HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa

Few vegetables reward a home gardener quite like a sun-warmed tomato picked straight from the vine. A raised bed takes that satisfaction further: it gives you control over your soil, improves drainage, and if you plan carefully from the start, supports the crop rotation that is essential for long-term tomato…

As we prepare for spring and summer planting and look for ways to improve soil health, the question of using manure as a fertilizer comes up. Recently we were asked if it is ok to use the cow “patties” one can find in areas grazed by cows as a garden fertilizer.First, a few things to know about using manure…

Have you ever wondered about the string of letters after the name of the tomato variety? You will see these letters often on tomato plant labels or seed packets. Some varieties will have them, and some won’t. Sometimes there are just one or two, and other times there are a long string of them. These letter…

Winter storms with high winds or heavy rains take a toll on our trees and may cause a tree to fail. Most susceptible are the trees that keep their leaves all year, including broadleaf evergreens like eucalyptus and conifers. The greenery acts like a sail in a heavy wind and can cause the tree to bend…

Over the years I have encountered all the potato growing FAILS in my attempts to grow beautiful potatoes in Contra Costa County. First year…Clay soil smothered my sad seedlings. My next attempt was grocery store potatoes in a hilled bed of potting mix which resulted in beautiful potatoes with a rust disease…