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By Elaine Applebaum, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyQ: I like the idea of growing my own vegetables, but it seems like a lot of work. Are there some that are easier than others?A: There is a newfound interest in growing one’s own vegetables for economic, health and environmental reasons. Many…
By Trish Grenfell, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyQ: I planted basil this spring and am unsure how many leaves I can remove without killing the plant. Will it regrow after I scalp it?A: Basil is wonderful, not only as a culinary experience, but if you place leafy bouquets in water, the spicy…
By Laurie Meyerpeter, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyQ: What vegetables can I plant in the fall?A: Many vegetables are best planted in either late summer or early fall for a fall or winter crop. Or the same vegetables can be planted in early spring for a crop that matures before the heat of the…
Trish Alderson, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Summer 2011Chips and Salsa, anyone?? How about salsa on salad or adding salsa to a favorite dish?These are just a few examples of how we might use salsa to enhance what we eat.Salsa is a wonderful accompaniment to many…
Elaine Kelly Applebaum, UC Master Gardener of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Spring 2021 Audrey Hepburn once said, “to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” So perhaps it was to be expected that people around the world would take the opportunity posed by stay-at-home orders last…
Dorothy Volker, UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County From The Curious Gardener, Spring 2010You already know what vegetables your family likes to eat and you like knowing where and how your food is grown. You know that growing your own vegetables reduces your family’s carbon footprint and you really know…
Lettuce is generally considered to be a cool-season annual, but with a little advanced planning and some judicious plant selection, Marin gardeners can enjoy home-grown lettuce throughout the year. Our temperate climate makes it possible to modify the growing conditions for lettuce and enable the plants to…
How about bringing a new plant home to cheer up these dark winter days? For the avid gardener, houseplants can be an excellent source of greenery and even flowers when the outside garden has gone gray and dormant in the doldrums of mid-winter. The Moth Orchid, ZZ Plant, Christmas Cactus, Snake Plant,…
The plant that graced the botanical gardens of the Aztec empire over 600 years ago, and the flower of Holy Night legends, is the poinsettia (poin seh tee uh), or flor de nochebuena in Spanish. Seen everywhere for sale during a short six weeks of the year, this plant has come to symbolize Christmas. A closer…
Fall is the best time to plant garlic for a summer harvest. Both the softneck and hardneck types of garlic can be planted now. The softneck varieties are found in most grocery stores. They have a mild flavor and store very well. Two recommended softneck varieties for our climate are “California Early”…
