Garden

 Garlic and shallots grow beautifully over the winter in Santa Clara County. Plant garlic and long-season shallots in the fall for harvesting in June–July. Be sure to choose a spot where you can withhold water for the last several weeks since the bulbs need to dry out as they mature. Fast growing Dutch…

Start your seeds 6 to 8 weeks before you plan to transplant them into the garden. Peppers grow best when the soil is warmed and daytime temperatures are regularly over 75ºF, typically late April or May in Santa Clara County. Temperatures below 50º–55ºF cause flowers to abort or the fruits to be misshapen.

Transplant or direct seed: May–June For best results, wait until daytime temperatures are regularly over 75ºF and soil temperature is over 70ºF Start in pots for transplants: April–May; ready to transplant in 4 weeks Harvest window: July–October, depending on variety

Curry Leaf, Bergera koenigii, (formerly Murraya koenigii; older references may still use Murraya) is a small tree native to India. It is not to be confused with curry powder, nor does it taste like curry powder.

Turmeric, Curcuma longa, is a member of the ginger family and originates from southwestern India. Like ginger, the portion of the plant used is a rhizome, technically not a root but an underground stem. Turmeric has been utilized for many centuries as a spice, a yellow-orange food coloring, and an…

The Exploring Habitats field trip project is co-sponsored by Marin Master Gardeners and the Marin Art & Garden Center (MAGC).

Wells Brothers Farm > What is (and isn't) a fertilizer > Why fertilize? > What to use > Understanding labels & terms > Chemical vs.

Bees are our most important pollinators. Most are solitary bees that live independently, not the bumble bees or honey bees we are more familiar with. Bees visit flowers for the pollen or nectar, which supply the nutrients they need.

Too much water is the most common cause of decline in landscape trees and shrubs, either through directly killing plants or making them more prone to disease. Too much watering can result in fertilizer runoff into storm drains and pollutes waterways.

Finding the right irrigation system for your garden is essential to saving our natural resources. Photo: Ivan Horvat, Pixabay Water is a precious resource; conserving it is a key to Earth-friendly gardening.