Can I Keep Chickens in My Santa Cruz Neighborhood?
Santa Cruz County chicken ordinances explained. Rooster rules, setback requirements, and permit details for backyard flocks in city and county areas.
Acidifying Soil for Blueberries in California: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to acidify soil for blueberries in California. Sulfur application rates, water pH management, and ongoing maintenance for healthy, productive plants.
Growing Under the Redwoods: Gardening in Shade and Acidic Soil
Growing vegetables under redwood trees seems impossible: deep shade, acidic soil, moisture competition from massive trees. But you can absolutely grow food under redwoods. You just need to completely rethink what "gardening" means. Forget tomatoes. Embrace the crops that THRIVE in cool, shaded, moist conditions, crops that bolt and struggle everywhere else in Santa Cruz County but flourish in your unique microclimate. This guide covers what works, what doesn't, and strategies for Felton, Ben Lomond, and Boulder Creek gardens.
Keyhole Gardening: Combining Composting and Gardening in One Bed
Keyhole gardens combine a central compost basket with a circular raised bed, feeding plants continuously. Here is how to build and plant one.
Growing Kale in Santa Cruz County
Learn how to grow kale year-round in Santa Cruz County. Best varieties, planting times, pest control, and harvesting tips for coastal California gardens.
Growing Microgreens at Home: Fresh Greens in 7-14 Days
Learn how to grow microgreens at home in just 7-14 days. Complete beginner guide with best varieties, equipment, and step-by-step instructions for California growers.
Tomato trellising techniques in your California Garden
Trellising lifts your tomatoes off the ground, reducing rot, fewer pests, and better air circulation. It's more than keeping your garden tidy; it's about providing your tomatoes with what they need to thrive. This guide covers stake and weave, tomato cages, trellis nets, and DIY options, plus tips for training plants to climb and maintaining support throughout the season.
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 honest page. 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.