Santa Clara

Chayote—a member of the cucurbit family (along with cucumber, melons, and squash)—is a perennial vine which produces edible vegetables used in cooking and used raw in salads and salsas. Plant seed or sprouted fruit May–September (maybe April and October)

Quince fruits grow on a small tree or shrub (8–12 ft. tall) with twisted, bumpy branches. Grown as a flowering ornamental or for fruit processing. Adapted to many climates. Adapted to many climates. Tolerates “wet feet” better than most other deciduous fruit trees.

When to plant: January–March Harvest window: June–October, depending on variety Fertilization: Nitrogen in spring and fall, additional applications based on tree age, health, and soil quality Dormant Pruning (January–February) to encourage vigor; Summer pruning (post-harvest) to control vigor.

Leeks are members of the Allium family that do not form bulbs like their onion and garlic relatives. Instead, they develop a 6–10 inches edible stem that can be up to 3 inches diameter.

Transplant: February–April, September–October (possibly November) Direct seed: March–April (possibly February), September–October (possibly November) If growing from seed for transplants, allow 4 weeks to be ready. Harvest spinach as soon as the leaves are large enough to use.

Kohlrabi is a member of the cabbage family and is grown for its edible, bulb-shaped, stem. Often mistaken for a root plant, the bulb sits just above the soil. The taste and texture are similar to the stems of broccoli but is juicier and crisper.

Direct seed January–March (possibly April), September Harvest when the roots reach 1-inch diameter at the top. Expect 90–120 days to maturity. Flavor is best when the mature plants are exposed to cool weather for 2–4 weeks which encourages the starches in the roots to convert to sugars. Loosen soil with…

Ginger, Zingiber officionale, is a tropical plant originally from southern China. It can be grown in Northern California with the right amount of care. The "root" portion used in cooking is a rhizome, technically not a root but an underground stem.

The flowers and other ornamental plants that we offer at the Spring Garden Fair have been trialed at our research gardens to select varieties that perform particularly well in our climate, with an eye towards ones that are beautiful and long-lasting in flower arrangements. We offer an especially large array…

Bitter melon is in the cucurbit family and grows on a vine as do other members of this family, such as cucumbers, squash, or melons. Bitter melon is a subtropical plant which will grow best in a warm location with some humidity. The vines can get over 12 feet long, so a trellis or some other support is…