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Image caption: A Cherokee Carbon tomato ripens on the vine. Because of wildfire particulate in the air, tomatoes may develop a smoky taint.

Featured: Sacramento’s July heat averaged 101 degrees

Relief from triple-digit temperatures coming this weekend, but smoky skies may linger

Thu, Jul 25, 2024

Take a summer ramble through a garden of California natives

Patricia Carpenter welcomes visitors to her garden Sunday, Aug. 4

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

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Taste Summer! E-cookbook

square-tomatoes-plate.jpg

Find our summer recipes here!

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Taste Spring! E-cookbook

Strawberries

Find our spring recipes here!

Garden Checklist for week of July 21

Your garden needs you!

* Keep your vegetable garden watered, mulched and weeded. Water before 8 a.m. to reduce the chance of fungal infection and to conserve moisture.

* Feed vegetable plants bone meal, rock phosphate or other fertilizers high in phosphate to stimulate more blooms and fruiting. (But wait until daily high temperatures drop out of the 100s.)

* Don’t let tomatoes wilt or dry out completely. Give tomatoes a deep watering two to three times a week.

* Harvest vegetables promptly to encourage plants to produce more. Squash especially tends to grow rapidly in hot weather. Keep an eye on zucchini.

* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushy plants and more flowers in September.

* Remove spent flowers from roses, daylilies and other bloomers as they finish flowering.

* Pinch off blooms from basil so the plant will grow more leaves.

* Cut back lavender after flowering to promote a second bloom.

* It's not too late to add a splash of color. Plant petunias, snapdragons, zinnias and marigolds.

* From seed, plant corn, pumpkins, radishes, winter squash and sunflowers.

Taste Fall! E-cookbook

Muffins and pumpkin

Find our fall recipes here!

Taste Winter! E-cookbook

Lemon coconut pancakes

Find our winter recipes here!