Growing Snapdragons in Santa Cruz County: Cool-Season Workhorses for Year-Round Color
Grow productive snapdragons in Santa Cruz County. Learn planting schedules, pinching techniques, and care for year-round cut flower harvests.
7 Fruit Trees That Actually Produce Well in Foggy Coastal Santa Cruz
Not all fruit trees produce well in foggy coastal Santa Cruz. Here are seven that actually thrive in our marine climate, plus varieties to choose and ones to avoid.
When Should I Plant Bare-Root Fruit Trees in Santa Cruz?
Bare-root fruit trees offer the best selection and value, but timing matters. Here is when and how to plant them successfully in Santa Cruz County.
What Can I Plant in My Garden in January in Santa Cruz?
January is a surprisingly productive month for Santa Cruz gardens. Here is what to plant, sow, and prepare while the rest of the country waits for spring.
Cut Flowers for Pollinators: Beauty That Gives Back
The best cut flower gardens pull double duty. These varieties look stunning in a vase and keep pollinators fed in your Santa Cruz garden.
Best Lettuce Varieties for Santa Cruz Microclimates
Find the perfect lettuce varieties for your Santa Cruz garden. Local recommendations for coastal, inland, and shaded microclimates plus year-round planting tips.
Growing Sunflowers in Santa Cruz County: Fast Color and Easy Cutting
Grow stunning sunflowers in Santa Cruz County with this complete guide. Learn best varieties, planting times, succession planting, and cutting tips.
Choosing the Right Garlic for Your Santa Cruz Garden
Which garlic grows best in Santa Cruz? Softneck and hardneck varieties ranked for coastal fog, San Lorenzo Valley, and Watsonville microclimates.
Growing Cut Flowers in Partial Shade
Not every garden gets full sun. These cut flower varieties thrive in partial shade and still produce stems worth cutting for bouquets.
Growing Dahlias in Santa Cruz County: The Crown Jewel of Late Summer Bouquets
Learn to grow stunning dahlias in Santa Cruz County. Variety selection, planting, care, and overwintering tips for our unique coastal climate.
Warm-Season Cut Flowers for Santa Cruz County
When summer warmth arrives, these cut flowers take center stage. Here are the best warm-season blooms to grow for bouquets in Santa Cruz County.
Preserving Fresh Herbs: Drying, Freezing & Infusing for Year-Round Flavor
When your herb garden produces more than you can use fresh, preservation lets you capture that peak flavor for months to come. This guide covers four drying methods, four freezing techniques, and how to make herb-infused oils, vinegars, butters, and salts, with specific tips for handling Santa Cruz County's coastal humidity.
Cool-Season Cut Flowers for Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County's mild winters are perfect for cool-season cut flowers. These varieties bloom when most gardens are dormant.
Growing Raspberries in Santa Cruz: What Actually Works
Everything you need to grow sweet, productive raspberries in Santa Cruz County's coastal climate, from choosing the right varieties to harvesting your first crop.
Cut Flower Garden Layout and Spacing
A well-planned cut flower garden produces more stems with less effort. Here is how to lay out beds, plan spacing, and design for continuous harvests.
Best Carrot Varieties for Santa Cruz County Gardens
Not all carrots are created equal. Discover 12 varieties that thrive in Santa Cruz County's clay soil and varied microclimates, with specific recommendations for your garden.
Growing Cut Flowers from Seed in Santa Cruz County
Starting cut flowers from seed opens up hundreds of varieties and saves significant money. Here is how to do it successfully in Santa Cruz County.
Succession Planting Cut Flowers for Continuous Blooms
One planting is never enough for a steady supply of cut flowers. Succession planting keeps blooms coming from spring through fall.
Growing Gboma Eggplant in Santa Cruz County: A Leafy Green You Haven't Tried
Gboma eggplant is grown primarily for its nutritious leaves, not its fruit. This West African vegetable produces abundant greens all summer and handles Santa Cruz County's mild temperatures well.
Why Rosemary Thrives in Santa Cruz (Almost Too Well)
Rosemary may be the most forgiving herb you can grow in Santa Cruz County. This aromatic Mediterranean shrub thrives on neglect, produces year-round harvests, and lives for decades with minimal care. Here's everything you need to know about growing rosemary successfully, including important fire safety considerations for mountain properties.