Spring 2023
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The Annual Great Tomato Plant Sale
This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Contra Costa Master Gardeners Great Tomato Plant Sale and we’re very pleased to announce that we’re back to an in-person sale at two locations! With such a vast assortment of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash and more, we’re sure you’ll have plenty of great choices for your summer gardens.
Details at a glance:
- Our Garden: April 1st, 2nd and 3rd from 10:00am to 3:00pm each day.
Located at N. Wiget and Shadelands Dr. in Walnut Creek - Richmond Civic Center Library: April 29th from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
Located at 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond - All plants are $4. CASH OR CHECK ONLY, checks preferred.
Don’t forget to bring boxes to carry your new plants home!
Please visit our website for complete details, including plant descriptions, shopping lists and helpful articles.
We hope to see you there!
- Our Garden: April 1st, 2nd and 3rd from 10:00am to 3:00pm each day.
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Native Plant Gardening in the Spring
by Laurinda Ochoa
For those of us who didn’t get around to casting those wildflower seeds or starting seedlings in pots, can we plant natives during the spring months?
Yes! Although March and April are too late to start a spring-blooming native wildflower garden, there is still time to plant summer and fall blooming California native perennials. Here are three native plants that bring color and pollinators to our yards during the summer and fall – penstemons, asters, and salvias.
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Mulch: It's Got You Covered
by Anne Sutherland
It’s hard not to get excited about mulch. Mulch is one of the best things you can do for your plants and you can get it for free. Free sources include your own yard waste such as grass clippings, or wood chips from a reliable tree service. UC Master Gardeners prefer organic mulches because they are part of the carbon cycle and have benefits that rock, weed barriers, and plastic lack.
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Keeping your Hill in Place: Erosion control on hillsides
by Hedwig Van den Broeck
Many of our California hillsides have become unstable due to previous atmospheric river events, and some have even started to slide. Erosion is harmful because it puts local bodies of water and storm water management systems in danger, as well as your property and that of your neighbors.
To prevent soil erosion and the loss of priceless topsoil, it is crucial to control erosion on hillsides. Many of us hurried to get sandbags or other temporary solutions this winter. It is preferable however to implement longer-term fixes that can maintain the stability of your hillside.
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Patio Techniques for Peas and Beans
by David George
Many patio gardeners have successfully grown tomatoes in containers. But have you tried peas or green beans? Peas and beans can also be quite productive and fun to grow in limited spaces. And if you are blessed with a sunny location, the ripe pickings will be sweet and packed with more nutrition than supermarket produce.
When should you plant seedlings? Right now (April-May) are the best months for summer pea and bean seedling planting. Ripe veggies can be harvested from your plants as early as June and can last through August, depending on the variety.
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Synthetic Turf: a UC Master Gardeners Perspective
by Laurinda Ochoa
At our Ask A Master Gardener, UC Master Gardeners regularly hear questions about synthetic turf lawns. With costs for water, fertilizers and garden maintenance rising, many people wonder if it is a good idea to take out their lawns and put in an artificial turf product. From a UC Master Gardeners perspective, the answer is no. Synthetic turf is not a good substitute for our lawns.
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Spring Tasks: Is your Garden ready for Spring?
Frost damage! Numerous atmospheric rivers! Weeds trying to take over! Our local weather this winter might have set us back a bit. The UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County as well as the Statewide blog can help you catch up.
