Ask Us
Got Gardening Questions?
Visit or call the Hotline
Tuesday 9am-12pm
Call: 530-552-5812
Or drop by: The Butte County Cooperative Extension Office
5 County Center Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
Email Us
Email your questions to us at mgbutte@ucanr.edu. Include a description and photos of the problem. See "Help Us Help You" below for what to include.
Catch us in person
Look for us at local farmers markets or at one of our information booths at community events. Check out where we'll be on the Events page.
Help Us Help You
You never can tell what's at the root of the problem. Below are some questions we may ask when you contact us:
- Name of plant
- Age of plant
- Soil type (loam, sandy, clay)
- Current watering methods (drip, sprinkler, hand)
- Frequency of watering
- Sun exposure
- Evidence of insects or other damage – check on both sides of leaves
- Recent changes that may effect the plant (watering, fertilizing)
Samples and photos related to your question are strongly encouraged. Drop them by the office any time, or email them to: mgbutte@ucanr.edu
What’s Hot Now?
Is it true that you can use eggshells in the garden? What are they good for?
Eggshells are high in calcium carbonate, which is an excellent soil amendment. Tomatoes especially love calcium, and incorporating crushed eggshells into the soil around tomato plants or at the bottom of their planting holes will help prevent blossom end rot. In general, mixing crushed eggshells into your garden soil will reduce its acidity and aid in aerating it. Adding eggshells to mulch is another way for your plants to benefit from calcium, which, like phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, is an essential nutrient which helps plants develop healthy cell walls. Just rinse eggshells and let them dry in an open container, then crush them into fairly fine bits. An easy way to do this is to put them in a sealed plastic bag, then bash them with a rolling pin. A coffee bean grinder also works, and will produce finer particles. So—save those eggshells and let them help out your garden plants!