Best Zucchini Varieties for Santa Cruz County
Not all zucchini varieties perform equally in Santa Cruz County. These proven picks resist powdery mildew and produce reliably in our climate.
How Gardening Shapes Kids' Eating Habits: What the Research Shows (and How to Make It Work)
Kids who help grow food are more likely to taste it, enjoy it, and eat more fruits and vegetables. Here's how to make it work in your Santa Cruz garden.
Adopting Rescue Birds: Quarantine, Deworming, Flock Introduction
Learn how to quarantine, deworm, and safely introduce rescue chickens and ducks to your existing flock in Santa Cruz County with step-by-step protocols.
Growing Brussels Sprouts in the Pajaro Valley
If you garden in the Pajaro Valley around Watsonville, you have deep, fertile farm soil and a valley that draws cooling air off Monterey Bay, the same coastal influence that makes this corner of California the commercial home of Brussels sprouts. For this crop, that is a genuinel
Gopher Control: What Actually Works in Santa Cruz
If you've gardened in Santa Cruz County, you've met gophers. One day your tomato is thriving, the next it slides into the ground with roots chewed clean off. The internet is full of gopher control advice, much of it useless. This guide focuses on what actually works here: trapping (most effective), hardware cloth and gopher baskets (prevention), and what to skip entirely (vibrating stakes, gum, flooding).
Olallieberry vs Blackberry: What's the Difference and Which Should You Grow?
What's the difference between olallieberry and blackberry? Compare flavor, growing ease, and climate needs to choose the best berry for your California garden.
Greens Troubleshooting: Bolting, Bitterness, and Pests
Bolting lettuce, bitter arugula, and pest-riddled kale are frustrating but fixable. Here are the most common leafy green problems and their solutions.
Growing Jalapenos in the Coastal Fog Belt
If you garden in the fog belt along Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, or out toward Davenport, jalapenos are a stretch, not a sure thing. You can grow them, but you have to chase every degree of heat the marine layer keeps stealing back.
Why Are My Chickens Not Going Into the Coop at Night?
Common reasons chickens refuse to enter the coop at dusk and how to fix it. Predators, mites, heat, and training tips for Santa Cruz County flocks.
Growing Tomatoes in Containers in Santa Cruz County
Learn how to grow tomatoes in containers in Santa Cruz County. Container sizes, best varieties, watering tips, and patio placement for coastal success.
Growing Brussels Sprouts in the Santa Cruz Coastal Fog Belt
If you garden in the cool coastal fog belt of Santa Cruz County, the immediate coast through Santa Cruz, Live Oak, and the foggy reach toward Aptos, you are growing Brussels sprouts in their American heartland. The cool, foggy coast from Salinas up to Half Moon Bay is where this
Yes, You Can Grow Blackberries in Pots (Here's How)
No yard? No problem. Compact blackberry varieties thrive in containers, producing full-sized berries in small spaces. Here's everything you need to know about growing blackberries in pots.
Cut-and-Come-Again Greens: Maximizing Your Harvest
Cut-and-come-again harvesting lets you pick from the same greens plants for weeks or months. Here is which greens regrow best and how to cut them properly.
How Do I Know If My Chicken Has Worms?
Signs of worms in backyard chickens and what to do about them. Fecal testing, treatment options, and prevention tips for Santa Cruz County flocks.
Beyond Onions: Growing Shallots and Leeks in Santa Cruz
How to grow shallots and leeks in Santa Cruz County. Fall planting for shallots, seed starting for leeks, plus variety recommendations and harvest tips.
Best Tomatoes by Microclimate: What to Grow Where in Santa Cruz County
Find the right tomato varieties for your Santa Cruz garden. Recommendations for coastal fog, redwood shade, San Lorenzo Valley, and warm inland areas like Watsonville.
Starting Peppers from Seed in Santa Cruz County: Access Better Varieties
Starting peppers from seed gives you access to the varieties that actually thrive in Santa Cruz County's cool climate, not just the standard bells that struggle in fog. The process requires patience and a heat mat, but rewards you with stronger plants and far better variety selection than nursery transplants offer.
How to Overwinter Carrots in Santa Cruz County: Your Guide to Sweet, Year-Round Harvests
Learn to overwinter carrots in Santa Cruz County for sweeter, year-round harvests. Planting times, best varieties, and winter protection tips for local gardeners.
Deer-Resistant Vegetable Gardening in Santa Cruz County
Protect your Santa Cruz County vegetable garden from deer. Practical guide to effective fencing options, deer-resistant vegetables, deterrent strategies, and garden design tips.
Growing Arugula and Mustard Greens in Santa Cruz
Arugula and mustard greens are fast-growing, flavorful, and perfectly suited to Santa Cruz County's mild climate. Most varieties go from seed to salad in under a month.