Native Plants in Vegetable Garden - Notes

1/6/2013

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Into the Vegetable Garden:
Using CA Native Plants in the
Edibles Garden

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Madrona Marsh Preserve
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants June 2 & 5, 2012
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year)
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND

Many of us grow edibles in our home Benefits of growing your own fruits &
gardens (or are thinking of starting) vegetables
 Fun
 Educational
 Good exercise
 Interesting looking plants
 Saves money
 Tasty, fresh ingredients
http://bloomtown.typepad.com/bloomtown/bloomtown_my_garden/

 Opportunity to grow heirloom
varieties – and to grow foods
that are not genetically modified
 Chance to grow & use ‘exotic’
ingredients – including CA native
plants

http://www.denverpost.com/grow/ci_20587823/big-flavors-from-small-fruits

© Project SOUND http://vegetablegardenathome.com/ © Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

Are CA native plants and edibles Ways in which ‘conventional’ edibles
gardens really compatible? may differ from native plants

 Water requirements:
many conventional edible
plants require more
water than many CA
native plants
 Nutrient requirements:
many conventional edibles
require more nutrients
than most CA native
plants like/need


Of course you can plan for different water needs – You can also get around the other
that’s what Water Zone Gardening is all about differences – with a little planning


2

1/6/2013

We look on-line for some inspiration
Summer’s a good time to re-evaluate
What works well? What needs changing?

http://efnep.ucdavis.edu/?blogpost=4501&blogasset=17351
http://pcnatthegreenshow.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/california-spring-trials-day-3-along-the-central-coast/

http://blog.gardenerd.com/2007/10/13/raised-beds--part-1-materials.aspx
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16684008.tip.html
http://timberglade.typepad.com/outside/vegetables/

Your resolutions:  Minor changes to most of the You’ve got the whole summer to get ready
raised beds – a few repairs
summer 2012 for fall planting – time to get cracking!
 Convert the back beds to
narrow beds for specialty crops
– more space between them &
back fence

 Better use of the back fence
area: ?? New vines

 Add a few more beds – allow
you to ‘rest’ some beds each
year for plant health

 Use the large pots more
Incorporate native plants into  Create some open areas
the edible garden; use more surrounding garden for
heirloom varieties pollinator plants/ plants to
attract beneficial insects http://www.mastergardeners.org/projects/gilroy.html


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1/6/2013

Guide to S. CA Vegetable Crops How about some native cool-season crops?
Warm-season Vegetables Cool-season Vegetables
 Plant:
 Plant:  From seed: Aug-Oct in shaded
 From seed: Mar-May; depends pots; Sep-Oct in ground
on how cold the spring is  From starts: Oct-Dec
 From starts: Apr-June (even
July for late crops)  Ripen:
 Early crops: Oct-Nov
 Ripen:
 Late crops: Dec-Feb
 Early crops: June-July (Aug)
Late crops: Aug-Sept  Examples:
 Examples:  Early crops: broccoli, brussels
sprouts, cauliflower, kale,
 Early crops: beans, cucumbers, kohlrabi, mustard, lettuce and
summer squash, tomatoes, other greens
 Late crops: corn, melons,  Late crops: peas, cabbage,
winter squash celery, http://www.amillionlives.net/vegetable-gardening-tips-easy-ideas-for-great-produces.html


Miner’s Lettuce – Claytonia perfoliata
Planning our cool-season garden
ssp. perfoliata & mexicana

Traditional vegetables CA native greens

 Lettuce  Allium haematochiton
 Spinach  Calandrinia ciliata
 Camissonia species
 Peas
 Claytonia perfoliata
 Broccoli  Mimulus cardinalis
 Oenothera elata
 Phacelia species
 Plantago species
 Trifolium species

© 2001 Steven Thorsted
http://nativeplantsocietyca.tribe.net/photos/cfd27d18-6ba7-4365-b1d9-c1c7c67b9cbe
© Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

