Over the Fence (Alameda County)

Tomatoes are one of our most popular and best-loved garden plants, but they do have their needs. Because a tomato crop can be so deliciously rewarding, many of us are happy to devote extra energy to manage this wonderful crop. It's warm, and your tomatoes are growing, starting to flower and fruit.

(Editor Note: This blog first appeared in August, 2021 - it has been slightly modified for our current heat wave in July 2024) This current July heat wave may have stressed your irrigation effectiveness and made you question your landscape plant selection.

Summer is a wonderful time for vegetable gardens, with plants thriving under the warm sun. However, it's also the peak season for pests, which can threaten your hard-earned harvest.

Soil testing is a helpful practice for gardeners aiming to achieve healthy plant growth and a bountiful harvest. Understanding the composition of your garden soil helps tailor gardening practices to meet the specific needs of your plants.

No matter what you grow - trees, shrubs, flowers, veggies, turf areas - they all require some kind of irrigation in our Mediterranean climate. We had a good and late rainy season this year, so our plants were happy when the growing season kicked off and moisture banks' were full.