George I lived in Murrieta until about ten years ago. Now I am in a similar climate In Sun City. Every once in a blue moon we'll get a cold snap in the 20s that kills everything but most years you can overwinter tomatoes and peppers. If they are already in containers you can move them to a Southern exposure with overhang from patio is perfect. The low Winter sun will keep them alive and, depending on the variety, they will ripen fruit. I have several tomato plants growing right now. They will not take nearly as much water during the cool winter months as they did when it was hot. It is very easy to root tomato cuttings in water or potting soil. You might consider doing that to start with fresh plants in in the Spring.

Don't do "one plant per container" unless they are very very close. The plants need to pollenate each other. Do use Ray's EarthTainers and plant multiple plants in each. Add water and you'll have happy pretty corn like in the pictures. If you get the black smut fungus, contact me. It's a delicacy! But you are not likely to have the fungus using the containers and good new planting mix. Rick Here is a link that might be useful: EarthTainer

Fig and pomegranate are best planted when they are dormant -- Jan-Feb is good. It doesn't matter whether they are bare-root or caontainerized. Fall planting is, as you say, "okay". Avocados are best planted in late-winter-earliest spring -- Feb-Mar is good. Joe

There are quite a few people here who have GE growing in their gardens. I bought two 3 years ago and have those two still growing nicely, must be my soil, light or whatever. I just bought two more cheaply. Here is some advice given by forum member 'dhaven' : "Some varieties are very picky about growing conditions, and unless they are planted in optimum conditions, they will either remain small, or fade away and die. The best example of this I know of is Great Expectations, which also happens to be my favorite hosta. A great many people have lost this one, sometimes more than once. I have three very large mature plants, and they are the prettiest thing in the garden. It took some experimentation, but there are three things that GE absolutely must have to thrive. First, and most importantly, plant it shallowly. It's going to be a very large plant, so the natural inclination is to plant it deeply, but this will kill it faster than anything else. Plant it so shallowly you are convinced that it will tip over, and you've got it right. Secondly, it likes a lot of light. Dappled shade is ideal, but it will take several hours of direct sun, either morning or afternoon. Third, it likes a lot of water. If you give a GE all three of these things, you will increase your chances of growing it into an absolutely stunning plant. If you want to try any of the hostas that have the reputation of being difficult, be prepared to try different locations and growing methods, and possibly go through several plants before you discover what works for that variety in your location. When you do find out what works, please share the information with the rest of us!" Bernd