Growing Miner’s Lettuce Placement in our garden
from seed
 Annual plant: dies to
nothing in summer
Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
 Extremely easy
 Any soil: amended or not
 Sow in prepared soil in fall
(best) through spring © by Gena Zolotar  Light: any (full sun to
full shade)
 Germinates with:
 Damp soil/fall rains  Water: can take some
 Short days extra water
 Re-seeds  Want to be able to pick
 May want to remove plants if it for winter salads
too prolific – will depend on
site

http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/phv66n3.editorial.html

Fringed Redmaids – Calandrinia ciliata var menziesii Fringed Redmaids – Calandrinia ciliata var menziesii
 Wide distribution:
 Western United States ,
Central America, and northern
South America.
 In CA: California Floristic
Province, some areas E. of
Sierras
 Usually in grassy areas,
woodland openings or disturbed
areas
 Name:
 Calandrinia: named for Jean
Louis Calandrini (1703-1758), a
professor of mathematics and
philosophy, and a botanical
Question to ponder: does the author in Switzerland
distribution of this plant suggest a  ciliata: indicates the slight
human role? fringing of the petals like an
eyelash

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1/6/2013

Red Maids are spreading annuals Flowers are an  Spring-blooming – as early as
added bonus Feb. to May
 Size:  Long bloom period with adequate
 < 2 ft tall; tips of stems water – flowers open sequentially
upcurviing along the stems
 2-3 ft wide – side stems are
spreading; plants will grow  Flowers are:
together  Tiny - < ½ inch across
 An unusual shade of hot
 Growth form: sprawling/spreading pink/magenta – hard to
herbaceous annual from a basal photograph
rosette. Robert Potts © California Academy of Sciences
 Open only during sunniest part of
the day – flowers ‘disappear’ into
 Foliage: their calyces at other times
 Attractive light green
 Seeds are:
 Slightly succulent leaves; spatula
 Tiny & shiny – but numerous; wind
shaped spread
 Roots: taproot; grow in place  Very tasty – were prized food
for Native Californians (parched
& ground to make pinole)
© 2006 Chris Wagner
Jo-Ann Ordano © California Academy of Sciences

Red Maids is well suited to the vegetable Redmaids make  Use only young leaves – best
piquant greens before flowering; Arugala-like
garden…
 Soils:  Leaves contain oxalic acid, so it
should only be used in moderation.
 Texture: any well-drained soil;
does super in sandy or rocky soils,  Oxalic acid can lock up certain of
the nutrients in food - can lead to
but typical vegetable gardens nutritional deficiencies if eaten in
soils would be great excess.
 pH: just about any local  It is, however, perfectly safe in
 Light: full sun; great in regular small amounts and its acid taste
adds a nice flavor to salads.
vegetable garden
 Water:  Cooking the plant will reduce the
quantity of oxalic acid.
 Winter: needs good winter/
spring rains  People with a tendency to
 Summer: regular water (Zone 2-3 rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney
or 3) will extend blooms slightly; stones and hyperacidity should
take especial caution if including
no water for seed set this plant in their diet since it can
 Fertilizer: fine with light fertilizer aggravate their condition
Plants re-seed very well – but it’s easy
to weed out unwanted plants

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1/6/2013

Many uses for Red Maids in the garden Planning our cool-season garden
 Very nice in pots – very green Traditional CA native greens
and attractive; helps control vegetables
them to an extent
 Allium haematochiton
 In the vegetable garden –  Lettuce  Calandrinia ciliata
 Edible greens and seeds  Camissonia species
 Spinach
 Flowers really perk up a  Claytonia perfoliata
vegetable garden  Peas
 Mimulus cardinalis
 In the fronts of mixed beds  Broccoli  Oenothera elata
 Among native bunchgrasses;  Phacelia species
needs bare ground to reseed  Plantago species
 Trifolium species
 In the ‘Children’s Garden’ – easy

 For bird habitat – many birds &  See Mother Nature’s Backyard
insects relish the seeds blog for more-http://mother-
natures-backyard.blogspot.com/

Your resolutions:  Minor changes to some raised
beds – a few repairs Clovers are often used as cover crops
summer 2012
narrow beds for specialty  Quick growing
crops – more space between  Suppress weed growth
them & back fence
 Prevent soil erosion
 Better use of the back fence  Increase soil organic matter
area: ?? New vines (humus) – good for vegetable
crops
 Can be eaten (by humans or
livestock)
year for plant/soil health
 Improve soil Nitrogen:
 Create open areas surrounding  Interact with nodule-forming
garden for pollinator nitrogen fixing bacteria
Incorporate native plants into
plants/plants to attract  Nitrogen is converted to a
the edible garden
beneficial insects form that can be used by
plants – including your veggies


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1/6/2013

Bull clover/ Sour Clover – Trifolium fucatum Bull clover – Trifolium fucatum
 West coast of N. America from
OR to Baja

 In CA either:
 Foothills of Sierras and other
ranges
 Coastally-influenced areas <
3000 ft. elevation

