Do You Need to Rotate Crops in a Home Garden?
Rotate crop families where practical, including in home gardens. Match the interval and other controls to the disease rather than dismissing short moves.
When Should I Start Tomato Seeds Indoors on the California Coast?
Mid-February is the sweet spot for starting tomato seeds indoors on the California coast. Start too early and seedlings outgrow their pots before soil is warm.
Succulent Problems in Coastal California | Rot, Pests & Fixes
Diagnose and fix common succulent problems in coastal California. Root rot, mealybugs, etiolation, sunburn, and other issues with practical solutions.
Does Mulch Really Attract Termites to Your Home?
Keep mulch from obscuring the foundation or creating wood and moisture problems. Termite prevention and fire-wise placement need separate attention.
Garlic Growth Stages: From Clove to Bulb
The garlic life cycle from fall planting through winter roots, spring leaves, scapes, and the summer harvest of a cured bulb.
Growing Zucchini in the Santa Cruz Coastal Fog Belt
If you garden along the immediate coast around Santa Cruz, Capitola, the Aptos flats, or out toward Davenport, zucchini is absolutely workable here. It just grows on the fog belt's slower clock, and powdery mildew is the foe to plan around.
How Do I Protect Free-Range Birds From Hawks?
Hawks are a real threat to free-range chickens and ducks. Practical strategies for protecting your backyard flock in Santa Cruz County.
Growing Potatoes in the Santa Cruz Coastal Fog Belt
If you garden in the immediate coastal band, the foggy strip through Santa Cruz, Capitola, the Aptos coast, and out toward Davenport, potatoes are a satisfying and forgiving crop for you. They want the cool spring weather the marine layer hands you, and they reward a little hilli
Does More Fertilizer Mean More Fruit?
Correct nutrient shortages without overfeeding. Use soil information, crop needs and label directions to choose fertilizer rather than assuming more means more fruit.
Succulent Container Gardens in California | Design, Soil & Care
Create stunning succulent container gardens in California. Expert tips on soil mix, container selection, design, and year-round care for coastal climates.
5 Garden Science Experiments Kids Can Do This Summer
Fun, hands-on garden science experiments for kids. Grow plants, test soil, observe insects, and learn about nature in your Santa Cruz backyard this summer.
12 Vegetables Every Beginner Should Grow in California
Discover the 12 easiest vegetables to grow in California, with variety picks, planting tips, and zone-specific advice from a Santa Cruz gardener.
15 Vegetables That Produce the Most Food per Square Foot
Discover the 15 most productive vegetables ranked by yield per square foot, with pounds-per-plant data, store cost comparisons, and California-specific growing tips.
12 Crops You Can Still Plant Late in the Season in California
Think it's too late to plant? These 12 crops thrive when planted in July through September in California, taking advantage of our long growing season for second harvests.
15 Herbs That Thrive in the Santa Cruz Climate
Discover 15 herbs that thrive in Santa Cruz's coastal climate, with growing tips, harvest advice, and preservation methods from a local gardener with 20+ years of experience.
15 Vegetables You Can Grow From Kitchen Scraps in California
Learn how to regrow 15 vegetables from kitchen scraps, with step-by-step instructions and notes on which ones actually produce well in California gardens.
15 Garden Tools Worth Buying Once
Discover 15 garden tools worth investing in once, with brand recommendations, care tips, and advice from a California gardener with 20+ years of experience.
10 Best Companion Plants for Cucumbers in California
Discover 10 proven companion plants for cucumbers, including trellis partners, ground covers, and pest deterrents. California-specific timing and spacing from a Santa Cruz gardener.
12 Fast-Growing Vegetables for Impatient California Gardeners
Discover 12 fast-growing vegetables that go from seed to plate in under 60 days. Includes days to harvest, succession planting tips, and California zone-specific timing.
12 Best Companion Plants for Strawberries in California
Discover 12 proven companion plants for strawberries that deter slugs, improve flavor, and attract pollinators. California-specific tips from a Santa Cruz gardener with 20 years of experience.