Keeping a Goose: What to Know About Single-Goose Flocks
What to expect keeping a single goose in a mixed flock, from Toulouse temperament and bonding behavior to the truth about guard geese in Santa Cruz County.
Growing Sugar Snap Peas in the Pajaro Valley
In Watsonville, Corralitos, and the south county ag land, the warmest microclimate in the county, sugar snap peas are best treated as a true winter crop. Sow in fall, harvest through winter and early spring, and finish before the heat.
Garden Prep: From Lawn to Garden
Transform your lawn into productive garden beds using the method that fits your timeline and effort level. Sheet mulching is ideal for most Santa Cruz gardens, building soil while killing grass.
Growing Mint in Santa Cruz: Tips for Containing This Vigorous Herb
Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow in Santa Cruz County, perhaps too easy. This vigorous spreader can quickly escape its boundaries and colonize your entire garden if you're not careful. Here's how to enjoy abundant mint harvests while keeping this enthusiastic herb under control.
How to Eliminate Mosquitoes in Your Santa Cruz Garden
Mosquitoes aren't just annoying. With invasive Aedes aegypti now in Boulder Creek and other parts of Santa Cruz County, they're a health concern. The good news? Mosquito control is within your power. Learn to eliminate breeding sites, get free mosquito fish from Vector Control, use biological larvicides, and create habitat for natural predators like bats and dragonflies, all without harmful pesticides.
Understanding Strawberry Growth Stages in Your Santa Cruz Garden
Every strawberry plant moves through predictable growth stages, from winter dormancy through flowering, fruiting, and runner production. This guide explains each stage as it unfolds in Santa Cruz County gardens, including what to look for, what care each stage needs, and how timing varies by microclimate and variety type.
Succession Planting Beans for Continuous Harvest
One planting of bush beans lasts about three weeks. Succession planting every few weeks keeps fresh beans on the table from June through October.
Growing Romaine Lettuce 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, you can grow excellent romaine. The catch is the opposite of the tomato story: here you plant lettuce around the warm season rather than into it.
Growing Grapes in the Santa Cruz Coastal Fog Belt
Grapes and the coastal fog belt are a mismatch. The cool, damp mornings that make this stretch of Santa Cruz County so pleasant to live in are the same conditions that make grapes struggle. You can grow them, but you have to choose carefully and work with the climate, not
When Do Young Hens Start Laying Eggs?
Most pullets start laying around 18 to 22 weeks. Learn the signs, why first eggs look odd, and how Santa Cruz fog months can delay the first egg.
Do I Need a Pond for Backyard Ducks?
Backyard ducks do not need a pond, but they do need water deep enough to submerge their heads. Practical water setup options for Santa Cruz duck keepers.
These Common Garden Plants Are a Fire Hazard Near Homes
Some of the most common landscaping plants in Santa Cruz County are also the most dangerous in fire season. Juniper, eucalyptus, cypress, and pampas grass create fire pathways to your home. Learn which plants to avoid or remove from your defensible space, especially in high-risk areas like Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Brookdale, and Felton. Knowing what NOT to plant is just as important as choosing fire-resistant alternatives.
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.