Garden to Table

Photo Credit: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo Agency

Pictured above, Joanna Gaines’ Waco Texas garden shed - Home to her library of gardening books, indoor plants and a large work table that often double as a dining space.

April 2023

Community

"Gardening is my greatest masterpiece." -Claude Monet.

Nothing says Springtime quite like the sight of sprouting vegetables in the garden. With National Garden Month upon us, it's time to start thinking about your Summer gardens. Depending upon your location, California is actually one of the few places blessed with a year round growing season. According to the California Department of Food and Agruculture, over a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. Whether you are a novice or a pro, you can be eating "garden-to-table" in just a few short months. Here are some tips to get you started.

Photo Credit: Garden Tower Project

Photo Credit: Garden Tower Project

WHEN TO PLANT

In a typical year, March and April are the best months to plant your garden - once the frost has lifted and the soil is workable. With this years late cold and snow it's been near impossible to plant your saplings outdoors, successfully. With temperatures still dipping into the low 30's in some areas overnight, it's best to be safe and hold off on planting until we are clear of overnight frost that will harm your crops.

WHAT TO PLANT

Photo Credit: Max @iconquistador

There are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that will thrive in the hardiness of zone 9. Here are some examples of Summer vegetables that will do well in plant hardiness zone 9:

Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Celery, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Tomatoes, Watermelon

Herbs: Basil, Chives, Cilantro, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Avocado, Cherries, Figs, Kiwi, Nectarines, Oranges, Peaches , Pears, Plums, Olives

PLANT HARDINESS ZONE MAP

A plant hardiness zone map is the standard that all growers and gardeners use to determine which plants will thrive in any given location. Here in Butte County, our communities fall into zones 9A & 9B - Chico, Oroville, Paradise and the surrounding areas. Zone 9 typically consists of warm summers and mild winters, with average minimum temperatures ranging from 20-30°F.

Photo Credit: Tony Pham @tonyphamvn

GROWING CONDITIONS

With anything you grow, it is important to do your research to understand which things do best in which light conditions (sun/shade/partial shade). It is also important to understand each vegetables ideal watering schedule; as all vegetables/herbs/fruits will have different needs.

For more information about what grows well in zones 9A/9B, and how to care for plants, purchase the Old Farmers Almanac or visit their website here. It is a fantastic resource to learn any and everything about gardening.

Photo Credit: Krasula - Shutterstock

SUCCULENTS

Photo Credit: Liz Joseph @garden_bee

Brown thumb? No time? If you’re worried about the time required to maintain a vegetable garden but still want a chance to get your hands in the dirt, a great alternative is a succulent garden! These hardy plants can be left unattended for months at a time, and depending upon the season, will continue to thrive with little to no attention.

Succulents love warm and dry climates (they are desert dwellers) and most of the year, only require a small amount of water. During the hottest Summer months saturate the soil about once a week, and make sure it dries out completely between watering.

In Winter, your succulents will go dormant when temperatures reach between 40-50°F and will not need to be watered until Spring. To prevent dormancy, bring them indoors during the Winter - just make sure they have a nice sunny spot near a window to soak up the suns rays and lightly mist dirt with water every few weeks.

“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy more succulents and that’s pretty much the same thing!” -Unknown

LOCAL NURSERIES

Photo Credit: Magnolia Downtown magnoliadowntownchicoca

Sure, you can buy seeds and saplings from big box retail stores, but buying local is always the way to go! There is a great selection of nurseries in the Chico area that offer a wide variety of plants and vegetables. The best part, you can find a knowledgeable and friendly staff member there to help you find what you need. Maybe you don’t even know what you need - they can help you figure that out too! Magnolia Gift & Garden is one those nurseries - located at 1367 East Ave., Magnolia has everything from landscaping plants to drought tolerant plants, houseplants, unique indoor and outdoor pottery. Also check out their sister store, Magnolia Downtown, @magnoliadowntownchicoca - You can find everything from home décor to houseplants and so much more!

