Nutrition & Health

Sweet potatoes are grown from ‘slips’, the term for sprouts from a sweet potato. Due to pest quarantines, most nursery companies cannot ship slips to California. But they are easy to grow yourself. Start slip production in February to March. Transplant to garden in May to June.

Mâche, Valerianella locusta, is a small, tender salad green, also called corn salad or lamb’s lettuce. It is popular in Europe but not well known here. It grows in little rosettes and has a mild, slightly nutty flavor.

Keep an eye on the weather report - protect frost-tender plants when the temperature falls below 32 degrees. Divide perennials like daylilies and chrysanthemums. Prune crepe myrtles, cane berries, and roses, and clean-up trimmings.

Fava beansalso known as bell, broad, and horse beanshave value as a cool-season crop in home food gardens as well in agricultural fields.

Chard is a favorite leafy green for many Sonoma County gardeners for its adaptability to both cool and warm weather, making it an easy year-round crop. Care is the same as for beets, a close relative with a different root structure. Summer heat and winter frosts are easily tolerated.

A member of the nightshade (Solanaceae) familyalong with tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, and potatoeseggplant has been a staple in India and the Middle East for centuries. Its name is derived from the egg shape of its shiny fruit.

The FDA, Universities, and Cooperative Extension programs across the country have a wealth of knowledge about Food Safety. Explore resources from our partners at the pages listed here:Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety- Microbiological food safety, food chemical fact sheets, and nutrition…

The Calaveras County Master Gardeners are dedicated to educating the public about UC research based information relating to home horticulture, including basic gardening, pest management, site-specific planting, fruit & vegetable gardening and other topics.

The Butte County Garden Guide and Three-Year Journal is compiled and edited by the UC-trained Master Gardeners of Butte County. This county-specific book contains tips for every home gardener.

The Nutrition Policy Institute's mission is to conduct and translate policy-relevant research to transform environments for healthy children, families and communities. While federal agencies must solicit input via public comment periods, Best of Science Letters may be used to translate the evidence base to…