UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County

University of California

UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County

Veggie Happenings Resources Archive

Three Sisters Gardening and Beneficial Insects (May 2022)

Three Sisters Planting
More about beneficial insects
- Beneficial Predators (Quick Tips from UC IPM)
- Green Lacewings (UC IPM)
- Assassin Bugs and Ambush Bugs (University of Wisconson-Madison)

Tomatoes and Cabbage Butterflies (April 2022)

Tomato Growing Resources

Helpful websites for more information about Cabbage Butterflies

Gardening Edibles in Containers (March 2022)

What can be planted in late winter or early spring?

Publications:

Small-Space Vegetable Gardening, by Andrea Bellamy
The Beautiful Edible Garden, by Leslie Bennett and Stefani Bittner
Edible Landscaping, by Rosalind Creasy
The Edible Garden, by Janet Sanchez and Hazel White
Sunset Books

More About Row Covers:

Baker, Danielle. Row Covers: Helping to Grow Your Own Food Year Round
Managing Pests in Garden:Protective covers, (UC IPM)
Row Cover Vegetable Production Techniques (New Mexico State University)

Cucumber beetles, home made soil blockers, fall and everbearing raspberries fruit based dressings (February 2022)

All about Cucumber Beetles (UC Integrated Pest Management)
Cathy McFann’s Raspberry Pruning Video
California Master Gardener Handbook, 2nd Edition
Making Soil Blocks (Penn State Extension)
Best Soil Blockers Review (Gardeners Yard website)

Growing sweet potatoes, Snails & Slugs (January 2022)

Sweet Potatoes, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
Growing Sweet Potatoes in the Sacramento Area, UCANR Environmental Horticultural Notes EHN 102
Snails & Slugs, UCANR IPM Pest Management

Fall gardening tips; growing fava beans; making pumpkin butter (October 2021)

Pumpkin Butter, South Dakota State University Extension
Preserving Pumpkins, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Putting Your Garden to Bed, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
Growing a Cover Crop, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
Fava Beans as a Cover Crop, UC MG Program of Sonoma County

Preserving Your Tomato Bounty (August 2021 presentation by the UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County: Kathleen, Tobi, Steve, Suzanne, Shannon)

Tomato Resources, compiled by Kathleen Fitzgerald-Orr, Sonoma MFP
Master Food Preserver Resources, compiled by Kathleen Fitzgerald-Orr, Sonoma MFP

Mulch in the Food Garden, Firewise Considerations (Mimi’s July 2021 presentation)

Mulch, Fire in California, University of California Cooperative Extension

Growing Cool-Weather Crops (Stephanie and Ellie’s July 2021 presentation)

Vegetable Planting Summary, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
First and Last Frost Dates, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
How to Calculate Fall Garden Sowing/Planting Dates, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
Year-Round Gardening in Sonoma County, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
Cool-Season Vegetable Gardening, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
Focus on Fall Vegetables, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
The Late Fall and Winter Food Garden, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
How to Make Your Own Seed Tape, BHG

SUMMER FRUIT TREE PRUNING (Steve’s June 2021 presentation)

The Home Orchard, Growing Your Own Fruits And Nuts. UCANR Publication 3485.

Available on loan from the Sonoma County Library system.

You can watch more of Steve’s videos on the Sonoma County Master Gardener You Tube Channel:

Peach Tree Summer Pruning, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
Cherry Tree Summer Pruning, UC MG Program of Sonoma County
Summer Pruning of an Apple Tree to Thwart Excess Vigor, UC MG Program of Sonoma County

GARDENING WITH CHILDREN (Kitty’s June 2021 presentation)

Planting a Three Sisters Garden, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
The Sonoma County Library system has a number of books available on loan including two recommended by Kitty: Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children and The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Ways to Get Kids Outside, Dirty and Having Fun.

Supporting research:

Davis, J.N., et al. “School-based gardening, cooking and nutrition intervention increased vegetable intake but did not reduce BMI: Texas sprouts - a cluster randomized controlled trial.” International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18, 18 (2021).
Butcher, K., Plecher, J. “Gardening with young children helps their development,” Michigan State University Extension. 2017.
Kuo, F. E., Taylor, A. F. “A potential natural treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: evidence from a national study.” American Journal of Public Health, 94(9), 1580–1586 (2004).

STRAWBERRY FRUIT LEATHER (UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County’s June 2021 demonstration; Kathleen, Kathy and Sue)

Master Food Preserver Resources, prepared by Kathleen Fitzgerald-Orr, Certified Master Food Preserver of Sonoma County
Strawberries: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve and Enjoy, UCANR

GARLIC, Part 2 (Janet’s May 2021 presentation. Note: Janet presented Garlic Part 1 in October 2020 which is a presentation on prep and planting in the fall/winter season)

Garlic, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
Grow Your Own Garlic 2020, UC Master Gardener Program of Tulare and Kings Counties
More Garlic, UC Master Gardener Program of Santa Clara
Growing Great Garlic, The National Gardening Association
Growing Garlic, Garden Betty

CUCUMBERS AND CORN (Denise’s May 2021 presentation)

The History of Corn
Cucumbers, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
Corn, Zea Mays, Maize, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
Discovering the Countless Cucumber Varieties, Evergreen Seeds (for more seed sources, see "Vegetable Seed Sources")

SPRING GARDEN PESTS (Kathleen’s May 2021 presentation)

Natural Enemies of Garden Pests, Integrated Pest Management, UCANR
Organic Gardening, UCANR

