24 guides · 24 published
Growing Guides
In-depth guides on every topic a food gardener needs — planting methods, soil health, pest management, crop selection, and harvest. Written for real conditions in Northern California, applicable across most temperate growing regions.
Showing 24 guides · 24 published, 0 coming soon
Companion Planting Guide
Which plants help each other grow — and which ones should never share a bed. Practical companion planting for food gardens, with Northern California timing notes.
Seed Starting Instructions
When to start seeds indoors vs. direct sow, what equipment actually matters, germination temperatures by crop, and how to harden off transplants for Northern California heat.
Growing Tomatoes in Northern California
A practical guide to planting, watering, pruning, and harvesting tomatoes in hot Northern California gardens.
Growing Cucumbers in Northern California
How to grow crisp cucumbers through Northern California heat with good timing, trellising, irrigation, and pest scouting.
Growing Sunflowers for Cut Flowers
How to grow sunflowers for cutting, bouquets, and farm stand bunches with good stems, clean blooms, and steady timing.
Growing Strawberries in Northern California
How to grow strawberries in Northern California and the Sacramento Valley — choosing June-bearing vs day-neutral types, planting bare-root crowns, managing Zone 9b heat, and getting sweet berries off a small bed.
Crop Rotation Guide
Why rotating plant families between beds reduces disease, manages pests, and improves soil fertility over time. Practical rotation plans for small gardens.
Preserving Your Garden Harvest
A practical guide to freezing, drying, storing, fermenting, and safely canning garden produce without guessing on food safety.
Fertilizer Injector Guide
How to use a fertilizer injector (Mazzei, Dosatron) with drip irrigation to fertligate vegetables and fruit trees efficiently in hot, dry climates.
Family Garden Planner Guide
How to turn family meals, garden space, water, and planting windows into a practical food-garden plan.
Spring Garden Layout Guide
How to design a productive spring garden — bed placement, path width, irrigation before planting, and timing cool-season crops to avoid late heat.
Low-Sunlight Vegetables Guide
Which vegetables grow in partial shade — and how much shade is too much. Practical varieties and placement for gardens with less than full sun.
Pest Control Comparison Guide
An IPM-first comparison of pest control options for vegetable gardens, from prevention and barriers to least-toxic products.
Warm Season Cover Crops Guide
Cover crops that grow in summer heat — cowpeas, sorghum-sudangrass, sunn hemp, and buckwheat. How to use them to build soil while beds rest.
Cool Season Cover Crops Guide
Cover crops for fall and winter — crimson clover, cereal rye, bell beans, and Austrian winter peas. Timing and termination for California growing conditions.
Tomato & Pepper Spray Program
An IPM-first tomato and pepper problem guide focused on prevention, scouting, and safe targeted action instead of a fixed spray calendar.
Fruit Tree Spray Program
A safe, UC IPM-style backyard fruit tree care guide for pruning, sanitation, scouting, and careful pest decisions.
Sweet Corn & Beans Spray Program
An IPM-first sweet corn and bean guide focused on timing, scouting, water, and safe targeted controls.
Nutrient Deficiency Guide
How to identify and correct the most common nutrient deficiencies in vegetable gardens — nitrogen, iron, magnesium, calcium, and micronutrients.
Squash Variety Guide
Summer squash, winter squash, and pumpkin varieties worth growing — flavor, yield, heat tolerance, and storage characteristics compared for home garden use.
Common Plant Diseases Guide
Identifying and managing the most common vegetable garden diseases — powdery mildew, early blight, damping off, bacterial wilt, and mosaic viruses.
Seed Starting Chart
A printable seed starting chart with start dates, germination temperatures, days to transplant, and transplant dates for 30+ crops in Zones 7–10.
Tomato Growth Habit Guide
Determinate vs. indeterminate tomatoes — what the difference means for cage size, pruning, succession planting, and overall garden management.
Fungicide Comparison Guide
A safety-first fungicide comparison guide that explains disease prevention, product limits, labels, and UC IPM decision-making.
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