appearance of its fruit, a gustatory delight whose flavor has been compared to that of cotton candy. These fruit are produced throughout the year but due to the tree’s sensitivity to frost, it should not be planted north of the San Fernando Valley. It is available through a number of vendors, including Logee’s Plants (logees.com), whose selection of exotic species is unmatched anywhere in the nursery trade.
Vegetables. As long as you regularly spread a two-inch layer of compost over the surface of your vegetable beds, there is no need to dig up the soil. This is based on the testimony of Greg Alder (gregalder.com) who, since moving into his current home in 2013, has never disturbed the soil where vegetables are planted year after year. It would appear that aeration of the soil, which is the main justification for digging it up, is assisted by his practice of leaving the roots of vegetables such as lettuce and cauliflower in the ground when harvesting them. Roots left behind from his harvested pea plants would also add nitrogen to the soil. (He uproots plants such as tomatoes when root galls are evident, a sign that deleterious nematodes are present.) The only time Alder loosens the soil is when he plants carrots, since that makes it easier to harvest them, especially for his kids.
Herbs. Aloe vera finds its way into the herb garden by way of its medicinal properties. From ancient times until today, aloes have been extolled for their therapeutic value, especially as the gelatinous substance that fills their leaves is used in treating burns and other skin conditions, but it may also be eaten raw or mixed into smoothies. Aloe gel has antioxidant and antibacterial properties and improves overall digestive and oral health. The market value of aloe vera gel and its derivatives, used primarily in body care products such as lotions and shampoos, eclipses a billion dollars a year. The name aloe vera, meaning true aloe, was not given until explorers brought back agave plants from Mexico and the American Southwest to Europe. Because of agaves’ resemblance to aloes, the name aloe vera came about, distinguishing it as ‘truly an aloe,’ and not to be taken for an agave. Red aloe (Aloe cameronii) is a doppelgänger for Aloe vera except that its foliage turns a bronzish red as it matures.
Flowers. Blue butterfly bush (Rotheca/Clerodendrum ugadense) is indigenous to East Africa but grows happily in Southern California too. It reaches 10 feet tall and is covered top to bottom with flowers that perfectly resemble small blue butterflies. This is one of those plants that has “gotta have one” written all over it and a pink-flowered variety is also available. Long considered highly medicinal on the African continent, its anti-hyperglycemic properties are being evaluated for use in treatment of diabetes. The related Cashmere bouquet (Clerodendrum bungei) erupts with outrageous pyrotechnic explosions of pinkish red flowers. It grows to six feet and suckers profusely, quickly spreading throughout a shady garden expanse.
One of the best arguments for layering compost and mulch on the soil surface, as opposed to digging up the soil or even turning it over, is weed prevention. Weed seeds are often found just below the soil surface so that soil disturbance allows them to see the light of day, encouraging their germination. If soil is disturbed, mulch is an absolute necessity to keep those seeds in the dark, although it should only be applied after your vegetable seeds have sprouted. If you do observe weeds in the garden, as long as they are of the annual type, chop them off at ground level since their roots will aerate the soil and add minerals to it.