HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa

Note: This was originally published in the Contra Costa Times. It has been updated.If you have ever admired the coral beauty of camellias, azaleas or rhododendrons or savored the juicy plumpness of blueberries, you may have thought of growing your own. You may also have heard that these are acid-loving…

Do you love gardening and want to share that passion with your community? The UC Master Gardeners program might be just what you're looking for.UC Master Gardeners is a volunteer program dedicated to helping Contra Costa residents with researched, science-based knowledge on home horticulture, pest management…

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…