Garden

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…

Using the right type of irrigation method for your garden ensures a steady water supply for your plants with the least amount of water wastage. Installing an irrigation system provides a more controlled method of delivering water to your garden. Includes a collection of monthly tips that relate to irrigation.

Marjoram is grown for its aromatic leaves, which can be used fresh or dried. Closely related to oregano, they are sometimes used interchangeably in recipes. In general, marjoram has a sweeter, more floral flavor than oregano. Enjoy marjoram in soups, egg dishes, beef and chicken dishes, sausages, and cheese…

Garden Help > SucculentsBold indicates easier to locate plantsSummer Growers (Winter Dormant)This group is generally regarded as the “summer growers”. Many of these will also enter a pseudo rest period for a few weeks during the hottest part of the summer before putting on a final burst of growth in…

Our demonstration gardens showcase best practices for home gardeners and provide hands-on gardening experiences. Gardens are open to the public (days and hours vary by location). You're invited to visit, ask questions, and garden with us when we're working in the garden.

The Santa Clara Master Gardeners send a monthly email with gardening tips for the month and a listing of upcoming events. If you'd like to receive the email, use the form on this page to sign up.

This is a summary of what we learned from our 2001 tomato project in regards to tomato staking methods. We grew just over a hundred varieties of mostly heirloom tomatoes at the now closed University of California Bay Area Research and Extension Center facility in the City of Santa Clara.

When to plant: January–early February Harvest window: August–October, depending on variety Fertilization: Nitrogen in spring, additional applications based on tree age, health, and soil quality Prune in early winter (December–January)

Garden Help > How To Many potting soils become hydrophobictending to repel waterwhen they dry out, and are difficult to re-wet. Gardeners may see water draining out the bottom of a pot and assume that means that the soil is saturated.

Onions can be divided into two categories: strong-flavored ones that store well and mild, sweet ones that don't last long in storage. There are yellow, white, and red varieties in both categories.