 Locally abundant. Moist, open
grassland, ditches, marshes,
roadsides, sometimes saline or
serpentine soils
 fucatum: painted, dyed

© 2004 Carol W. Witham

© 2005 George W. Hartwell

Bull Clover is a fairly typical native annual clover Flowers are among the prettier clover flowers
 Size:
 < 1 ft tall  Blooms:
 1-3 ft wide; slightly spreading  Usually Apr-June in S. CA ; after
weather warms up
 Growth form:  Long bloom period with
 Mounded; low-lying supplemental water
 Typical for clovers
 Flowers:
 Foliage:  Typical for clover; small pea-type
 Leaves typical ‘clover-leaf’ – often flowers in a ball-like head
white-patterned  Cream-colored tinged with
 Stems robust, hollow pink/mauve
 Edible
 Roots:
 Have symbiotic relationship with  Seeds:
nitrogen-fixing bacteria  Small
Robert Potts © California Academy of Sciences  Leave roots in soil to improve soil  Edible fresh
fertility (just harvest the tops)

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1/6/2013

Clovers – not hard to grow once you know
the trick Most parts of clovers are edible in spring
 Soils:
 Fresh greens
 Texture: any well-drained
 Raw or cooked
 pH: any, including alkali
 Limit intake of uncooked clover –
 Even takes salty soils causes gas
 Light: full sun to part-shade; good  Use cooked clover like spinach
under deciduous trees
 Flowers
 Water:  Make nice addition to a salad
 Winter: needs moist soils  Leave some for the pollinators –
 Summer: needs regular water great pollinator plants
until flowering ceases – then cut
 Seeds
back
 Native Californians ate them fresh
 Fertilizer: not needed, but  Many animals & birds also like
probably won’t hurt clover seeds

 Other: to start seeds give them a Native Californians look forward to fresh
© 2007 Aaron Schusteff
hot-water treatment clover in the spring!
© Project SOUND © 2007 Neal Kramer © Project SOUND

Use any CA native clover as food, Your resolutions:  Minor changes to some raised
beds – a few repairs
improve your soil & attract pollinators summer 2012
narrow beds for specialty
crops – more space between
them & back fence

 Better use of the back fence
area: ?? New vines

year for plant health

 Create open areas surrounding
garden for pollinator
Incorporate native plants into
plants/plants to attract
the edible garden; use more
beneficial insects
heirloom varieties
© 2004 Carol W. Witham


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1/6/2013

Attracting pollinators to the veggie garden One reason to grow native annuals &
perennials in/near the edibles garden
 Bees
 Flies and fly-like
insects (next month’s
topic)
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/nov08/d1275-1.htm
 Butterflies
 Moths
 Beetles
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/august-native-garden-flowers-pictures.htm

 Many others
http://www.ehow.com/how_8036705_do-flowers-blossomed-summer-squash.html © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

Where might we plants some perennials? CA Sea Thrift – Armeria maritima ssp. californica

© 2007 Neal Kramer

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1/6/2013

The Plumbaginaceae CA Sea Thrift – Armeria maritima ssp. californica
 Possibly S. Coast; definitely Santa
 Sometimes referred to as the
Rosa Isl., San Luis Obispo Co (Cambria;
leadwort family or the plumbago
Santa Lucia Mtns near San Simeon)
family. Flowers in parts of 5.
 North to British Columbia
 Most species in this family are
perennial herbaceous plants, but a  Near the beach: prairies, cliffs, bluffs
few grow as vines or shrubs. & dunes < 1000 ft elevation
 The plants have perfect flowers http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?5645,5646,0,5647

(have male & female parts) and are
pollinated by insects.

 Found in many different climatic
regions, from arctic to tropical
http://www.hear.org/starr/images/image/?q=031108-0160&o=plants
conditions, but are particularly
associated with salt-rich steppes,
Cape Plumbago – planted along
freeways
marshes, and sea coasts.
© 2011 Chris Winchell Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences

Sea Thrift – dainty but tough Flowers: lovely color
 Size:  Blooms:
 1-2 ft tall (foliage < 1 ft)  Spring/summer – usually
 ~ 1 – 1 ½ ft wide May-Aug in our area
 Long-blooming with regular
 Growth form: water and dead-heading
 mounded perennial
 evergreen
 Flowers:
 Small; in dense ball-like
 Foliage: clusters (somewhat like the
 Narrow, stiff leaves – fancy onions)
somewhat grass-like  Color: magenta or pink
 Foliage in basal rosette  Very pretty in bloom – make
good cut flowers
 Roots: tough & woody; part is  Attract native bees,
above-ground butterflies & other insects
© 2011 Chris Winchell

