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Wed, Jul 19, 2023

Beyond Jalapenogate: Tough summer for pepper lovers

Cool spring challenged seedling growth, no matter the pepper variety

Tue, Jul 18, 2023

Give trees extra water, TLC during summer heat

Easy irrigation method: Use a bucket with a hole in it

Mon, Jul 17, 2023

Record Sacramento heat brings outbreak of spider mites

Stay hydrated and give your plants a morning shower

Sun, Jul 16, 2023

Whip up a summer cake that takes no baking

Recipe: Peaches and cookies chill in a cool treat

Sat, Jul 15, 2023

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of July 16

Intense heat will challenge midsummer garden

Fri, Jul 14, 2023

Make a 'jewelry box garden' for precious succulents

Sign up now for Green Acres workshops at all locations

Thu, Jul 13, 2023

Learn about good bugs that help control bad bugs

Free UC webinar on 'Natural Enemies & Beneficial Bugs'

Wed, Jul 12, 2023

In all its ag glory, California State Fair opens Friday

Emphasis will be on food with return of festival; visit master gardeners at The Farm

Tue, Jul 11, 2023

Get ready for 'excessive heat' this week

Tips to help keep gardeners, gardens more comfortable in triple-digit weather

Mon, Jul 10, 2023

Iris rhizome sale features hundreds of varieties

Bearded irises are a perfect addition to water-wise Sacramento gardens.

Sun, Jul 09, 2023

Flavorful frittata is good for any meal

Recipe: Spinach-mushroom-pancetta frittata for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Sat, Jul 08, 2023

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of July 9

Make most of mild weather before triple-digit heat returns Friday, opening day of the State Fair.

Fri, Jul 07, 2023

Tickets now on sale for Exotic Plants’ Luau Night

Food, fun and Kokedama orchid workshop part of July 29 special event.

Thu, Jul 06, 2023

Learn water-wise tips for hot July

Make the most of your irrigation; Green Acres offers free workshops.

Wed, Jul 05, 2023

Sacramento Shade program offers free trees, more shade

Program offers more choices to grow our urban forest while withstanding wild weather swings.

Tue, Jul 04, 2023

Last chance to see Shepard Center ‘yarn bombing’

Colorful creations to come down Friday; on Saturday, Shepard Center holds annual meeting.

Mon, Jul 03, 2023

'Jalapenogate is a real thing'

Mystery peppers cause headaches in Sacramento area, nationwide

Sun, Jul 02, 2023

Chilled berry soup a winner

Cool fruity appetizer for a hot summer night

Sat, Jul 01, 2023

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of July 2

Red-hot start could make July challenging

Fri, Jun 30, 2023

In time for holiday celebrations, Taste Summer! cookbook debuts

Find our recipes for summer's luscious produce all in one place

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Taste Fall! E-cookbook

Muffins and pumpkin

Find our fall recipes here!

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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 24

In between rainy episodes this week:

* Keep your gutters and storm drains cleared. Watch out for leaning trees or weakened branches; if you spot trouble, call an arborist.

* Remember to turn off the sprinklers or other irrigation. Be careful walking on or working with wet soil; it can compact easily.

* On rainy days, do some indoor gardening. Tend to houseplants. Sort seed packets. Start seed indoors for cool-season veggies and flowers.

* 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.

* Rake and compost leaves, but leave at least some healthy leaves in planting beds for nesting insects and foraging birds. But dispose of any diseased plant material. For eample, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.

* If you decide to use a living Christmas tree this year, keep it outside in a sunny location until Christmas week. This reduces stress on the young tree.

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

* After they bloom, chrysanthemums should be trimmed to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. If in pots, keep the mums in their containers until next spring. Then they can be planted in the ground, if desired, or repotted.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers such as California poppies and plant spring bloomers such as as sweet peas, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.

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

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

* Plant garlic and onions.

Taste Spring! E-cookbook

Strawberries

Find our spring recipes here!

Taste Summer! E-cookbook

square-tomatoes-plate.jpg

Find our summer recipes here!

Taste Winter! E-cookbook

Lemon coconut pancakes

Find our winter recipes here!