Test PB Collection: FTE

We invite you to join our public tomato trial and be a citizen scientist! Help us gather information by growing trial tomatoes in your garden and reporting the results.

In the past, artificial turf was marketed as an environmentally conscious alternative to lawns due to lower water consumption and no need for weekly maintenance. Years of installations have shown that it’s more complex than that. Here is a list of pros and cons of artificial turf that gives a more balanced…

Bitter melon is in the cucurbit family and grows on a vine as do other members of this family, such as cucumbers, squash, or melons. Bitter melon is a subtropical plant which will grow best in a warm location with some humidity. The vines can get over 12 feet long, so a trellis or some other support is…

Rutabagas are grown for their large round roots. They are similar to turnips but are larger, slightly sweeter, and take longer to mature. They have yellow skin and flesh. Like other vegetables in the brassica family, they develop their best flavor in cool weather.

Fall Garden Fair maps. The Santa Clara County Master Gardener's Fall Garden Fair is a fun educational event for the entire family. Attend talks, tour the gardens, and shop the plant sales.

The gardens at the Martial Cottle Park demonstration garden in San Jose are divided into various collections with distinct themes and focuses. See descriptions below for details. Click the map to see a larger version with the collections labeled.

The Lawn Alternatives section of the Palo Alto Demo Garden demonstrates new or replacement plantings for conventional high-water-use sod lawns. It includes options such as turf for kids and pets to play on, groundcovers for low-foot-traffic areas, and grasses for creating meadows. The lawn alternatives have…

Many fruit varieties require a certain amount of winter cold, measured in chill hours, in order to grow well, set flowers, and produce a good crop. Since the Bay Area no longer gets as much winter chill as it has in the past, older fruit trees may not be as productive as they have been in the past.

From the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, this page lists all of our gardening tips, sorted alphabetically by title. To view lists of tips by month or topic, visit our Tips & Events web page.

This page provides information about the Master Gardener application and training process. We welcome applicants from all walks of life, with diverse backgrounds and experiences.