© 2007 Neal Kramer

© 2004, Ben Legler
© 2007 Neal Kramer

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1/6/2013

Available as plants: easy also from seed Plant Requirements  Soils:
 Texture: any from sandy loam
or divisions to clay – good for clays
 pH: any local

 From seed:  Light: full sun right along coast;
part-sun (morning sun) elsewhere
 Use fresh seed
 No pre-treatment  Water:
 Quite easy, good  Winter: adequate – supplement
germination in fall/spring if needed
 Summer: moderate to regular
 From divisions: water – Zones 2-3 to 3
 Divide with a shovel or  Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils –
uproot and cut but probably wouldn’t kill it
 Re-plant the divisions
 Other: if using an organic mulch,
 Reliable
http://www.hazmac.biz/051128/051128AmeriaMaritimaCalifornica.html

make it thin; no mulch or inorganic
mulches fine
© 2008 John Dittes

Loved by gardeners as: Bring it into the vegetable garden
 Sea-side ground cover
 Rock garden plant
 Attractive pot/planter species
 Lining walkways

http://www.imagejuicy.com/images/plants/a/armeria/10/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Armeria_maritima,_Tower_Hill_Botanic_Garden.JPG

http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/web-
extras/70/3/sea-ranch-gardens-most-
successful-plants/

You’ll also have a
source of cut flowers

http://www.thienemans.com/ph
http://www.elkhornnursery.com/default.aspx?pid=2989aedb otos/index.php/Succulents-
http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/tips -2f5a-41ec-9c05-61c5ebfda0e9&PlantId=1115 Rock-Garden/IMG_0132
/lawn_alternatives.php
© 2004, Ben Legler http://www.calfloranursery.com/plants/armeria-
maritima-ssp-californica

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1/6/2013

Many annual wildflowers are great for
attracting pollinators – and fit easily into
Attracting other beneficial insects
an edibles garden  Predatory insects –
eat the bad guys
 Clarkias

 Gilias  Insects that attract
insect-eating birds
 Anything in Sunflower family
 Insects that provide
 Lotus species
other beneficial
 Phacelias services in the garden
 Annual Salivas

 Many more (see pollinator lists:
Project SOUND/ Mother Nature’s http://trishsgarden.blogspot.com/2008/03/very-late-march-1-garden-newsletter.html

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Phacelia+tanacetifolia
Backyard Blog Some native plants have a well-deserved reputation for
Tansy-leaf Phacelia
© Project SOUND
attracting the ‘good guys’ © Project SOUND

Attract Attract
these By planting these By planting
beneficial these species beneficial these species
insects insects

Bigeyed bug Native grasses Minute Achillea sp. (Yarrow)
Polygonum sp. (Silver Lace Vine) pirate bug Baccharis sp. (Coyote brush, Mulefat)
Copyright © 2007 Ron Hemberger Eriogonum sp. (Buckwheat)
Hoverflies Achillea sp. (Yarrow) http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/minute_pirate_bug.html
Asclepias fascicularis (Narrowleaf Milkweed) Minute Pirate Bug
Baccharis sp. (Coyote brush, Mulefat)
Ceanothus sp. (California Lilac)
Eriogonum sp. (Buckwheat)
Prunis ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Cherry) Achillea sp. (Yarrow)
Parasitic & Aesclepias fascicularis (Narrowleaf
Predatory Milkweed)
Ceanothus sp. (California Lilac) Wasps Eriogonum sp. (Buckwheat)
Lacewings
Prunus ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Cherry)

Lady beetles Achillea sp. (Yarrow)
Asclepias fascicularis (Narrowleaf Milkweed) Tachnid flies Achillea sp. (Yarrow)
Atriplex sp. (Quailbush, Saltbush)
Eriogonum sp. (Buckwheat)
Ceanothus sp. (California Lilac) Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon)
Native grasses
Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry) Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry)
Salix sp. (Willow)

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/tachinid_flies.html
http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=402
http://www.kunafin.com/lacewings.htm © Project SOUND Tachnid Fly http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=402
© Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

* Southern Umbrellawort – Tauschia arguta * Southern Umbrellawort – Tauschia arguta
 Outer coastal ranges, S. CA and Baja

