Growing Sweet Peppers in Santa Cruz County: The Varieties That Actually Succeed
Sweet peppers are notoriously challenging in Santa Cruz County's cool climate, but the right variety choices and growing strategies make all the difference. This guide covers which sweet peppers actually succeed here, from quick-maturing mini bells to fog-tolerant Italian frying types, plus the microclimate strategies that turn pepper frustration into abundant harvests.
Preventing Basil from Bolting in Santa Cruz: Keep Your Plants Bushy and Productive
Nothing ends a basil harvest faster than bolting. Once those flower spikes appear, leaves turn bitter and production slows. The good news is that bolting is largely preventable. This guide explains why basil bolts in Santa Cruz County's variable climate and shares proven techniques to keep plants producing tender leaves all season long.
Growing Kohlrabi in Santa Cruz County: Cool-Season Crop Guide
Kohlrabi is a cool-season brassica that thrives in Santa Cruz County's mild climate. Learn when to plant, which varieties to grow, and how to harvest this crisp, mild vegetable.
Pepper Problems in Santa Cruz County: Troubleshooting Guide
When your pepper plants flower beautifully but never set fruit, or your peppers stay stubbornly green well into fall, the culprit is usually our cool Santa Cruz County climate. This troubleshooting guide covers the most common pepper problems, why they happen here specifically, and what you can actually do about them.
Growing Olallieberries in Santa Cruz County: Your Guide to California's Favorite Pie Berry
Learn how to grow olallieberries in Santa Cruz County, where these California pie berries thrive. Planting tips, trellising, harvest timing, and local farm connections.
Tomato Fertilizing and Soil Preparation for Santa Cruz County
Learn how to prepare soil and fertilize tomatoes in Santa Cruz County. Local soil types, compost tips, and when to fertilize for best results.
Growing Peppers in Containers in Santa Cruz County: The Mobility Advantage
Container growing is the secret weapon for pepper success in Santa Cruz County's challenging microclimates. The ability to move plants to chase sun, protect them from cold nights, and warm soil faster can transform your pepper harvest, especially in coastal and foggy areas where in-ground peppers struggle.
Watering Basics: How Much, How Often, and When
Watering is the most important garden task in Santa Cruz County's dry summers. Learn how much, how often, and when to water vegetables for healthy plants and abundant harvests year-round.
Starting Tomatoes from Seed in Santa Cruz County
Learn when and how to start tomato seeds for Santa Cruz County's coastal climate. Timing guide, setup tips, and variety recommendations for local conditions.
Gardening in the San Lorenzo Valley: Sunny Ridges vs. Shaded Canyons
The San Lorenzo Valley has two distinct growing zones: hot sunny ridges where tomatoes thrive through November, and cool shaded canyons where lettuce grows all summer. Learn what works where.
Growing Thyme in Santa Cruz: Varieties, Care, and Culinary Uses
Thyme is a Mediterranean herb that feels right at home in Santa Cruz County gardens. With dozens of varieties offering different flavors, growth habits, and ornamental qualities, there's a thyme for every garden and every cook. This guide covers everything from variety selection to harvest techniques for our local growing conditions.
How to Multiply Strawberries from Runners (Free Plants Forever)
Strawberry runners are a free plant factory waiting to be harvested. This guide teaches Santa Cruz County gardeners three methods for rooting runners, when to propagate for best results, how to care for new plants, and how to create a perpetual strawberry patch that renews itself indefinitely. Stop buying strawberry plants and start multiplying your own.
Raspberry Growth Stages: What to Expect Year-by-Year
Raspberries follow a multi-year ramp-up and predictable seasonal rhythm that can confuse new growers. A small crop in year one isn't failure. Canes dying after fruiting isn't disease. This guide explains what your raspberry plants should look like at each stage, when to expect real harvests, and how to recognize when normal development differs from actual problems.
What to Plant in Santa Cruz & the Bay Area in December
December is the garden's quiet month, but you can still plant bare-root fruit trees, cold-hardy greens, and perennials. Plus, it's the best time to plan next year's Santa Cruz garden.
Growing Dill in Santa Cruz: From Seed to Harvest in Cool Seasons
Dill is a cool-season herb that thrives in Santa Cruz County's mild temperatures, but timing is everything. Plant too late in spring, and you'll have flowers before you've harvested any leaves. This guide covers the best planting windows, variety selection, and strategies for extending your dill harvest throughout the year.
Raspberry Problems: Pests, Diseases, and Common Issues
Yellow leaves? No fruit? Mushy berries with tiny worms? This troubleshooting guide helps you diagnose and fix the most common raspberry problems in Santa Cruz County.
Garden Tools You Actually Need (And What You Don't)
You can start a productive vegetable garden with just seven basic tools. Here's what you actually need, what to skip, and where to buy quality tools in Santa Cruz County.
What to Plant in Santa Cruz & the Bay Area in November
November is when Santa Cruz gardens shift into cool-season mode. Plant bare-root fruit trees, direct seed greens and peas, and clean up summer crops while rains start and temperatures drop.
Best Raspberry Varieties for Santa Cruz County Gardens
Not every raspberry that thrives in Oregon or the Midwest will be happy in Santa Cruz County. Our mild winters, cool summers, and pockets of inland heat favor certain primocane and low-chill varieties, while others struggle without enough winter cold or burn out in summer heat. This guide profiles 10+ raspberry varieties that perform well in coastal California, with notes on chill needs, flavor, best uses, and which microclimates suit each variety.
Primocane vs Floricane Raspberries: Which Should You Grow in California?
One of the most confusing aspects of growing raspberries is understanding primocane versus floricane types. This guide breaks down the cane lifecycle in plain English, explains why primocane (everbearing) raspberries are often the better choice for Santa Cruz County and coastal California, and helps you identify which type you're growing so you can prune correctly.