Food Growing And Gardening

Leeks are members of the Allium family that do not form bulbs like their onion and garlic relatives. Instead, they develop a 6–10 inches edible stem that can be up to 3 inches diameter.

Okra grows on tall, bushy plants with ornamental leaves and flowers. The red varieties are particularly dramatic in the garden. Both the air temperature and the ground must be warm for heat loving okra to thrive.

Here's a listing of all our tomato tips. For more information about caring for tomatoes and the most common problems, refer to the UC Pest Site page on tomatoes.

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

Be sure to grow what you and your family like to eat. Marie Narlock It's possible to eat fresh from the garden all year long in Marin. Doing so takes a fair amount of planning. Here's how to determine which crops will suit your climate, space, and palate.

Rutabagas are grown for their large round roots. They are similar to turnips but are larger, slightly sweeter, and take longer to mature. They have yellow skin and flesh. Like other vegetables in the brassica family, they develop their best flavor in cool weather.

Garlic, a close relative of onions, shallots and leeks, is easily grown in Sonoma County. It occupies little garden space from fall through spring while still producing an ample crop.

Start your seeds 6 to 8 weeks before you plan to transplant them into the garden. Peppers grow best when the soil is warmed and daytime temperatures are regularly over 75ºF, typically late April or May in Santa Clara County. Temperatures below 50º–55ºF cause flowers to abort or the fruits to be misshapen.

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.

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.