 Locally in Santa Monica Mtns,
Hollywood Hills, San Gabriels

 Dry fans and slopes below 6000',
coastal sage, scrub, chaparral,
woodlands, inland to desert edge
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_cpn.pl?TAAR2

© 2006 Michelle Cloud-Hughes

© Project SOUND © 2003 Brent Miller http://www.researchlearningcenter.org/bloom/species/Tauschia_arguta.htm
© Project SOUND

Southern Umbrellawort: Carrot family Flowers attract
beneficial insects
 Size:
 1-2 ft tall
 Blooms: mid- to late spring (April
 1-3 ft wide to June)
 Growth form:  Flowers:
 Herbaceous perennial  Small and yellow
 Low but erect form  In compound umbels typical of
 Evergreen © 2006 Michelle Cloud-Hughes Carrot family; smells ‘carroty’
 Many pollinator (and other)
 Foliage: insects
 Very green
 Large-lobed & coarsely  Seeds:
toothed – like flat parsley or  Flat, ribbed seeds typical of
celery the family
 Larval food for Anise  To start from seed, use fresh
Swallowtail seed and rinse in several rinses
of water to remove inhibiting
© 2006 Michelle Cloud-Hughes
 Roots: stout hormones.

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1/6/2013

Easy to grow Umbrellawort in the garden
 Usually included in butterfly gardens
 Soils:
 Texture: any well-drained
 Unusual pot plant; in rock gardens
 pH: any local – including  Good choice for margins of the
vegetable garden vegetable garden

 Light:
 Full sun to light shade
© 2010 Gary A. Monroe

 Water:
 Winter: plenty of water; soils
moist
 Summer: dry out to Zone 1-2
or 2 in summer

 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

 Little to no mulch – inorganic
mulch fine
http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/~pjbryant/biodiv/lepidopt/papilio/anise.htm
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/southerntauschia.html Michelle Cloud-Hughes
© 2006
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/tauschia-arguta

Heirloom edibles and native plants: a
Others perennials for garden edges good combination

 Open-pollinated
 Achillea millefolia

 Asclepias species (Milkweeds)  Long relationship between
heirloom varieties, ‘wild
 Clematus species (Virgin’s Bowers) plants’ and insects
 Eriogonum species (Buckwheats)
 Unusual and tasty flavors
 Lomatium utriculatum – combine well with native
 Solidago species (Goldenrods) seasonings

 Native grasses  Are less likely to be
genetically modified food
plants
http://www.byexample.com/homestead/gardens/heirloom_seeds.html

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1/6/2013

Genetically modified foods are here
What are genetically modified plants
 Experts say 60% to 70% of processed foods on U.S. grocery
shelves have genetically modified ingredients.

 The most common genetically modified foods are soybeans,
maize, cotton, and rapeseed oil. That means many foods made
in the U.S. containing field corn or high-fructose corn syrup;
foods made with soybeans and foods made with cottonseed
and canola oils could likely have genetically modified
ingredients.

 These ingredients appear frequently in animal feed as well.

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-gm-foods

© Project SOUND

Keeping old varieties alive is another reason to
Which view is correct? plant heirloom seeds: biodiversity is important in
 The U.S. government's position: Genetically
agriculture as well as in nature
engineered crops are safe, resist disease better, and
can provide much-needed food in starving nations.
 The EU position: Keep it out. We prefer organic,
which is much healthier. The risk of genetically
modified foods to health and the environment
outweigh the benefits. Only the multinational biotech
companies will benefit, dominating the world food http://www.heirloomseeds.com/

supply and squeezing out traditional farmers.

We’ll discuss this topic in greater depth in our July
class
© Project SOUND

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1/6/2013

You consider adding some native herb/spice or After seeing this picture you decide to add
beverage plants to your vegetable garden some native fruits to your edibles garden

http://bumblelush.blogspot.com/2012/05/strawberry-season-is-here.html

Strawberries would be an
easy place to start

http://www.dailyunadventuresincooking.com/2010/07/strawberry-and-arugula-salad-recipe.html/

* Woodland Strawberry – Fragaria vesca ssp. californica * Woodland Strawberry – Fragaria vesca ssp. californica

 Coastal mountains and Sierra
Nevada from OR/WA to Baja

 Locally in the San Bernardino
& San Jacinto Mtns., San
Diego Co.

 In dry to moist meadows,
young woodlands, sparse
forest , woodland edges and
clearings.

 Often plants can be found
where they do not get
sufficient light to form fruit.
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6677,6723,6725
© 2002 George Jackson


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Native Plants in Vegetable Garden - Notes

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