Brassica Pests & Diseases in Santa Cruz County | Organic Solutions
Identify and manage brassica pests and diseases in Santa Cruz County. Cabbage worms, aphids, clubroot, and organic controls from UC IPM.
Warm-Season Cut Flowers for Santa Cruz County
When summer warmth arrives, these cut flowers take center stage. Here are the best warm-season blooms to grow for bouquets in Santa Cruz County.
Why Are My Blueberry Leaves Turning Yellow?
Yellow blueberry leaves with green veins signal iron chlorosis from high soil pH. Lower pH with sulfur and acidic mulch to restore healthy growth.
Growing Sungold Cherry Tomatoes in the Coastal Fog Belt
If you garden along the immediate coast around Santa Cruz, Capitola, the Aptos shoreline, or out toward Davenport, this is the page that finally has good tomato news for you. Unlike a paste tomato, Sungold actually thrives in the fog.
Do Motion-Sensor Lights Actually Deter Predators?
Motion-sensor lights can help temporarily, but they are not a reliable long-term predator deterrent. Here is what actually works for Santa Cruz flocks.
How to Find the Sunniest Spot in Your Yard
Learn how to track sunlight in your Santa Cruz County yard. Practical methods for identifying the best garden location despite fog, redwoods, and changing seasons.
Preserving Fresh Herbs: Drying, Freezing & Infusing for Year-Round Flavor
When your herb garden produces more than you can use fresh, preservation lets you capture that peak flavor for months to come. This guide covers four drying methods, four freezing techniques, and how to make herb-infused oils, vinegars, butters, and salts, with specific tips for handling Santa Cruz County's coastal humidity.
Cool-Season Cut Flowers for Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County's mild winters are perfect for cool-season cut flowers. These varieties bloom when most gardens are dormant.
Growing Low-Chill Peaches and Nectarines in the Santa Cruz Coastal Fog Belt
Growing a peach in the coastal fog belt of Santa Cruz County is the hardest version of this crop in the county, and it pays to be honest about why before you dig a hole. Two problems stack up here: low winter chill and a fungus that loves your weather. Get ahead of both and you c
What to Do When a Predator Gets In Your Coop
Emergency response steps for predator attacks on backyard chickens, ducks, and geese, including injured bird first aid and defense upgrades in Santa Cruz County.
Can You Grow Blackberries in a Pot?
Blackberries thrive in 15-to-20-gallon pots with good drainage. Container growing keeps them from spreading and works even in coastal California.