Ongoing research

Freeze dried french onion soup and tomato skin powder in separate glass jars

UC Master Food Preserver: Event

Freeze-Drying Fundamentals: From Family Meals to Sweet Treats (Online Delivery Program)

May 19, 2026

Learn the fundamentals of freeze-drying for long-term food preservation. In this one-hour class, you’ll explore how freeze-drying works and how it helps maintain food quality over time.We’ll cover practical applications, including preserving complete meals and freeze-dried snacks such as fruit and candy. The…

UC Master Food Preserver

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

4.1. Harvesting

May 5, 2026

By CoCoMG Helpdesk

Vegetable Gardening - Handbook for Beginners Chapter 4.1.Harvesting time is based on personal preferences. “Gourmet” or “baby” vegetables are merely vegetables harvested when they’re small. Blossoms (e.g., squash blossoms) can be harvested for use in salads or other recipes. Harvest vegetables as early…

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

3.6. Insects

May 5, 2026

By CoCoMG Helpdesk

Vegetable Gardening - Handbook for Beginners Chapter 3.6. To discourage snails and slugs: pick and squish, put beer bait in a saucer, collect under a board, use copper collars, surround the area with the spiky fruit pods of the sweet gum tree, use abrasive surfaces such as eggshells, lift vine…

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

3.5. Diseases

May 5, 2026

By CoCoMG Helpdesk

Vegetable Gardening - Handbook for Beginners Chapter 3.5. Disease pathogens are naturally always present in the air and soil. These pathogens become problematic only when all elements of the pest triangle are present. To avoid this, make sure your garden environment does not encourage favorable…

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

3.4. Weeds

May 5, 2026

By CoCoMG Helpdesk

Vegetable Gardening - Handbook for Beginners Chapter 3.4. Weeds compete with crop plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients, so their growth must be limited to obtain a reasonable yield of any food crop. In vegetable planting, weeds can quickly shade out young crop plants as well as rob the soil of…

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

3.3. Pest Triangle

May 5, 2026

By CoCoMG Helpdesk

Vegetable Gardening - Handbook for Beginners Chapter 3.3. Disease, insects, and weed seeds are always present in garden locations. All these infectious triangle components must be present in order for one of these pests to become established. Diseases The likelihood of disease is less if the…

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

3.2. Beneficial insects and other biological controls

May 5, 2026

By CoCoMG Helpdesk

Vegetable Gardening - Handbook for Beginners Chapter 3.2.Beneficial insects are insects that help limit pest damage. They reduce pest populations primarily by parasitizing or eating pests or weeds. Planting a variety of flowers, vegetables, and herbs will provide food and protection for beneficial insects as…

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

3.1. Pests in the Garden

May 5, 2026

By CoCoMG Helpdesk

Vegetable Gardening - Handbook for Beginners Chapter 3.1.When dealing with insects in your vegetable garden, determine the acceptable level of infestation - how much damage can your plants withstand before you feel that you must take action? How many chewed or dried-up leaves can the plants stand, and how…

succulents in individual containers for sale

UC Master Gardeners of Tulare and Kings County: Event

UC Master Gardeners' House Plant and Succulent Sale

May 16, 2026

UC Master Gardeners' Succulents and Houseplants Sale. Choose from Individual Succulents, Succulent Arrangements, and a variety of Houseplants. “Bring Home Beautiful Plants & Help Local Gardening Education Thrive” We will be located on Main Street, between Court…

UC Master Gardeners of Tulare and Kings County

Blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria, foraging on Iceland poppy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bug Squad: Article

UC Davis Doctoral Students Win Major Fellowships

May 5, 2026

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Congratulations to a trio of UC Davis entomology doctoral students who just received major fellowships, funding totaling more than $500,000.Abigail "Abby" Lehner, a doctoral candidate in the lab of pollinator ecologist Neal Williams, professor of entomology, UC Davis Department of Entomology and…