Hybrid vs. Heirloom Seed — What’s the Difference?
Hybrid seed is the first generation of a cross between two parents. Also called F1, this seed produces an offspring with specific traits. Usually hybrid plants are bred for uniformity, vigor, yield and disease resistance. The seed produced by these offspring will often be sterile, or the plants will not... Read More
Welcoming Bees into Your Garden
Early summer I was in the garden looking at my flowering shrubs and found them thrumming with activity. Tiny black wasps, ladybugs and lots of bees were thrilled with the nectar that my flowering plants were providing. Now that the seasonal blooms have dwindled, I have noticed the populations have... Read More
Rain Arrives … Finally!
I woke up in the night and listened to the rain falling on my roof, feeling thankful that not only the tarragon in my garden, but all of nature was getting a wonderfully long drink and a bath after so many moons! And what could be cozier than baking on... Read More
Carve Out Some Time
Fall is the perfect time to pack up the family and visit a local farm. There is always work to be done, whether it’s for your livelihood, keeping up your household or yard, caring for family, friends and pets — the list goes on and on. Recently when a morning... Read More
Build Your Own Rainwater Collection System (Now!)
Whether you use a large barrel positioned under downspout, or create a more elaborate well-designed system connected to the gutters of the roof, capturing rainwater and water conservation should be a top priority for everyone who loves to garden. And now is the time to get busy! Most Californians are... Read More
How to Make a Chile Ristra
Perhaps you’re familiar with the brilliantly colored chile ristras from New Mexico that are often used as decorations during the holidays. But, in the culinary world, ristras are a way of drying and preserving chiles for later use. Ristras are very easy to make and a great way to preserve... Read More
How to Grow Amazing Basil Plants
Although basil is one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow, we get a lot of questions about its cultivation from our home gardener customers. Here in California, inexperienced gardeners often make the mistake of planting basil a bit too early in the springtime, and the plants languish... Read More
5 Steps For Growing Great Tomatoes
For the most successful tomato crop, it’s important to choose varieties that are well adapted and recommended for your region. We grow over 50 different varieties. (Here’s a partial listing of our tomato seedling selection.) You may also want to consider buying varieties that are disease-resistant or tolerant, especially if... Read More
Fall Gardens — What to Plant Now
August to November is a busy time in the garden on the Monterey Bay — harvesting tomatoes, peppers, and pulling out spent vines and plants that have exhausted their bounty. This is also a good time to take stock and consider which plants thrived and why — and which plants... Read More
How to Harvest and Dry Herbs
Extend the summer flavor of home-grown fresh herbs by drying them for use over the winter. Drying herbs is easy, and just takes some scissors, twine, and a little time. As your fantastically vigorous herb bed flourishes, there will be times you will need to cut back your herbs for... Read More