Food Growing And Gardening

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Yellow Onions (Photo: Evett Kilmartin)
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Onion Handout

Biennial monocot with prominent bulb, hollow cylindrical leaves and an odor when bruised. Roots shallow, 12-18" Has been used for food since very early times; was eaten in Egypt before 3000 B.C. Also used as flavoring in nearly every current world culture. Botanically, there are three groups. Many claims are…
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Kale in trough
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Page

Preparing: Beds, Containers, Soil, Irrigation

Few areas of the garden benefit from detailed preparation like the edible garden. The two most important components are putting the infrastructure in place (beds and irrigation) and using healthy soil.
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MCP Pavilion talk 2019
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Fall Garden Fair Gardening Talks 2025

Fall Gardening Fair talks schedule. Use our free Plant Daycare for your purchases, then join us for these great gardening talks and get your questions answered afterward. Talks are held outdoors in various areas on our parcel and will be about 45 minutes long.
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Fresh Eggplant, Zucchini, and Yellow Squash
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Summer Squash (including zucchini)

Transplant or direct seed: May–July, possibly April for transplanting. For best results, wait until daytime temperatures are regularly over 70°F and soil temperature is over 65°F. Start in pots for transplants: March–June; ready to transplant in 4 weeks.
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Lettuces Black Seeded Simpson and Carmona, by Karen Schaffer
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Growing Lettuce Year Round

Lettuce is generally considered a cool weather plant, grown in early spring or fall, although it can be grown in the warm season in most of the SF Bay Area by choosing varieties adapted to warmer weather. Check seed catalogs for summer lettuces.
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carrots
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Page

Tips & Techniques

Edible gardens are a world unto themselves in the landscape. There are many strategies unique to vegetable gardens that extend growing times, keep the garden healthy, and maximize crop yields. Here's a cheat sheet of common edible garden lingo and strategies.
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Cool season vegetables including carrots and cabbage, from Canva
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Vegetable Gardening Basics

Top tips for a successful vegetable garden: Choose a flat, sunny location with well-drained soil. Vegetables need at a minimum of 6–8 hours of sun. Full sun is best. Prepare your soil well before you plant. Thoroughly remove all weeds, dig to loosen the soil, and amend with compost and fertilizer as needed…
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Several kinds of winter squash
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Winter Squash (including pumpkins)

Transplant or direct seed: May–June For best results, wait until daytime temperatures are regularly over 75°F and soil temperature is over 65°F Start in pots for transplants: April–May; ready to transplant in 4 weeks
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