The Real Dirt

It will soon be time to start planting many cool season crops.  There are several reasons to plant a winter garden. Many crops actually taste better and grow best in cooler weather. Also, a winter garden is less work: the weather is more comfortable and there is less weeding and watering to do.  Finally,…

The abundance from summer vegetable gardens is extended through the winter and beyond by methods of canning, freezing and drying. But you can also give your summer vegetables a longer life span by saving their seeds. It's important to know that the seed from a hybrid plant will not produce a plant exactly…

In late summer bulbs of daffodils and tulips start appearing in garden stores. Everyone enjoys the lovely display they make in spring. But do you know that there are native spring-blooming bulbs that will also look beautiful in your garden? You may have seen blue dicks (scientific name Dichelostemma capitata…

“Living Lab” is the perfect name for an innovative outdoor learning and teacher-training program that just might change a child’s life. Our Master Gardeners (MGs) Living Lab team offers a number of resources for local schools. This article focuses on our collaboration with the Chico Area Recreation District …

Want to see what thrives here in our Mediterranean climate in the dog days of summer? It’s well worth taking the short drive to our Demonstration Garden. The Demo Garden is on the property of Patrick Ranch, located off the Midway. Here, Master Gardeners plant, grow and tend 14 specialized gardens all year…