Can You Compost Citrus Peels? (Yes, You Can)
Citrus peels compost just fine despite what you may have heard. Here is how to add them to your pile or worm bin without problems.
Santa Cruz County Plant Guides by Microclimate
Variety-by-variety growing guides for Santa Cruz County's microclimates: the coastal fog belt, the Banana Belt, the San Lorenzo Valley, and the Pajaro Valley.
Hot Composting vs. Cold Composting Compared
Cold composting is nearly foolproof and works for most gardeners. Hot composting finishes in weeks but takes real effort. Here is how to choose your method.
Public Gardens South of Santa Cruz: 9 Stops from Salinas to Carmel
Head south around the bay and the gardens change character. They are smaller and older than the estate gardens north of Highway 17, and they lean historic: adobe courtyards, mission gardens, and a working farm or two.
Gardening with Tweens and Teens (Ages 11 and Up)
Keep tweens and teens genuinely interested in gardening in Santa Cruz: ownership, entrepreneurship, bigger projects, 4-H, and real independence.
Gopher Baskets vs. Raised Beds for Rodent Control
Gopher baskets protect individual trees while lined raised beds shield entire vegetable plantings. Santa Cruz gardeners need both strategies for rodent control.
Growing Ranunculus in the Pajaro Valley
If you garden down in the Pajaro Valley around Watsonville, you have some of the best flower ground in the county under your feet. Commercial cut-flower fields thrive on these rich valley soils, and ranunculus is right at home here with a little attention to drainage and frost po
Garden Fork vs. Broadfork: Which Do You Need?
A garden fork handles most tasks in small gardens while a broadfork shines in larger no-till plots. Here is how to choose for Santa Cruz clay soil.
Gardening with Toddlers (Ages 2 to 4): A Practical Guide
Simple, safe, sensory-first garden projects for toddlers ages 2 to 4 in Santa Cruz. Realistic attention spans, easy crops, and how to keep it fun.
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?
A basic raised bed drip system needs a timer, pressure regulator, mainline tubing, and emitters. Installation takes about 30 minutes per bed.
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 are beautiful, but many moth and butterfly larvae are serious garden pests. Here is how to protect crops while still supporting pollinators.
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.