Archive Nut, Prune and Olive Programs

We compared 12 varieties of long beans, Vigna unguiculata, to determine which ones have the best production and the best flavor for growing here in Santa Clara County. Chinese Green Noodle was the most productive variety by far and was the favorite in the first tasting for its very tender, mild pods. Chinese…

Beets are a root crop with edible leaves. They grow well in the cool season, so are best planted in the fall or spring. Direct seed 4 to 6 inches apart in March to April or August to September; possibly in February, May, and October depending on weather and local conditions. Transplant 4 to 6 inches apart in…

Spinach is a cool weather leafy green, good for eating raw in salads or for cooking. They bolt (send up a flower stalk) quickly in warm weather, so are best grown in the cool season in Santa Clara County.

There are two main types of garlic: softneck, which produces numerous smaller cloves, and hardneck, which has fewer, larger cloves surrounding a stalk or “scape”. Elephant garlic is not a true garlic (more closely related to leeks), but its cultivation is similar to that of true garlics. It has very large,…

Cauliflower is a cool season vegetable, best planted in the fall or early spring. The part that we harvest is actually a dense cluster of flower buds.

Broccoli is a cool season vegetable in the brassica (cabbage) family. The part we harvest is the immature flower head plus a portion of the stem.

Bok choy is a fast growing leafy green with thick, fleshy ribs, popular in Asian cuisine. It is in the brassica (cabbage) family. Best grown in the cool season, fall into winter or early spring.

Bok choy is a fast growing leafy green with thick, fleshy ribs, popular in Asian cuisine. It is in the brassica (cabbage) family. Best grown in the cool season, fall into winter or early spring.

Transplant seedlings in February to April or August to September; possibly October depending on weather and local conditions. Spacing depends on variety. Harvest as soon as they reach maturity (the head is firm and has reached an acceptable size). Leaving them in the garden too long may result in bolting or…

Fava beans (Vicia faba), sometimes called broad beans, grow well as a cool season crop in Santa Clara County. (Most other beans require warm weather.) Favas are also often grown as a cover crop because of their ability to add nitrogen to the soil.