Growing Brussels Sprouts in Santa Cruz County | Cool Climate Guide
How to grow Brussels sprouts in Santa Cruz County. Varieties, topping technique, frost benefits, and why our cool coast is perfect for this crop.
Your First Season Timeline: What to Expect Month by Month
Know what to expect in your first year of vegetable gardening in Santa Cruz County. Month-by-month guide covering planting, harvesting, common surprises, and when to worry versus when to be patient.
Keeping Ducks in Your California Garden: Water, Ponds, Slug Patrol
Everything you need to know about keeping ducks in your California garden, from water setups and pond options to slug control and duck egg benefits.
Bean and Pea Troubleshooting Guide
Yellow leaves, no pods, or mysterious holes? This troubleshooting guide covers the most common bean and pea problems in Santa Cruz County and how to fix them.
Do I Need a Permit for a Garden Shed in Santa Cruz? (City + County)
A practical, local guide to shed and accessory structure permits in Santa Cruz. City vs. unincorporated County rules, the 120 sq ft threshold, setbacks, electrical and greenhouses, plus how to check before you build.
Saving Bean and Pea Seeds
Beans and peas are the easiest crops for seed saving. Let pods dry on the vine, harvest, and store for next season's planting.
Fire-Wise Herb Gardens: Placement and Maintenance
Plan an herb garden around growing needs, placement and maintenance. Moisture content and low growth do not make herbs fire-safe.
How Gardening Supports Kids' Mental Health: Building Emotional Resilience in the Garden
Regular time in the garden can support children's mood, stress regulation, and emotional wellbeing. Here's what the research shows and how to make it work.
Growing Grapes in the Santa Cruz Banana Belt
If you garden in the county's warm sunny pocket above the fog, grapes have an easy time of it. Extra heat ripens the fruit well, the slopes drain freely, and frost is rare. The Banana Belt is some of the friendliest grape ground in Santa Cruz County.
How Many Hens Do I Need for a Family of Four?
About 3 to 5 hens covers a family of four. Here is the egg math, why to keep at least 3, and how to plan for molt and winter in California.
Growing Everbearing Strawberries in the Pajaro Valley
You are gardening in one of the strawberry capitals of the world. The Watsonville and Pajaro Valley flats grow more berries than almost anywhere on earth, and your backyard can ride the same rich soil and warm-but-mild climate.
Do Chickens Need a Heat Lamp in Santa Cruz Winters?
Most backyard chickens do not need a heat lamp in Santa Cruz County winters. Learn when supplemental heat helps and why it can be dangerous.
Top Strawberry Mistakes New Gardeners Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Most strawberry failures come from a handful of predictable mistakes. This guide covers the 12 most common errors new gardeners make when growing strawberries, from planting crowns too deep to ignoring runner management. Each mistake includes a clear fix so you can grow strawberries successfully the first time.
Succession Planting for Beginners
Succession planting means staggering plantings over time for continuous harvests. In Santa Cruz County's year-round growing season, this technique transforms your garden into a steady food source.
Growing Citrus in Containers: The Mobility Advantage
Containers let you grow citrus anywhere and move trees to shelter during cold snaps. Here is how to succeed with potted citrus in Santa Cruz County.
The 3 Best Bulk Soils for Santa Cruz County Vegetable Gardens (And Where to Get Them)
Building raised beds or amending your garden? Buying soil by the bag gets expensive fast. Here are the three best bulk soil options in Santa Cruz County, where to get them, and how to choose the right one for your garden.
Best and Worst Garden Plants for a Free-Range Flock
Which garden plants survive free-range chickens and ducks, which get destroyed, and which toxic plants to remove from your Santa Cruz County garden.
Growing Sprouts at Home Safely: Alfalfa, Mung Bean, and More
Learn to grow sprouts at home safely with proper sanitation. Covers alfalfa, mung bean, lentil, broccoli sprouts plus FDA and UC food safety guidelines.
Growing Sugar Snap Peas in the Santa Cruz Banana Belt
In the warm, sunny pockets above the fog, peas grow beautifully too. The one difference that matters is heat. Time your sowings to dodge the late-spring warm spell and the banana belt gives you a clean, productive crop.
Growing Meyer Lemons in Santa Cruz County
Meyer lemons are the most popular backyard citrus in Santa Cruz County. With the right site and care, they produce fruit nearly year-round.