Learn about local resources and opportunities for gardening.

Long-time Master Gardener Romola Georgia offers up timely tips to keep your garden in top condition.

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Archived newsletters from February 2012. Click here to return to the Archive list.

Transition Palo Alto Garden Notes for February

While browsing seed catalogs and planning for your summer garden, you have time to get in a few more cool weather crops.

1. Plant directly: arugula, beets, carrots, chard, fava beans, peas and snow peas,  potatoes, radishes.

2. Transplant or start seeds in flats or pots: broccoli, bok choy and Asian greens, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach.

A note about lettuce
If you planted lettuce in the fall, those plants may be producing thornier leaves that taste a tad bitter. If so, it may be time to plant some more. Lettuce is one of the plants that do well by seed. Once you get used to replanting, or succession planting, you can have home grown salad all the time by growing lettuce year-round. Lettuce is also one of the “dirty dozen,” i.e., lettuce is on the list of the most pesticide-ridden produce, yet it is so easy to grow at home with very few problems.

A couple of interesting classes

Grow Blueberries Successfully
Saturday, 2/18, 1:00am-3:00am, Free, Sunnyvale Library, 665 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale
We will give you the basics to get started, and highlight what’s needed to keep your plants healthy and productive, including good pruning practices.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Cold Frames But Were Afraid to Ask
Saturday, 2/25, 10:00am-12:00pm, Free, Guadalupe Demonstration Garden, Walnut and Asbury, San Jose
Learn how to make and use a cold frame. We will discuss alternatives and build a cold frame in class. A list of materials and plans will be provided.

Rainfall Alert

We’ve had the smallest rainfall totals this winter since records have been kept (1875).  This may mean significant problems for the garden, particularly young fruit trees.  Give your trees a long (2-3 hour), slow soak with a dripping garden hose every three weeks or so to tide them through this dry spell.

The purpose of this group is to share information, resources, questions, and events about vegetable gardening. Our wonderful Mediterranean climate permits us to grow and eat from our own gardens in every month of the year.