If you are new to vegetable gardening or just want a refresher, here are a list of resources to guide you.
 

Introduction to Vegetable Gardening

• Questions? Contact UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County Hotline:
  • Phone: (858) 822-6910. Open 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.
  • Email: Help@MasterGardenerSD.org
     
• Joyce Gemmell's Vegetable Planting Guides for San Diego County.
  UC Master Gardener Joyce Gemmell's legacy lives on with her Vegetable Planting Guides. They are the go-to resource for growing vegetables in San Diego County. Listed by vegetable types, the guides share which varieties grow best in San Diego County, along with information on harvesting and pest management.
  Joyce Gemmell's Vegetable Planting Guides for San Diego County - Click here
   
• UC Master Gardeners of San Diego Growing Guides.
  The Growing Guides are short tutorials on successfully growing vegetables, tomatoes, avocados, and citrus.
  UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County Growing Guides - Click here
   
• Growing Berries in Your Backyard.
  Everything to know about growing berries at home.  Best varieties for California, planting, pruning, and pest management are discussed.
  Growing Berries in Your Backyard - Click here
   
• University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program.
  The UC IPM website helps home gardeners to identify and manage garden and household pests.
  UC Statewide Integrated Pest Managment - Click here
   
• University of California Vegetable and Melon Pest Index.
  Categorized by type of edible, this list helps gardeners understand and prepare for pest that might harm their vegetables and melons.
  UC Vegetable and Melon Pest Index - Click here
   
• University of California Pest Note Library.
  If the pest is known, review a one to two page tutorial on how to manage or remedy the problem. Each Pest Note includes environmentally-friendly options.
  UC Pest Notes - Click here
   
• Building a Raised Garden Bed.
  If the soil in your garden is compacted or otherwise unhealthy, consider building an above ground raised bed.  The following links offer advice and tutorials on what to consider to build a raised bed.
  Sunset Magazine: Build the Ultimate Raised Bed - Click here
   
• UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County - Raised Vegetable Beds

• Here is a tool to aid in planning your garden. Download this easy-to-use template to document what was planted and diagram where it was planted. Recording this information makes it easier to know what grew well and what you liked.
  Planting Record - BVG Spring Seminar 2020 - Click here
   

• Harvesting
  by Donna McClay, UC Master Gardener, San Diego County.
  Article in the San Diego Union Tribune on harvesting and preserving vegetables.
  Enjoy the fruits (and the vegetables) of your labor - Click here.
   
• Produce Storage 
  This chart lists the best methods for extending the freshness of just-picked produce.|
  Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Better Taste - Click here.
   
• Produce Preservation
  Resources for long term storage of fruits and vegetables.
     National Center for Home Food Preservation - Click here
     UCANR Preserving Fruits and Vegetables at Home - Click here
     Preserving Tomatoes - Click here
   
• Produce Safety
  Techniques on safe handling of produce.
  UC Food Safety - Click here

If you want to know more about vegetable gardening, join us for the Beginning Vegetable Gardening Workshops.  Workshops are taught locally, in community gardens, urban farms, or other gardening locations. Look here for an announcement of when classes will resume.

Home vegetable gardening is a fun and healthy activity for families, individuals, neighbors and friends. Benefits include healthier food options, wider selection of vegetable varieties, a lower carbon footprint and improved accessibility to fresh food.  Additionally, getting into the garden provides exercise, satisfaction from enjoying what was grown, and being a good steward for the Earth.

The Beginning Vegetable Gardening (BVG) Workshops unravel the mystery of vegetable gardening and educate new gardeners on tested methods for growing a home or community vegetable garden.

Taught by UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County, the BVG workshops are four, two to three hour sessions consisting of part lecture and part hands-on. The four lessons are:

• Planning Your Garden - Garden Planning, Site and Plant Selection and Raised Bed Care
• Getting Started - Soil Needs, Seed Starting, Composting and Water Wise Gardening
• Pest Management - Identifying Garden Pests and Effective and Eco-Friendly Management Methods
• Harvesting and Storage - Harvesting, Storage and Produce Safety.

Workshops are $20 per person including materials. To schedule a BVG series of workshops at your community garden or library, please contact: bvg@MasterGardenerSD.org