Santa Clara

Transplant: May–June, possibly April For best results, wait until daytime temperatures are regularly over 70°F Start in pots for transplants: February–April; ready to transplant in 6 weeks

Fava beans (Vicia faba), sometimes called broad beans, grow well as a cool season crop in Santa Clara County. (Most other beans require warm weather.) Favas are also often grown as a cover crop because of their ability to add nitrogen to the soil.

Brussels sprouts are a cool season crop, preferring temperatures under 70º F. Sprouts maturing in hot weather and/or dry conditions are more likely to develop bitterness. Transplant into the garden in July–August (possibly September). If grown from seed, start 4–5 weeks before desired transplant date.

We invite you to join our public tomato trial and be a citizen scientist! Help us gather information by growing trial tomatoes in your garden and reporting the results.

Garden Help > Monthly Tips Here's a collection of tips related to growing fruits and nuts.

Lavender has many uses in the home garden. It can be a hedge, border, or part of an herb garden. In culinary use, lavender flowers are used in herbal teas and desserts. There are many more uses for lavender in fragrances, potpourris and sachets, oils, and aromatherapy. The various cultivars of lavender…

Three popular varieties of sorrel are garden sorrel (Rumex acetosa), French sorrel (R. scutatus), and red veined sorrel (R. sanguineus). French sorrel is the preferred variety for culinary use. It grows throughout Europe, in almost all soils and situations. The arrow shaped leaves have a bright, lemony…

Beneficial insects help us in our gardens by pollinating plants, preying on other pests such as aphids, adding beauty, and being part of a whole, healthy ecosystem. Below is a collection of our monthly tips that relate to beneficial insects.

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