Napa Master Gardener Column

By David Layland, U. C. Master Gardener of Napa County It's that time of year: time to start thinking about planting this year's vegetable garden. It's still too early to actually plant seeds or starts but it's not too early to do a little planning.

When I look back at my vegetable garden layouts from years ago, I see that everything was planted in neat and segregated rows. Every vegetable had its own area and would not dare encroach on its neighbors. I probably did this as I wanted my vegetable garden to be visually pleasing.

There are many ways to propagate plants, but the method I want to share is asexual propagation. With this method, which does not rely on seeds, you duplicate a plant by rooting a cutting from it. For some species, it is the best way to maintain them.

T. Eric Nightingale returns this week to report on his recent search for uncommon fruits and vegetables. The time has finally come to start planning for summer crops. Looking over my seed packets, I feel an unexpected bout of restlessness.

With the surging interest in pollinator gardens and habitats, it is great to see so many home gardeners, parks and public spaces embrace the concept. When I first started looking into pollinator gardens, I thought any plant that attracts pollinators would do in all cases.