
January in Sonoma County
Friday, January 22: Noon—1:00 pm or
Friday, February 5: Noon—1:00 pm
Click here to RSVP. Can’t make either meeting? Sign up at the registration site to receive a link to a recorded meeting.
The Wonderful World of Worms - Zoom Talk

Food Gardening
Fruit Trees - Bare Root

COVID-19 Notice

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and in compliance with county orders, we have adjusted our services accordingly:
- All in-person events are suspended. Library talks have been replaced by Zoom events. Please check the "Upcoming Events" section at the top-right of this page for currently scheduled events.
Master Gardeners in Print
The Garden Doctors
Dana Lozano & Gwen Kilchherr, The Press Democrat
What variety of oregano should I grow? 10/16/2020
Press Democrat
Common plants that don't deserve their bad reputation 8/28/2020
Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by the UC Davis Cooperative Extension.
Sonoma County Master Gardeners will provide environmentally sustainable, science-based horticultural information to all of Sonoma County’s population. We strive for diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our organization.
UCCE Farm Advisor: Stephanie Larson, County Director
SCMG Coordinator: Mimi Enright
Getting Help
We are not currently accepting walk-ins or specimen drop offs at our Master Gardener Information Desk at the UCCE Sonoma office.
Please email your questions and attach photos if you have them. One of our Information Desk experts will get back to you.
Upcoming Events
Event Name | Date |
---|---|
The Wonderful World of Worms - Zoom Talk | 2/13/2021 |
Sundays with Sue
By SCMG Sue Lovelace
January 17, 2021

Yes, there is plenty to do! Fruit tree pruning is on top of the list. I’m what you might call a reluctant pruner, afraid to limit my fruit supply by pruning too much and so always, always not pruning enough. I have a fig tree that’s been begging to be pruned, too bushy with fruit up high. Advice is what I needed and when I saw Steve Erhmann, the self proclaimed “Hatchet Man,” was going to be doing a presentation on fruit tree pruning on “Veggie Happenings” (now available on You Tube), I tuned in. Right there and then he said a fig tree could be pruned with abandon. Well, that’s not exactly what he said, but he did explain that figs grow on branches formed this year and are full of latent buds that will form new fruit. He also talked about opening up the center to fruit trees to let in light which in turn will help form and ripen fruit.


Compost, Compost, Compost was a mantra stated by Kitty Fritz in the Veggie Happenings presentation in regards to sprucing up berry beds. Compost is also needed by other perennial fruits and vegetables to give the soil a major boost. As we know, healthy soil is “everything” to all plants! For me that means getting out the sifter (a wire screen) to sift out rocks and large branches from our homemade compost and sharing the wealth throughout the garden, starting with the artichokes, fruit trees and berries. When planting new vegetable starts, be sure to add at least a one-inch layer to the top of the soil before planting.

Many of you will be starting seeds of warm season vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, etc.) inside to be transplanted in late April/early May depending on your individual climate. Vegetables like squash, beans and cucumbers grow best when directly seeded in the ground when the soil is warm enough (65-80 degrees). Printing out our Year-Round Food Gardening in Sonoma County document is so helpful. I keep several copies inside and out, and refer to them all the time. Also, check out the food gardening tasks to do in January.
I could go on and on as to why January in the garden is so great, but perhaps you know that already. Do enjoy your week in the garden wherever it is or maybe just some time outside.
“I’ve always felt that having a garden is like having a good, loyal friend.” C.Z. Guest
Webmasters: Kim Roche, Stan Pawlak
Website Editor: Penny Fink
Food Gardening Editor: Open, master gardeners please apply!
Staff Photographers and Videographers:
Cie Cary, Electra de Peyster,
Coby Lafayette-Kelleher, Laura Salo Long