ALL ABOUT TOMATOES! (Elaine and Susan’s April 2021 presentation)

Average First and Last Frost Dates in Sonoma County, compiled by Sonoma County Master Gardeners from NOAA weather data (note: 30-year averages are updated every 10 years; NOAA is currently working on the next update through 2020)
“Growing Tomatoes,” Sonoma County Master Gardener website
Variety of tomato articles (including growing tomatoes with less water), Sonoma County Master Gardener website
Elaine’s Tomato Bibliography and Resources
Q&A

HOW TO HARVEST AND USE YOUR FALL COVER CROPS (Cathy’s March 2021 presentation)

Cover Crops in Your Backyard, UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County

GROWING POTATOES (Judith‘s March 2021 presentation)

Potato article, Sonoma County Master Gardener website
Potato, white (includes a problem diagnosis chart), Vegetable Research and Information Center, University of California

There are many online instructions for constructing a potato tower. Here are two:

References provided by the UCCE Master Food Preserver Program of Sonoma County:

Canning Potatoes, Penn State Extension
Preserving Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes, Penn State Extension

DRIP IRRIGATION IN THE FOOD GARDEN (Jennifer’s March 2021 presentation)

Drip Irrigation in the Food Garden, Sonoma County Master Gardener website
Drip Irrigation Instructions and Shopping List, Sonoma County Master Gardener website

STARTING TOMATOES AND PEPPERS BY SEED (Denise’s February 2021 presentation)

Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Publication 8159
Pepper and Tomato Articles, Sonoma County Master Gardener Website
Average First and Last Frost Dates in Sonoma County, Sonoma County Master Gardener Website

Houllier’s book is available for loan through the Sonoma County Library system; we expect Albert’s book will be available through the library soon:

Le Houllier, Craig, Epic Tomatoes, Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, 2015
Albert, Stephen, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, Green Wagon Books, 2019 (his seed starting information can also be found on Harvest to Table)

GROWING ASPARAGUS (Stephanie’s February 2021 presentation)

Asparagus, Sonoma County Master Gardener Website
Asparagus, Vegetable Research Information Center, UC Davis
Vegetable Seed Sources, Sonoma County Master Gardener Website

CITRUS FOR SONOMA COUNTY (Jennifer’s February 2021 presentation)

Citrus, The California Backyard Orchard, University of California

The following books are available for loan through the Sonoma County Library system:

Pittenger, Dennis R. (Editor), California Master Gardener Handbook, 2^nd Edition, UC/ANR, 2015
Western Garden Book of Edibles: The Complete A to Z Guide to Growing Your Own Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruits, Sunset Publishing, 2010

FRUIT TREE PRUNING (Steve’s January 2021 presentation on the basics of dormant fruit tree pruning)

Fruit and Nut Trees, The California Backyard Orchard, University of California
Pruning and Training, The California Backyard Orchard, University of California
Fruit and Berry Articles, Sonoma County Master Gardener Website
California Rare Fruit Growers, Redwood Empire Chapter

GROWING STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES (Fred’s and Kitty’s January 2021 presentations on planting bare root berries)

Growing Berries, The California Garden Web, University of California
Fruit and Berry Articles, Sonoma County Master Gardener Website

COVER CROPS (Cathy’s November 2020 presentation on growing cover crops to feed and protect the soil and to provide nectar and pollen to bees and beneficial insects)

Green Manure/Cover Crops, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Grow Cover Crops to Attract Beneficial Insects, Add Nutrients, Suppress Weeds and Build Soil, UC Green Blog
Cover Crop Data Base, UC/ANR

PUTTING THE FOOD GARDEN TO BED (Tobi’s November 2020 presentation on sustainable practices so that your garden is in its best possible shape for spring 2021 planting)

Putting the Garden to Bed, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Important: Compost, compost, compost! Mulch, mulch, mulch!

The following books can be borrowed through Sonoma County libraries:

Dirt to Soil, Gabe Brown, Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2018
Growing a Revolution, David Montgomery, W. Norton & Company, 2018
The Soil Will Save Us, Kristin Olsen, Rodale, 2014

GROWING GARLIC, Part 1 (Janet’s October 2020 presentation on prep and planting in the fall/winter season)

Garlic, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Problem Diagnosis Guide for Garlic, VRIC, UC Davis

PLANTING FOR POLLINATORS (Sue’s October 2020 presentation)

“Gardening for Pollinators: What to Plant and Why,” UC Davis Arboretum
Bring Back the Pollinators, The Xerces Society
“Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden,” US Fish and Wildlife Service
How to Attract Pollinators (interview with Kate Frey), The Bug Squad blog, UC/ANR
Butterfly Larval Plants of Sonoma County, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Nectar Guides, The Bee Gardener blog, UC/ANR

The following books can be borrowed through Sonoma County libraries:

The Bee-Friendly Garden, Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn, Ten Speed Press, 2016
The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly, Baumle, Kylee, St. Lynn’s Press, 2017

SEED SAVING (Electra’s September 2020 presentation)

Seed Savers Exchange
Community Seed Exchange, Sebastopol, CA

SEPTEMBER GARDEN TASKS (Kitty’s September 2020 presentation)

Harvesting Chart, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Ongoing Monthly Tasks, MGSC web page

ATTRACTING BENEFICIALS (Kathleen’s September 2020 presentation; and see prior IPM links)

Meet the Beneficials: Natural Enemies of Garden Pests, IPM, UC/ANR
Recommended Plants for Sonoma County for Beneficial Insects, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation