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UC Cooperative Extension
1432 Abbott Street
Salinas, CA 93901
Monterey Bay Master Gardeners is a non-profit 501(c)(3) program supporting the work of the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties program.
Our Gardening Blog
Home Gardening Tips for Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties
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Two Methods to Winterize Your Garden
Thanks to our mild winter weather, home gardeners on the central coast can grow vegetables year-round – lading their holiday tables with...
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A Bird in the Hand?
So it turns out there is a lot more than the desire for fresh eggs to consider when deciding to become a chicken owner. Our very own Master Gardener...
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Gardening during a La Niña
Happy New Year from the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties! Although it's winter we haven't seen much rain so far this...
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Care of Potted Citrus
Fall and winter are the times of year when the average outdoor garden plants take a little breather, but not citrus! If your potted Meyer lemon or...
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For the birds: California native berries that birds love
People love berries and so do the birds! Each of these is native to California and attracts California thrashers, western bluebirds, American...
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Wildfire Prevention and Readiness
In light of all the terrible news about wildfires this week, I would like to share some websites which can help you make your home and surroundings...
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Pest Profiles: Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats have started making an appearance in my home. Not huge numbers, but enough to be noticeable. Fungus gnats are small flies that lay eggs...
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Pest Profiles: Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Last weekend I went out to my back porch to water and deadhead my container garden and came across some damage to my cosmos. The petals of most of...
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Container Gardens
If you've been wanting to start a garden but feel a little overwhelmed by the task, why not a container garden? You can start simply with just a pot...
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Zucchinis and Tomatoes and Basil, Oh My!
Do you have summer squash and tomatoes piling up on your kitchen counter and spilling out of your garden beds? Have you tried fried zucchini, roasted...
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Revised - What to Plant in August
Last week's planting guide was more appropriate for the southwest than our Central California climate. So here, for your reading pleasure, is a...
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What to plant in August
We're revisiting a post from a few years ago by PaulMcCollum. Thanks, Paul! Don't forget to subscribe to our blog so that you receive...
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Time to Bale
We have a FREE class coming up about straw bale and hugelkulture gardening. Visit our website to read more about the class and sign up to...
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Seed Saving in the Summer Garden
A Daily Practice I make it a daily practice to walk the garden and check-in on the plants. With each hot day that passes, I find that there is...
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Plant Profiles: Sungold Tomato
Have you eaten Sungold tomatoes? They are a cherry tomato with golden yellow 1” fruits that taste like summer bliss. Although it's a...
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IPM: Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a process you can use to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment. IPM can be...
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Central California's Migratory Butterflies
The Monarch is well known and celebrated. However, central California has several migrating species and one of them, the Gulf Fritillary, actually...
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Plant Profiles: Red Kuri Squash
Red kuri squash, also known as uchiki kuri squash or orange Hokkaido squash, is an early maturing winter squash that can be grown in a garden or...
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Poppies!
Springtime means my favorite flower, the simple but abundant and beautiful Eschscholzia californica or California poppy is in full, glorious bloom....