Bush Beans vs. Pole Beans: Which Produces More?
Pole beans outproduce bush beans in small spaces, yielding two to three times more per square foot. Here is how to decide which type fits your Santa Cruz garden.
How Do I Set Up Drip Irrigation for Raised Beds?
Plan a raised-bed drip system with compatible parts, backflow protection and filtration, then adjust watering by checking the soil around your plants.
Avocado Tree Care Calendar for Santa Cruz County | Month-by-Month
Month-by-month avocado tree care for Santa Cruz County. When to fertilize, water, protect from frost, and harvest with local timing guidance.
Full Sun vs. Partial Shade Garden Productivity
Full sun gardens produce the widest range of crops but partial shade gardens grow excellent greens, herbs, and root vegetables. Here is how to use both in Santa Cruz.
Grapevine Growth Stages: The Year-by-Year Life Cycle
A walk through the grapevine's annual cycle, from bud break and bloom to veraison and harvest, plus the years to first crop.
Gardening with Preschoolers (Ages 4 to 6): A Hands-On Guide
Hands-on garden projects for preschool and kindergarten kids ages 4 to 6 in Santa Cruz. Build early skills, easy crops, counting games, and real jobs.
Are All Butterflies and Moths Good for Gardens?
Butterflies and moths have different roles as adults and caterpillars. Identify the insect, assess crop damage and preserve useful habitat.
Public Gardens North of Santa Cruz: 11 Stops Worth the Drive
Point the car north over Highway 17 and, within about two hours, you can reach a Japanese hillside garden built in 1917, a marquee estate garden with an orchard of about 250 fruit trees, a cactus collection first planted in the 1880s, and some of the best botanic collections in the country.
Floating Row Cover vs. Shade Cloth Compared
Row cover blocks frost and insects while shade cloth reduces heat. Here is how to choose the right protection for your Santa Cruz garden.
Gardening Projects for Elementary Kids (Ages 6 to 10)
Garden projects, real responsibilities, and simple science experiments for elementary kids ages 6 to 10 in Santa Cruz. Build skills that stick.
Fabric Grow Bags vs. Plastic Pots: Which Is Better?
Fabric grow bags build healthier root systems than plastic pots through air pruning, but they need more frequent watering. Here is how to choose for your container garden.
Fungus Gnats on Houseplants: How to Control Them Without Sprays
Identify and control fungus gnats and other indoor plant pests without sprays. UC IPM methods: dry the soil, sticky traps, Bti, and prevention.
BT vs. Hand-Picking for Caterpillar Control
BT kills caterpillars that eat treated leaves while hand-picking removes them instantly. Here is when to use each method in your Santa Cruz garden.
Drip Tape vs. Drip Line: Which to Install?
Drip tape suits seasonal annual rows while drip line lasts a decade in permanent beds. Here is how to choose the right drip system for your Santa Cruz garden.
When Can I Transplant Tomato Seedlings Outside in Santa Cruz?
Wait for soil temperatures of 60F and night air above 50F before transplanting tomatoes. That's mid-April to mid-May in most of Santa Cruz County.
Best Cover Crops for Home Gardens in California: What to Plant and When
Discover the best cover crops for California home gardens, from crimson clover to buckwheat. Species guide with sowing times, growth habits, and soil benefits.
Blueberry Growth Stages: From Planting to Ripe Fruit
How a blueberry bush develops year by year in California, from planting and bud break through bloom, fruit set, and harvest.
Fastest Crops to Grow With Kids in California: Quick Wins for Short Attention Spans
The fastest crops to grow with kids in coastal California: radishes, lettuce, bush beans, and sunflowers, with realistic days-to-harvest for short attention spans.
Will Bought Ladybugs Stay in Your Garden?
Purchased lady beetles often disperse soon after release, but may eat aphids first. Learn when a release helps and how to support resident predators.
Growing Roma Tomatoes in the San Lorenzo Valley
If you garden in Felton, Ben Lomond, or Boulder Creek, whether you can grow a Roma depends almost entirely on which part of your property you are standing in. The SLV is a split reality: sunny ridges can do it, shaded redwood canyons cannot.