Archive Nut, Prune and Olive Programs

Melons are heat lovers that need full sun and high temperatures. Black plastic or black landscaping fabric can be used to keep the soil warm and weed-free. Cover the plants with floating row covers to keep them warm and protected from pests. Remove the row covers when the plants start to blossom.

Cucumbers are vining plants and members of the cucurbit family. Train vining cucumbers up a trellis, fence or another kind of support for easier harvest, straighter fruits, and to prevent diseases. If your garden lacks pollinators, you can pollinate by hand. Consider planting flowers that attract beneficial…

Potatoes are tubers that grow underground from the stem of the plant. While it's possible to grow potatoes from seed, most gardeners plant pieces cut from seed potatoes. Ensure that each cut piece includes an 'eye'. Allow the pieces to dry for 1 to 3 days before planting. Use certified seed potatoes rather…

Sweet corn harvested straight from the garden is a delicious treat, but can be challenging for home gardeners to grow. Corn is wind-pollinated, so planting in blocks of at least 3 to 4 short rows may result in better pollination than one or two long rows. Each stalk produces one or two ears.

Okra grows on tall, bushy plants with ornamental leaves and flowers. The red varieties are particularly dramatic in the garden. Both the air temperature and the ground must be warm for this heat lover to thrive. Tall varieties may need to be staked.

Carrots are a root vegetable that grow well in the spring or fall. They require loose, fine soil for straight, unforked roots.

Sweet potatoes are grown from ‘slips’, the term for sprouts from a sweet potato. Due to pest quarantines, most nursery companies cannot ship slips to California. But they are easy to grow yourself. Start slip production in February to March. Transplant to garden in May to June.

Radishes are grown for their crisp, spicy roots, but the entire plant is edible. The tops can be eaten like turnip or mustard greens, and some varieties are grown for edible seed pods.

Watermelon are large vining plants that need lots of sun, water, and room to ramble in full sun. Transplant or direct seed in May to June. For best results, wait until daytime temperatures are regularly over 75°F and soil temperature is over 70°F. If growing your own seedlings, start the seeds 4 weeks before…

Chard is a leafy green that is related to beets. It can be grown year round in Santa Clara County. Direct seed or transplant seedlings in February to May or September to October. Outer leaves can be harvested continuously as soon as the plant is well established. Harvest by cutting or breaking away a few of…