Ongoing research

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Veg-Chard-Peppermint-Stick-MG-Ying-Chen-2
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Chard

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…
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Veg-Chard-Peppermint-Stick-MG-Ying-Chen-2
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Chard

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…
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Photo: University of Florida, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Chayote

Chayote, a member of the cucurbit family (along with cucumber, melons, and squash), is a perennial vine which produces edible vegetables used in cooking and used raw in salads and salsas. Plant seed or sprouted fruit in May to September, possibly April or October.
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UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Tomatoes

Transplant in May to June, possibly April depending on weather and local conditions. For best results, wait until daytime temperatures are regularly over 70°F. If growing your own seedlings, start the seeds 6 weeks before you want to plant.
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Yellow Onions (Photo: Evett Kilmartin)
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Onion Handout

Biennial monocot with prominent bulb, hollow cylindrical leaves, and an odor when bruised. Roots shallow, 12 to 18 inches. Has been used for food since very early times; it was eaten in Egypt before 3000 B.C. Also used as flavoring in nearly every current world culture. Botanically, there are three groups…
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Cucumber tasting at Nine Palms Ranch (Photo: Barbara Williams-Sheng)
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Nine Palms Cucumber Trial, 2008

Fourteen varieties of cucumbers were compared for flavor and production. Stallion White and Japanese Climbing ranked top in flavor. Marketmore 76 was top in production.
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Lettuces Black Seeded Simpson and Carmona, by Karen Schaffer
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Growing Lettuce Year Round

Lettuce is generally considered a cool weather plant, grown in early spring or fall, although it can be grown in the warm season in most of the SF Bay Area by choosing varieties adapted to warmer weather. Check seed catalogs for summer lettuces.
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Growing Blueberries in SCC 2024
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Blueberries

When/how to plant: Late fall through winter, using 2 to 3 year old plants. Blueberries require acidic soil; a soil test will help determine how much to acidify your soil. Be sure the soil has a pH between 4.5 and 6.5. If it’s a clay soil, use organic matter to amend the soil, preferably peat moss. Oregon…
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UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Parsnip

Direct seed February to April, possibly May, or September Harvest when the roots reach 1-inch diameter at the top. Expect 90 to 120 days to maturity. Flavor is best when the mature plants are exposed to cool weather for 2 to 4 weeks which encourages the starches in the roots to convert to sugars. Loosen…
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Snow pea pods
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Peas

Peas are a cool season vegetable in Santa Clara County. There are three types of fresh peas: Shelling peas, where the tough pod is removed before eating. Snow peas, which have edible pods and are harvested flat, while the peas inside are small and immature. Sugar snap peas, which have edible pods and are…
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