For many other articles and information on gardening topics, please also check out our In the Press page.
Gardening for the Physically Challenged
Making gardening more accessible!
- WSU Extension's guide to adaptations for gardeners of all ages and abilities, Gardening for Life (PDF)
- Oregon State University Extension's series Making Gardening Easier
- Wheelchair Gardening (PDF)
- Maryland Cooperative Extension's Garden Friendly (PDF) series on making a garden friendly for the physically challenged
- Thrive: Carry on Gardening
- UC Master Gardener Toni Gattone's website
Building Healthy Soil
Testing your soil can be a good way to ensure that plants are receiving all the necessary macronutrients and micronutrients.
- A basic soil test can be purchased at your nearest garden or hardware store.
- For a more complete analysis, consider one of these Soil Testing Labs in the Central Valley (DOCX) (temporarily unavailable).
Vegetable Gardening Resources
Seed Starting
- Understanding a Seed Packet (PDF) (temporarily unavailable)
- Seed Starting Worksheet (PDF) (temporarily unavailable)
Vegetable Gardening Basics
- Vegetable Garden Basics UCANR 8059 (PDF) (temporarily unavailable)
- LA Victory Garden Initiative Vegetable Gardening Handbook (PDF) (temporarily unavailable)
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
- Click on the map to use the interactive feature
- On the next page, click on "Use Current Location" or enter your zip code to zoom in
- You can use the + and - buttons to zoom in and out. Click on the area you are inquiring about and it will tell you the plant hardiness zone.
- Growing Vegetables in Containers (PDF) (temporarily unavailable)
Vegetable Specifics
- MG Handbook Vegetable Guide (PDF) (temporarily unavailable)
- Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden (PDF) (temporarily unavailable)
- California Garden Web: Vegetables
- Storing Fruits and Vegetables (PDF) (temporarily unavailable)
Planting and Caring for a Home Orchard
The California Backyard Orchard
This website provides access to UC fact sheets and other UC publications relating to fruits and nuts grown in the backyard.
It also provides information for backyard gardeners and consumers about UC research, contacts, courses, publications, news, and events related to backyard and consumer fruit and nut crop issues.
Also listed are worthwhile links to organizations and industries which complement UC to provide a complete resource for backyard gardeners.
Selecting Fruit Trees
The following articles provide more information on selecting fruit trees for a successful home orchard.
- Home Fruit Trees in Mariposa County (PDF) by Gary W. Hickman
- Growing Temperate Tree Fruit and Nut Crops in the Home Garden (PDF) by Paul Vossen and Debra Silver
- Rootstock from the Washington State University Fruit Tree Site
Rose Research and Care
The Heritage Rose Group, research, links, articles and photo galleries on heritage roses
Pest Management
IPM: Integrated Pest Management
IPM focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage by managing the ecosystem. Rather than simply eliminating the pests you see right now, using IPM means you'll look at environmental factors that affect the pest and its ability to thrive. Armed with this information, you can create conditions that are unfavorable for the pest.
Weed ID and Control
UC Weed Research and Identification Center
Got a weed but don't know what it is or what to do about it?
UC's Weed Research and Information Center features a Weed ID toolbar that will help you identify common weeds. The site also describes strategies for controlling weeds in landscapes and gardens, both chemical and non-chemical methods that include mechanical, cultural, biological, and herbicide control.
UC Master Gardener Resources
The California Garden Web is the portal to UC's vast collection of research-based information about gardening.
The California Garden Web focuses on sustainable gardening practices and uses a question and answer format to present solutions. An online blog highlights gardening issues pertaining to the season.
UC ANR Lawn and Gardening Resources
UC's Agriculture and Natural Resources website provides a list of free and to-purchase publications on a wide array of gardening topics.