Blueberry Problems in California: Yellow Leaves, No Fruit, and Other Issues
Diagnose and fix common blueberry problems in California: yellow leaves, no fruit, leaf browning, pests, and diseases. Solutions for Santa Cruz County gardeners.
Choosing the Right Breeds for Coastal California Gardens
Find the best chicken, duck, and goose breeds for Santa Cruz County gardens with breed comparisons for fog tolerance, temperament, and garden work.
Watering Tomatoes in Santa Cruz County: How Much, How Often, and Common Mistakes
Learn how to water tomatoes properly in Santa Cruz County. Deep watering techniques, signs of problems, and tips for coastal vs. inland microclimates.
Growing Bell Peppers 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, bell peppers are a genuinely good crop for you. The Banana Belt has the heat peppers need to color up, not just grow.
Container Gardening: Growing Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers in Pots
No yard? No problem. Container gardening lets you grow food and flowers on patios, balconies, and doorsteps with the right pots, soil, and plant choices.
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.