Blackberry Problems? Here's What's Wrong (and the Fix)
From orange rust (remove the whole plant!) to spotted wing drosophila, learn to identify and treat common blackberry problems. Includes organic solutions for Santa Cruz County gardeners.
Growing Eureka Lemons in the San Lorenzo Valley
If you garden in the San Lorenzo Valley, in the shaded canyons and redwood-lined creek bottoms around Felton, Ben Lomond, and Boulder Creek, a Eureka or Lisbon lemon is a marginal proposition. This is the coldest, shadiest part of the county for citrus, and a true acid lemon, whi
The Blueberry Varieties That Actually Fruit in Santa Cruz
The best blueberry varieties for California gardens. Southern Highbush picks for low-chill areas, including Sunshine Blue, Sharpblue, and Misty - with local growing notes.
5 Easy Crops Kids Can Grow in Santa Cruz
The secret to getting kids excited about gardening? Quick wins. These 5 crops are perfect for Santa Cruz County kids: sunflowers grow dramatically tall, cherry tomatoes provide endless sweet snacks, snap peas climb and crunch, radishes are ready in just a month, and strawberries turn into a daily treasure hunt. Our mild climate means you can try these nearly year-round.
Growing Bush Beans in the Pajaro Valley
If you garden in Watsonville, Corralitos, or the south-county flats and benches of the Pajaro Valley, you are in the county's warmest, earliest microclimate, and bush beans love it. Blue Lake snap beans will be among the first and most productive crops in your summer garden, on the county's famously
Why Is My Chicken Losing Feathers in Summer?
Summer feather loss in chickens is usually molting, but can signal mites, stress, or pecking. Learn how to tell the difference in Santa Cruz County.
How Much Do I Really Need to Water My Garden in Fall in Santa Cruz County?
Fall is the trickiest irrigation season in Santa Cruz County. Learn when to keep watering, when to scale back, and how to transition from summer irrigation to rain-fed gardening by late November.
How Your Flock Can Work Your Garden: Pest Control and Soil Prep
Put your chickens, ducks, and geese to work in the garden with practical strategies for pest control, composting, soil turning, and weed management.
Growing Melons in Santa Cruz County: Which Microclimates Work (And Which Do Not)
Melons need heat, which makes them challenging in coastal Santa Cruz. But in the right microclimate with the right varieties, sweet melons are absolutely possible.
Growing Jalapenos in the Pajaro Valley
If you garden in Watsonville, Corralitos, or south county, you have the best jalapeno climate in Santa Cruz County. The fog burns off early, the days run genuinely hot, and the rich valley soil grows big, productive pepper plants.
Growing Eureka Lemons in the Santa Cruz Coastal Fog Belt
If you garden in the foggy coastal strip and you want a real, mouth-puckering lemon rather than the milder Meyer, the Eureka lemon (and its close cousin the Lisbon) is your workhorse. It is the true acid lemon of the grocery aisle, thornier and tarter than a Meyer, and on the coo
The First 5 Vegetables to Grow in Santa Cruz County
New to vegetable gardening in Santa Cruz County? Start with these 5 forgiving, productive crops chosen specifically for our microclimates: cherry tomatoes (productive and delicious), summer squash (fast and abundant), lettuce (quick harvests year-round), essential herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley), and bush beans (nearly foolproof). Build confidence with these winners, then expand from there.
Common Garden Pests in Santa Cruz County (And How to Beat Them)
Every Santa Cruz County garden has pests. Our mild climate means they're active year-round without hard freezes to knock back populations. This guide covers the most common pests in local vegetable gardens (aphids, slugs, cabbage worms, whiteflies, tomato hornworms, squash bugs, spider mites, and flea beetles), how to identify them, and organic control methods that actually work.
Growing Pumpkins in Santa Cruz County: From Seed to Jack-o-Lantern
Growing your own pumpkins is one of the most satisfying fall garden projects. Here is everything you need to know for Santa Cruz County.
How to Propagate Blackberries and Olallieberries: Complete Guide
Get free blackberry and olallieberry plants through simple propagation techniques. Tip layering is the easiest method. Canes root naturally when tips touch soil. Here's how to do it right.
Growing Bush Beans in the Santa Cruz Coastal Fog Belt
If you garden along the immediate coast, around Santa Cruz, Capitola, the Aptos shoreline, or out toward Davenport, bush beans are a yes with one big asterisk: wait for warm soil. Blue Lake snap beans will reward you here, but only after you stop sowing too early.
How Many Eggs Can I Expect From a Small Flock?
A small backyard flock of 4-6 hens can produce 15-30 eggs per week at peak laying. Learn what affects egg production in Santa Cruz County.
Keeping a Mixed Flock: Chickens, Ducks, and Geese Together
How to keep chickens, ducks, and geese together in one flock with space requirements, feeding strategies, and water management for Santa Cruz gardens.
Growing Pineapple Tomatoes in Santa Cruz County: A Beefsteak Worth the Challenge
Pineapple tomatoes produce massive bicolor fruits with sweet, low-acid flavor. This heirloom beefsteak is worth growing in Santa Cruz County's warmest microclimates for its exceptional eating quality.
Fall Garden Cleanup for Fire Safety
Plan fall garden cleanup in Santa Cruz County around current conditions, accumulated dead material, safe disposal and preparation for winter rain.