How Do I Keep My Garden Watered During a California Drought?
Mulch and drip irrigation are the two biggest water savers for California gardens. Here is how to set them up and stop wasting water this summer.
Are Backyard Chicken Eggs Safe to Eat Without Washing?
Unwashed backyard eggs stay fresh longer thanks to the bloom. Learn when to wash, how to store, and food safety basics for Santa Cruz flock keepers.
Fall Vegetable Planting Guide for Santa Cruz County
When and what to plant for a coastal Santa Cruz fall garden. Timing math, start-indoors vs direct-sow, microclimate dates, and what to skip.
Heat Wave Garden Survival Guide for California
What to do before, during, and after a California heat wave. Coastal-specific advice on shade, watering, sunscald, and wilting from Santa Cruz.
Is Fall Actually the Best Time to Plant in California?
Fall planting in California gives plants cooler weather and natural rainfall to establish roots before summer. For many crops, it beats spring planting.
Can I Grow Tomatoes in the Fog Belt?
Fog belt tomatoes are possible with the right varieties and warm microclimates. Cherry tomatoes and early slicers are your best bet in coastal Santa Cruz.
How Do I Save Tomato Seeds for Next Year?
The fermentation method is the best way to save tomato seeds at home. It takes 15 minutes of active work and produces seeds that stay viable for years.
A Garden Day in Santa Cruz: The Best Local Gardens, Nurseries, and U-Pick Farms Without Leaving the County
Santa Cruz County is not the consolation prize for a day you did not feel like driving. We have a botanic garden, a working organic teaching farm you can walk for free, a two-acre demonstration garden, and a valley full of u-pick berries, apples, dahlias, and lavender.
What Is the Difference Between Determinate and Indeterminate Tomatoes?
Determinate tomatoes set fruit all at once and stop. Indeterminate keep growing and producing all season. Your microclimate helps decide which to grow.
Urban and Small-Space Beekeeping in California: A City Guide
Can you keep bees in a small California yard or rooftop? Space needs, placement, flyway barriers, water, and being a good neighbor in the city.
Worm Bin Composting With Kids in California: Fun, Not Gross
Set up a worm bin with kids in coastal California. What worms to buy, what to feed them, how to keep it odor-free, and the jobs kids love.
Harvesting Honey for the First Time: When, How, and How Much to Leave
When a first-year hive is ready, how to harvest honey step by step, and how much to leave the bees for a mild California winter. A realistic beginner's guide.
Why Are My Tomatoes Not Turning Red in Coastal California?
Cool nights slow tomato ripening on the coast. Choose early varieties and use warm microclimates for red tomatoes in Santa Cruz.
Plant Growth Stages: Every Crop from Seed to Harvest
Every crop follows its own timeline. Browse growth stage guides for 23 vegetables, berries, fruits, and flowers, timed for California gardens.
California Aster: A Late-Season Native to Grow
How to grow California aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) in Santa Cruz County: lavender blooms July to November and vital late-season nectar for migrating monarchs.
What Causes Blossom Drop on Tomatoes?
Tomato blossom drop is caused by temperature stress, usually cool nights on the coast. It is temporary and corrects itself when conditions stabilize.
Your July Garden Checklist for Santa Cruz County
Your complete July garden checklist for Santa Cruz County. Peak harvest management, irrigation strategies, hornworm control, and fall crop planning for coastal and inland zones.
Supporting Native Bees in Your California Garden (No Hive Needed)
Help pollinators without keeping a hive. Mason and leafcutter bees, bee houses, and simple habitat that supports California's 1,600 native bee species.
Heading South: 4 Garden Day Trips from Santa Cruz, Route by Route
South is the quieter direction, and the one most Santa Cruz gardeners underrate. The gardens down here are smaller and older than the marquee estates up north. They lean historic and native, and most of them are free.
Tomato Hornworms in California: How to Identify and Control the Big Green Caterpillar
How to identify and control tomato hornworms in California gardens. Handpicking, Bt, and the parasitic-wasp cocoons that mean you should leave the caterpillar alone.