The Complete Guide to Watering Your Garden in Santa Cruz County: A Year-Round, Data-Driven Approach
Master Santa Cruz County's unique watering rhythm with this complete year-round guide. From winter's rain-fed ease to summer's irrigation demands, learn when and how much to water in every season.
Hardware Cloth, Coop Locks, and Night Safety Guide
Complete guide to hardware cloth gauges, raccoon-proof locks, automatic coop doors, and night security for backyard flocks in Santa Cruz County.
Growing Cut Flowers from Seed in Santa Cruz County
Starting cut flowers from seed opens up hundreds of varieties and saves significant money. Here is how to do it successfully in Santa Cruz County.
Reading Seed Packets: What All Those Numbers Mean
Learn to decode seed packet information for Santa Cruz County gardens. Understand days to maturity, planting depth, spacing, and how to adapt generic instructions for our local climate.
When Should I Prune Fruit Trees in Santa Cruz?
Prune stone fruit in late January and pome fruit in February while fully dormant. Apricots are the exception: prune after summer harvest.
Succession Planting Cut Flowers for Continuous Blooms
One planting is never enough for a steady supply of cut flowers. Succession planting keeps blooms coming from spring through fall.
Growing Gboma Eggplant in Santa Cruz County: A Leafy Green You Haven't Tried
Gboma eggplant is grown primarily for its nutritious leaves, not its fruit. This West African vegetable produces abundant greens all summer and handles Santa Cruz County's mild temperatures well.
Why Rosemary Thrives in Santa Cruz (Almost Too Well)
Rosemary may be the most forgiving herb you can grow in Santa Cruz County. This aromatic Mediterranean shrub thrives on neglect, produces year-round harvests, and lives for decades with minimal care. Here's everything you need to know about growing rosemary successfully, including important fire safety considerations for mountain properties.
Growing Heritage Apples in the San Lorenzo Valley
The San Lorenzo Valley is good heritage apple country, with one important rule: get the tree onto a sunny ridge or upper slope. The valley's cool winters bank plenty of the chill apples need, and its classic varieties thrive here. The catch is the shade. Apples want sun, and this
Can I Grow Lettuce and Greens Outdoors All Winter in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz winters are ideal for leafy greens. Lettuce, kale, and chard thrive in cool weather and taste sweeter after frost.
Growing Strawflowers in Santa Cruz County: The Everlasting Cut Flower
Strawflowers are the ultimate low-maintenance cut flower. They grow easily in Santa Cruz, look stunning fresh, and dry beautifully for arrangements that last months.
Common Beginner Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Every gardener makes mistakes, but some are predictable and avoidable. Learn the ten most common beginner mistakes in Santa Cruz County gardens and how to prevent them before you start.
When to Plant Brassicas in Santa Cruz County | Planting Calendar
Complete brassica planting calendar for Santa Cruz County. Seed starting, transplant, and harvest dates by microclimate for broccoli, cabbage, and more.
Do I Need to Protect My Plants from Frost on the California Coast?
Prepare tender plants for cold nights in Santa Cruz County. Learn how to check frost pockets, fit covers and manage soil moisture before the cold.
Growing Romaine Lettuce in the San Lorenzo Valley
If you garden under the redwoods of Felton, Ben Lomond, or Boulder Creek, you know the frustration of growing fruiting crops in dappled shade. Lettuce is the happy exception. For a cool-season green, the valley's shade is not a problem to overcome. It is an asset.
Why Are My Chickens Eating Their Own Eggs?
Egg eating usually starts by accident, then spreads as a habit. Here are the real causes and how to stop chickens eating their own eggs.
Why Did My Chickens Stop Laying Eggs?
Chickens stop laying for several common reasons. Learn the most likely causes and what to check first in your Santa Cruz County backyard flock.
Predator-Proofing Your Flock in Santa Cruz County
Protect your backyard chickens, ducks, and geese from raccoons, foxes, weasels, ringtail cats, and hawks in Santa Cruz County with proven defense strategies.
Growing Celosia in Santa Cruz County: Bold Texture for Warm Season Bouquets
Celosia brings bold color and unique texture to summer bouquets. It does best in Santa Cruz County's warm inland pockets, and here is how to handle the foggy coast.
How Do I Improve Heavy Clay Soil in California?
Compost is the best amendment for clay soil. Work it in when the soil is dry, add more each fall, and never mix in sand without enough organic matter.