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Wed, Jul 24, 2024

Why do blackberries develop white parts?

Discolored berries are another example of crops affected by intense summer heat

Tue, Jul 23, 2024

Smoke and high heat? Watch out for ash, ozone damage

Triple-digit temperatures and smoky conditions can create high pollutant levels

Mon, Jul 22, 2024

Learn benefits of summer fruit tree pruning

El Dorado County master gardeners offer free workshop at Sherwood Demonstration Garden

Sun, Jul 21, 2024

Nectarines and skillet meatballs: Who knew?

Summer stone fruit flavors a quick-cooking sauce

Fri, Jul 19, 2024

Hot tomato! What's wrong with those vines?

Surviving triple-digit temperatures comes down to moisture, mulch

Thu, Jul 18, 2024

Garden questions and answers down at The Farm

Master gardeners field queries from State Fair visitors

Wed, Jul 17, 2024

California’s worst weed loves heat and is growing fast

Don’t let bindweed overwhelm your garden; tips on how to cope with this invasive plant

Tue, Jul 16, 2024

See lots of little webs? Spider mites love heat

Tiny pests thrive during hot, dry, dusty conditions

Mon, Jul 15, 2024

Sacramento Iris Society hosts one-day sale

Add a rainbow of color to your water-wise garden with easy-care bearded irises

Sun, Jul 14, 2024

Overripe banana inspires summer breakfast treat

New! Banana blueberry pancakes (with one banana lots of blueberries).

Sat, Jul 13, 2024

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of July 14

After record-setting heat, Sacramento gardeners may be getting a break

Fri, Jul 12, 2024

How to save a half-dead plant

Tips to rescue vegetables, shrubs, container plants and more after too much sun, heat

Thu, Jul 11, 2024

Celebrate gardening at Harvest Day on Aug. 3

Free event includes speakers, demonstrations, vendors

Wed, Jul 10, 2024

No zucchini? Grab a paintbrush

How to give bees a hand and pollinate squash, cucumber, melon and pumpkin flowers

Tue, Jul 09, 2024

Learn how to make compost at free workshop

Placer County master gardeners also host monthly Open Garden at Loomis Library.

Mon, Jul 08, 2024

California State Fair returns Friday with plenty of farm-inspired fun

Visit master gardeners at the State Fair Farm, pet a live sturgeon.

Sun, Jul 07, 2024

Fresh summer veggies, marinated and grilled

New! Pick your garden favorites for a quick side dish

Sat, Jul 06, 2024

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of July 7

Remember to water; Sacramento could be in midst of record heat wave

Fri, Jul 05, 2024

How to help honey bees survive in this heat

Water trays benefit these beneficial insects in more ways than one

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Food in My Back Yard (FIMBY) Series

FALL

Dec. 2: Plant artichokes now; enjoy for years to come

Nov. 25: It's late November, and your peach tree needs spraying

Nov. 18: What to do with all those fallen leaves?

Nov. 11: Prepare now for colder weather in the edible garden

Nov. 4: Plant a pea patch for you and your garden

Oct. 27: As citrus season begins, advice for backyard growers

Oct. 20: Change is in the autumn air 

Oct. 13: We don't talk (enough) about beets

Oct. 6: Fava beans do double duty

Sept. 30: Seeds or transplants for cool-season veggies?

Sept. 23: How to prolong the fall tomato harvest 

SUMMER

Sept. 16: Time to shut it down? 

Sept. 9: How to get the most out of your pumpkin patch

Sept. 2: Summer-to-fall transition time for evaluation, planning

Aug. 26: To pick or not to pick those tomatoes?

Aug. 19: Put worms to work for you

Aug. 12: Grow food while saving water

Aug. 5: Enhance your food with edible flowers

July 29: Why won't my tomatoes turn red?

July 22: A squash plant has mosaic virus, and it's not pretty

July 15: Does this plant need water?

July 8: Tear out that sad plant or baby it? Midsummer decisions

July 1: How to grow summer salad greens

June 24:  Weird stuff that's perfectly normal

SPRING

June 17: Help pollinators help your garden

June 10: Battling early-season tomato pests

June 3: Make your own compost

May 27: Where are the bees when you need them?

May 20: How to help tomatoes thrive on hot days

May 13: Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can

May 6: Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success

April 29: What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?

April 22: Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)

April 15: Grow culinary herbs in containers

April 8: When to plant summer vegetables

April 1: Don't be fooled by these garden myths

March 25: Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth

WINTER

March 18: Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space

March 11: Ways to win the fight against weeds

March 4: Potatoes from the garden

Feb. 25: Plant a fruit tree now -- for later

Feb. 18: How to squeeze more food into less space

Feb. 11: When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants

Feb. 4: Starting in seed starting

Local News

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Taste Fall! E-cookbook

Muffins and pumpkin

Find our fall recipes here!

Thanks to Our Sponsor!

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Garden checklist for week of Nov. 30

It's going to get colder after the fog (finally) dissipates. Without the fog, damp ground will finally have a chance to dry out – and no rain is in the forecast for at least a week.

Make the most of this break in the weather and tackle late fall chores:

* Protect tender plants from possible frost damage. Don’t leave poinsettias outdoors.

* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.

* Clear gutters and storm drains.

* Prune dead or broken branches from trees.

* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.

* Plant bulbs at two-week intervals to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* Seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.

* Plant garlic and onions.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.

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Taste Summer! E-cookbook

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Find our summer recipes here!

Taste Winter! E-cookbook

Lemon coconut pancakes

Find our winter recipes here!