Napa Master Gardener Column

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Three Tomato Varieties

An Ode to Juliet

March 28, 2026
By Michael Lecours
By Penny Pawl, UC Master Gardener of Napa County. Last year at this time Napa County Master Gardeners were working hard to have an outstanding spring Tomato Sale.  Our effort paid off: the sale, which helps fund our activities, was a complete success and will be held again this year on Saturday,…
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Tomato plants

Tomato Tips

March 21, 2026
By Cindy Watter, UC Master Gardener of Napa County.   For many people, spring begins with the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County tomato sale, which will be held on Saturday, April 11, this year.   Just as the tomato sale signals spring, a ripe tomato is practically the trademark of summer. …
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Person holding compost in their hands

The Magic of Compost

March 14, 2026
By Cindy Watter, UC Master Gardener of Napa County.    If you have read my columns for a few years, you will know I am crazy about compost.  It satisfies my parsimony and indolence: a compost pile costs nothing, and even if you do nothing to it, it will decompose into a useful soil amendment. …
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Lettuce Plants

Time for Spring Vegetables

March 8, 2026
Pat Hitchcock, UC Master Gardener of Napa County.What gardener’s thoughts do not turn to the vegetable patch when the sun comes out after a long spell of rainy days? Most of us want to jump right into the beloved tomatoes and beans of summer, even though their planting time is still a couple of months away…
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Citrus Tree with Fruit

So You Want to Plant a Fruit Tree

February 28, 2026
By Michael Lecours
By David Shubin, ISA Certified Arborist and UC Master Gardener of Napa County.   Master Gardeners are often asked about the best time to plant a fruit tree. And I think we usually all give the same answer: It depends.  I know that’s not a satisfying reply. It can feel vague, even evasive. But…
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