Even two or three raised beds benefit from crop rotation. Moving plant families each season reduces disease and pest buildup in your soil.

Prune stone fruit in late January and pome fruit in February while fully dormant. Apricots are the exception: prune after summer harvest.

Santa Cruz winters are ideal for leafy greens. Lettuce, kale, and chard thrive in cool weather and taste sweeter after frost.

Coastal Santa Cruz rarely freezes, but inland valleys see regular frost. Use frost cloth (not plastic) and know your microclimate.

Compost is the best amendment for clay soil. Work it in when the soil is dry, add more each fall, and never mix in sand without enough organic matter.

Santa Cruz chill hours range from 400 to 800 depending on your neighborhood. Choose fruit tree varieties that match your microclimate.