HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa

Christmas cactus will be in bloom soon, available at your local nursery and home and garden store, in many stunning colors to brighten our shorter days. Their bloom time can range from November to January, just when we could use that emotional lift the most.

It's time to get ready for cold winter temperatures and to start preparing protection for citrus trees and other frost-sensitive plants. Depending on where you live in Contra Costa County, your first frost date may be as early as Halloween.

Garlic has been part of agriculture for at least 5000 years and is thought to have been brought to the Americas by Columbus.

For most of the Bay Area we had an unexpected but wonderful seasonal surprise RAIN. This blessing provided a drink of water to plants that we have had to ignore due to water rationing. We were not the only ones waiting for that first seasonal rain.

What is a cover crop? It's a crop grown to feed and protect the soil when the garden is not being used for active food production.