How to Start a Backyard Flock in Santa Cruz County
Learn how to start a backyard flock in Santa Cruz County with local ordinances, breed picks, setup costs, and tips from a Boulder Creek flock keeper.
Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes in the Pajaro Valley
If you garden in the Pajaro Valley, the warm farm country around Watsonville and the lower Pajaro River flats, you have one of the county's most productive tomato climates. A big beefsteak slicer does genuinely well here.
Growing Parsley in Santa Cruz: The Two-Year Herb That Outperforms
Parsley is the most underrated herb in the garden. While basil and cilantro get all the attention, parsley quietly produces for two full years, tolerates our foggy coastal conditions beautifully, and adds depth to nearly every savory dish. Here's how to grow both flat-leaf and curly varieties in Santa Cruz County.
Rainwater Harvesting for Santa Cruz County Gardens: How Much Can Your Roof Really Catch?
Your roof catches more water than your garden needs. Learn the roof-to-tank math for Santa Cruz County, what tank sizes actually provide, and how to harvest rainwater within local permit guidelines.
Vertical Gardening: Growing Upwards to Save Space
Vertical gardening multiplies your growing space by training plants upward. Here are the best structures, crops, and techniques for small gardens.
When Should I Start Chicks in Santa Cruz County?
Find out the best time to start chicks in Santa Cruz County. Brooding tips, outdoor transition timing, and local sourcing for backyard flocks.
How to Start a Vegetable Garden in Santa Cruz County
Starting a vegetable garden in Santa Cruz County is one of the most rewarding projects you can take on. Unlike gardeners in most of the country who deal with harsh winters and short growing seasons, we have the gift of year-round gardening. But that doesn't mean you can follow generic gardening advice and expect success. Our microclimates, fog patterns, dry summers, and mild winters require a different approach. This guide walks you through exactly how to start your first vegetable garden here.
Planting Bare-Root Strawberries: A Santa Cruz Guide
Everything you need to know about planting bare-root strawberries in Santa Cruz County, from preparation to first-year care.
The Complete Guide to Garlic and Onions for Santa Cruz County Gardeners
Complete guide to growing garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks in Santa Cruz County. Local variety picks, fall planting timing by microclimate, and harvest tips.
Lasagna Gardening: Layering Your Way to a Fertile Garden
Lasagna gardening builds fertile beds by layering organic materials right on top of existing ground. No digging, no tilling, and beds are ready in weeks.
Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes in the Santa Cruz Coastal Fog Belt
If you garden in the immediate fog belt, the cool coastal strip from the west side of Santa Cruz down through Live Oak and the beach side of Capitola and Aptos, this is the page for you. A big beefsteak slicer is the hardest tomato to ripen here, and you should know that before yo
When to Plant What: Understanding Our Year-Round Season
One of the best things about gardening in Santa Cruz County is that we can grow food almost every single month of the year. But this gift creates confusion for new gardeners because national seed packets and gardening guides assume you live somewhere with four distinct seasons. That advice doesn't translate here. This guide helps you understand when to plant what in Santa Cruz County, and more importantly, why those timing windows matter.
Back to Eden Gardening: A No-Till, Wood Chip Mulch Method
Back to Eden gardening covers beds with deep wood chip mulch to mimic forest floor conditions. Less watering, no weeding, and steadily improving soil.
Understanding Your Soil: A Guide for Santa Cruz Gardeners
Get to know your garden soil through texture, drainage observations and appropriate testing. Choose amendments for the bed and crop rather than the town name.
Composting 101: From Kitchen Scraps to Garden Gold
Composting turns kitchen scraps and yard waste into the best soil amendment you can get. Here is how to start, what to add, and how to troubleshoot common issues.
Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes in the Santa Cruz Banana Belt
If you garden in the county's warm sunny pocket, the hill belts above the fog around Soquel, Aptos, and the sunnier side of Santa Cruz, this is the page you want to read. The Banana Belt is the best place in Santa Cruz County to actually ripen a big beefsteak slicer.
Olallieberry Care Troubleshooting Guide: Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Olallieberries love Santa Cruz's cool, foggy summers, but even healthy canes can run into mildew, fruit rots, insect outbreaks, or weird weather years that wreck a crop. This guide walks through the most common olallieberry problems local gardeners see, how to recognize them, and the simple cultural fixes that usually restore your plants. With practical solutions tested in our unique coastal climate, you'll learn to diagnose issues quickly and get your berry patch back on track.
Growing Calendula in Santa Cruz: The Easiest Medicinal Flower for Your Garden
Calendula is the perfect flower for Santa Cruz gardens. It thrives in our fog, repels pests, attracts beneficials, and makes a healing salve. Here's everything you need to grow it successfully.
DIY Ollas: Sustainable Watering Made Simple
Ollas are unglazed clay pots buried in the soil that slowly release water directly to plant roots. They use 50 to 70 percent less water than surface irrigation.
Pruning and Training Fruit Trees in Santa Cruz County: Shape Your Trees for Better Harvests
Everything you need to know about pruning and training fruit trees in Santa Cruz County. From basic cuts and timing to espalier techniques and backyard orchard culture for small-space growing.