When/how to plant: Late fall through winter, using 2–3 year old plants.
Blueberries require acidic soil; a soil test will help determine how much to acidify your soil. Be sure the soil has a pH between 4.5 and 6.5. If it's a clay soil, use organic matter to amend the soil, preferably peat moss. Oregon State…
Monitor the garden for pests and diseases as you maintain it. Photo: Courtesy UC Regents Once the fruit trees, berries, herbs and vegetables are planted, the magic begins. Even seasoned gardeners marvel at how the seed becomes the plant that produces a vegetable that appears on a plate.
In Santa Clara County, we can grow delicious vegetables year round. Our cool season lets us grow vegetables that are typically grown as early spring vegetables elsewhere in the U.S.See Cool Season Vegetables for information on how to grow each vegetable.Refer to our Vegetable Planting Chart for a month…
We compared thirteen varieties of red looseleaf lettuce to determine the best production and taste. All of the varieties were very healthy and pretty to look at. Flame and Cardinale were judged the best at the tasting, Sunset and Bronze Arrow were tied for second and Susan’s Red Bibb was third. The very…
Direct seed January–March (possibly April), September
Harvest when the roots reach 1-inch diameter at the top.
Expect 90–120 days to maturity.
Flavor is best when the mature plants are exposed to cool weather for 2–4 weeks which encourages the starches in the roots to convert to sugars.
Loosen soil with…
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.
Edible gardens are certainly not immune to pests and diseases. Pests can take out tender young plant shoots in one night, eat holes in mature leaves and fruit, and leave slimy tracks all over.
Garlic and shallots grow beautifully over the winter in Santa Clara County. Plant garlic and long-season shallots in the fall for harvesting in June–July. Be sure to choose a spot where you can withhold water for the last several weeks since the bulbs need to dry out as they mature. Fast growing Dutch…
Direct seed or transplant: April–June
For best results, wait to direct seed until daytime temperatures are regularly over 70°F and soil temperature is over 60°F. Direct-seeded beans will rot if the soil is too cold.
Harvest window: 50–100 days depending on variety.
