HOrT COCO: UC Master Gardener Program-Contra Costa-Blog
-
Weeds and Weed Seeds
Note: This was originally published in the Contra Costa Times Conquer weeds by understanding their life cycles As a gardener in Contra Costa County, you know from observation that weeds have an...
-
Growing Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns
Note: This was originally published in the Contra Costa Times. Q: I know that acorns are the seeds of oak trees, but how do I plant them? A: Oaks are an important part of the California...
-
Seeds Are Worth Saving
It's getting close to the end of our summer gardening season. Now is the time to start thinking about next summer's garden. Do you have annual flower or vegetable varieties that did really well in...
-
Spider Mites
Spider mites are very common pests found on many of our landscape and vegetable garden plants. They are tiny and difficult to see but once you learn about them, you might start seeing evidence of...
-
Spiders: Friends Not Foes
This time of year, as the heat increases and things start to get dusty, you might see a number of webs on your plants. Uh oh. Are these webs a sign of spider mites? Chances are the webs you see...
-
Beat the Heat with Shade Cloth
It's summertime! Our gardens are in full swing, tomatoes are beginning to ripen, berries are mostly done, and everything is lush and green. But beware, your plants can sunburn just like you....
-
The Invasion of the Voles
You really do not want voles (also called meadow mice) moving into your garden. They are larger than a house mouse or deer mouse but do not quite reach the size of an adult gopher or rat. Although...
-
Blossom End Rot
This post is a rerun from 2023. Have you noticed tomatoes that have round, water-soaked spots on the bottom? Blossom end rot (BER) is a frustrating problem that can be quite common in vegetable...
-
Earwigs in Art, Literature, and Your Garden
Earwigs are one of the most common pests in our gardens. There is a lot to learn about them besides knowing how to prevent the damage they cause. Fun facts about earwigs: Their name probably...
-
Learn More about Gardening
Are you a gardener with questions? Are you a beginning gardener just getting started? Do you want to know more about how to troubleshoot problems in your garden? Some of the topics addressed in our...