Welcome to the eve of renewal. A new year of nurturing our plant babies dawns once holiday decor is packed and stored. Plant yourself in a favorite chair and contemplate what great gardening deeds might be accomplished with gloved hands and inventive minds.
Few things in life are certain. One is essential. We need to eat. Food insecurity is rising, along with the cost of feeding ourselves and families.
Health care costs are soaring, too. What we eat affects overall health. Swapping donuts and cookies for blueberries, citrus and tomatoes is a nutritional slam dunk.
Map out spots in the garden for those health bombs. If you’re already growing blueberries, citrus and tomatoes, maybe consider additional plantings. Sharing with neighbors and family is a noble and appreciated gesture. Sacramento’s food banks eagerly accept excess fresh produce.
In my many years of growing edibles, I have found elderly folks are especially appreciative of a bag of home-grown produce and a bouquet of flowers. They also beam at having company and a few minutes of chatting. Sharing the bounty and goodwill is human kindness.
Blueberries, rich in vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, are capsules of healthy benefits. They can lower blood pressure and cholesterol and aid in digestion. Scientific studies put blueberries at or near the top of the healthiest foods.
Anne Moore, co-project leader for the berry group at Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, recommends these blueberry varieties available at Sacramento nurseries: Misty, Jubilee, Reveille, O’Neal, Sharp Blue, Bountiful Blue and the pink “blueberry” called Pink Lemonade.
If you have garden space, plant two or three to extend the season and because groupings “seem to do better with friends,” Moore says.
A bush with no thorns, blueberries are ideal for large containers. Blueberries need acidic soil. An acidic azalea soil mix suits blueberries, which prefer a pH of 4.5 to 5.5.
All my blueberries are in containers, an option that solves space problems. I added a new blueberry variety last fall called Sunshine Blue. Local blueberries are best situated where there is some afternoon shade, especially when temperatures exceed 100 degrees for several days.
Citrus varieties also are container friendly. Citrus is among the most attractive landscape and patio trees with fragrant blossoms, glossy-green evergreen leaves and scrumptious fruit. Half wine barrels or large pots accommodate dwarf and semi-draft varieties.
Sacramento is citrus country. In ground or containers, citrus trees thrive and are embedded in our history. Citrus Heights and Orangevale are reminders that large areas of the county were once citrus groves.
Meyer lemons and navel oranges are popular choices, as are mandarin oranges. Mandarins can be confusing because types of mandarins include tangerines, clementines (often called sweeties) and satsumas.
High in vitamin C and fiber, the health benefits of citrus are well documented. Unlike some foods that are good for us, citrus tastes great. My two current favorites are Washington navel orange and Miho Wase satsuma mandarin.
Nationally, tomatoes are the home gardener’s favorite choice. Around here, tomatoes are part of our DNA. Plant, grow and enjoy tomatoes, a healthy and versatile edible.
New varieties are introduced each year, and it is always fun to discover another favorite. Gardeners judge tomatoes mostly by flavor and yield. It’s subjective, although it’s rare to hear a disparaging comment about Sungold cherry tomatoes and a few others, including Early Girl and Big Beef.
Last year, two of my new-to-me tomatoes were impressive. New Girl produced clusters of 6-ounce tomatoes (smaller than a tennis ball) in abundance. Rugby, an oblong, meaty, pinkish-red tomato, was also prolific and can be eaten fresh or canned. Perfect for sauces.
If you discovered a new tomato variety or wish to reveal your favorite tomatoes, don’t be shy. Send me an email and perhaps we can share secrets in a future column.
Go forth and grow food for yourself and others.
Dan Vierria is a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener for Sacramento County. He can be reached at masterg29@gmail.com. For answers to gardening questions, contact UCCE Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338, email mgsacramento@ucanr.edu or visit sacmg.ucanr.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
