California accounts for 75% of the nation’s total fruit output. Most of that fruit grows in the Central Valley, but your SoCal yard has a similar favorable climate, fertile soil, and a long growing season.

What’s stopping you from planting limes, lemons, or even apples?

Embrace the turnip in your garden and kitchen.

Turnips may not be as flashy as tomatoes or as sexy as Romanesco. Still, these humble root vegetables are nutritious and fast-growing, and they offer a dual harvest of tender greens and flavorful roots.

While historically popular in temperate areas, modern plum varieties thrive in Southern California’s Mediterranean climate.

Plums also need a certain number of chill hours (between 32°F and 45°F) to set fruit, but many varieties are well-suited to low chill conditions.