Ongoing research

UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Tomato Staking Techniques

This is a summary of what we learned from our 2001 tomato project in regards to tomato staking methods. We grew just over a hundred varieties of mostly heirloom tomatoes at the now closed University of California Bay Area Research and Extension Center facility in the City of Santa Clara.
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Assortment of colorful, red and orange tomatoes
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Spring Garden Fair Tomatoes

Spring Garden Fair tomatoes descriptions. We offer a wide selection of delicious tomato seedlings, from huge beefsteaks to bite-size cherry tomatoes, both heirloom and modern varieties, in a rainbow of colors. All have been trialed by UC Master Gardeners.
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Pile of long red and yellow peppers
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Spring Garden Fair Peppers/Chiles

We offer a wide range of delicious and unusual pepper/chile seedlings from around the world—India, South America, Mexico, Africa, USA and more. Whether you like sweet and juicy or hot and searing, you‘ll find many choices to please your palate.
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Spiky green leaves with small blue flowers
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Spring Garden Fair Herbs

Spring Garden Fair Herbs. Listed are the herb seedlings that we will be offering. Many of these, especially the basils, are very popular and may sell out early.
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Bright orange daisy-like flower
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Spring Garden Fair Ornamentals

Spring Garden Fair ornamentals decriptions. The flowers and other ornamental plants we offer at the Spring Garden Fair have been trialed in our research gardens to select varieties that perform particularly well in our climate, with an eye toward those that are beautiful and long-lasting in flower…
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Succulent Arrangements for Sun, Laura Balaoro
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Succulent Sales

Here is a list of beautiful succulents we have propagated for sale. They thrive both in containers and in the ground. For information on caring for succulents, see our succulents help page.For upcoming sale events, see our Events Calendar.Succulent list Succulent SamplerA 4-inch pot containing 5 to…
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plants, pots, and gardening hand tools
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Spring Garden Fair Gardening Talks 2026

Join us for these great gardening talks and get your questions answered afterward. Talks will be held outdoors on our parcel. Most will last about 45 minutes. Let our free Plant Sitting booth watch your purchases while you attend talks or visit the gardens.
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Tomatoes
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Growing Great Tomatoes

Tomatoes do best planted in full sun all day, although they will usually produce some crop with less. If your plants have had symptoms of disease in previous years, it is important to plant in soil that has not grown tomatoes or their relatives such as peppers or eggplants for three or more years.
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Tomato fest Karen Schaffer
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

High Density Tomato Growing

Too many tomatoes to choose from? Can’t make up your mind? Consider High Density Tomato Growing, a great technique for anyone who wants to try lots and lots of varieties. Some advice: Plant two different tomato seedlings together in a single cage.
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SMall chalkboard with he words "Gardening Tips" handwritten on it
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

January Tips

January gardening tips for Santa Clara County, categorized by To-Dos, What to Plant, or Pests and Diseases. Tips are available for each month, as well as tips that are applicable for every month.
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