Gardening

 (Este post está disponible en español)Strawberries in a hot climate:       Strawberries are a choice crop for many small farms in California's central valley who operate roadside farmstands and u-pick (aka "pick-your-own") for direct sales to customers, but the hot climate of the…

  Where does the time go? Cover cropping season is upon us, again. After three years of running a cover trial in a walnut orchard in eastern Contra Costa County (at the northwestern reach of the San Joaquin Valley), there are some exciting results to share that could be helpful if you are deciding…

From tree-mapping to pest education, UC Master Gardeners are helping Californians combat invasive plants and pests through early detection, community science, and statewide partnerships.

Two worms and one idea (monitoring):     One of the main challenges to growing tree fruits are pests that can destroy the fruit or make it unmarketable. Some pests can injure the trees directly, affecting their growth.  The oriental fruit moth (scientific name, Grapholita molesta)…

Moringa known as a “miracle tree,” is fast growing, drought tolerant plant native to India and now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including parts of California. It could be grown in USDA zones 9b and warmer and is successfully cultivated in the Central Valley by Hmong…

The Coalition of Food Safety & Sustainability, co-sponsored by CCOF and WGA, is hosting a Compost Field Day to explore how compost can be safely and effectively integrated into produce safety and sustainability practices. DetailsDate: Wednesday, October 15, 2025Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pmLocation:…

To grow, plants must absorb nutrients from the soil. Not only must these nutrients be present in sufficient quantities, they must also be available for uptake by the plant. Nutrient availability is primarily determined by soil texture and pH. Soil texture is the amount of sand, silt, clay and organic…

This week on In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners, we revisit a show from 2017 when UC MG Ann Liu traveled to and interviewed Michael Dehart, Grounds and Gardens Supervisor at the Getty Villa in Malibu, CA. Together, they take listeners through a tour of the four gardens: Outer/Inner Peristyles, Herb…