Gardening

Master Gardeners are trained educational outreach volunteers with the University of California Cooperative Extension program; they provide practical scientific horticulture and gardening information to gardeners in their communities across California.

Healthy soil is the secret to a successful garden. Just like you need nutritious food to grow and thrive, your plants need healthy soil to produce beautiful flowers, delicious vegetables, and strong roots.

Spring Garden Fair native plants descriptions. California native plants have evolved to be well adapted to our dry summer/wet winter climate, and they support native birds and insects. They are generally water-wise choices for landscaping.

View a list of irrigation-related tips, such as using the right type of irrigation method for your garden ensures a steady water supply for your plants with the least amount of water wastage. Installing an irrigation system provides a more controlled method of delivering water to your garden. Includes a…

Oregano is grown for the aromatic leaves which can be used fresh or dried. Closely related to marjoram, oregano is stronger and more pungent. There are many varieties of oregano, for both culinary as well as ornamental use. With a wide range of flavor characteristics, you may wish to grow different varieties…

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a warm weather annual herb grown for both its leaves and seeds. There are many varieties of basil including Sweet, Thai, Lemon, Genovese/Italian, Purple Leaf, and Tulsi or Holy Basil. Growing techniques are common for most, although African Blue Basil is grown as a tender…

A wealth of invaluable reference materials are available from University of California's Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Publications. Both print and electronic versions are available for most. Many smaller publications are free or low-cost.

We offer videos of short tips and full-length talks on a variety of garden topics. Visit our YouTube channel or use the handy guide below. In addition, the University of California Television archive contains videos on several popular home gardening topics.

When to plant: January–early February Harvest window: June–July, depending on variety Fertilization: Nitrogen in spring, additional applications based on tree age, health, and soil quality Prune in summer (after harvest - early September)

When to plant: January–March Harvest window: June–October, depending on variety Fertilization: Nitrogen in spring and fall, additional applications based on tree age, health, and soil quality Dormant Pruning (January–February) to encourage vigor; Summer pruning (post-harvest) to control vigor.