Little Red Hen Nursery @littleredhenchico is another local store that offers a variety of plants, vegetables, trees, yard décor, gardening books and so much more! Founded in 1993, The Little Red Hen became a place where tending to plants helped individuals with intellectual and neurological disabilities to gain social and work skills; and they are still continuing with that same mission today! Not only a nursery, they are also a one-stop shop for everything you need in order to throw a great party. From décor, to cupcake toppers, to custom wedding invitations - they also have a large inventory of unique furniture, elegant glass, and serving ware available to rent for special occasions. And don’t forget to order one of their beautiful floral arrangements; they are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and anytime you want to let special someone know you've been thinking of them. They offer free and same-day delivery to all of Chico, if you order by 1 pm. Stop by 189 East 8th St to visit their nursey - and check out their website for more information about their 6 locations throughout the Chico area.

Another great place to shop for fresh flowers and local produce is Chico’s Thursday Night Market! A Chico staple since 1997, you can find dozens of vendors, food trucks, booths, local arts & crafts and live music for all ages. Located on Broadway, between 2nd and 4th Street - Stop by every Thursday night, starting on April 27th, between 6-9pm. It’s a must for any Chico local or if you’re visiting from out of the area. Make sure to take home lots of fresh and local produce for your next farm-to-table meal!

FARM-TO-TABLE MOVEMENT

Are you familiar with the concept of farm to table? Perhaps you’ve eaten at a farm to table restaurant? Simply stated, the farm to table movement encourages consumers to purchase food made from locally-sourced ingredients (typically natural or organic) as an alternative to purchasing processed and imported goods.

While farm to table has been popularized in recent years, it actually has a long-standing history. In fact, the state of California is the birthplace to farm-to-table, with the concept first taking ground when Alice Waters, a champion of local, sustainable agriculture, opened the legendary Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California in 1971. Keep reading below to learn more about our local farm-to-table spots right here in Chico!

Photo Credit: Lightspeed

LOCAL FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANTS

With our proximity to fresh and local produce, we are in an ideal location for restaurants to showcase what is grown here in their menus. The farm-to-table concept highlights seasonal and local produce/meats and comes with frequently changing menus, depending on availability at the time. In Chico, we are fortunate enough to have several farm-to-table restaurants right in town.

Burban Kitchen, located in Meriam Park, is one of those restaurants. They feature creative and delicious entrees, using only the freshest locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. And with an extensive drink menu, from hand-crafted cocktails to a phenomenal selection of bourbon and rye, you won’t go thirsty here!

Located in Durham, Almendra Winery & Distillery is a family-run winery and distillery with a full-service restaurant on site. Here they specialize in pizzas, sandwiches and small plates made with locally sourced ingredients. Not only can you enjoy a farm-to-table meal in a beautiful setting, but you can also indulge in a glass of wine or spirits in their tasting room.

Another fabulous restaurant in downtown Chico to make our farm-to-table list is Grana. In fact, it’s such a hit that it has been featured on popular TV show, “Diners Drive-ins & Dives,” with chef Guy Fieri! The love of farm-to-table runs deep here and you can frequently find Owner and Chef, Jeff King, shopping for the freshest produce at our local farmers markets. To ensure they are using the freshest and most seasonal meat and produce available, this modern Italian restaurant rotates their menu on a monthly basis. This months menu features an array of entrees and a mouth-watering selection of Neapolitan pizzas. Stop by for a bite next time you’re downtown!

If you are in need of quick, pre-made and healthy meals, check out Bacio! This full-service grab-and-go eatery features menus that change with the seasons, and are made with locally grown, organic products whenever possible. Not only do they offer grab-and-go meals, they have been offering local catering services since 1984 - consider booking them for your next event or wedding! Head over to 1903 Park Avenue to try for yourself.

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Photo Credit: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo Agency

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