Grow Vertically
by Fey Adelstein Like many people this spring, I was inspired to upgrade my garden. I started with the construction of raised beds 2ft in height (to alleviate my concerns about unknown soil conditions). The sides of the beds are framed, creating strength from which to anchor a trellis. Before filling the beds with soil,...Continue reading→
Grow a Rainbow Garden this Fall
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Brightly colored fruits and vegetables not only add a pop of color to the table, they also add an abundance of nutrients and fun. Summertime yields a colorful palate of vegetables and fruits: red, yellow and purple tomatoes; green and yellow cucumbers; navy blueberries and purple eggplants. But why should...Continue reading→
Understanding Systemic Insecticides
Understanding Systemic Insecticides and Their Potential Impacts in Urban Ecosystems Topic: Understanding Systemic Insecticides and Their Potential Impacts in Urban Ecosystems Date: July 21, 2020 at 7PM Speaker: Dr. Andrew Sutherland To attend, please sign up on Eventbrite Meeting description: Systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, are commonly used to protect nursery stock and sometimes used...Continue reading→
Saving Seeds For Future Generations
by Birgitt Evans, ABG Board member and Master Gardener Ever since I started growing food at 13, I have been fascinated by the miracle of seeds. You can take a tiny round object, place it in the ground and a plant will emerge from that spot. And if it is a vegetable seed, you can...Continue reading→
Save Water With an Irrigation System
Alameda Sun, Thursday, June 11, 2020 by Birgitt Evans As if there isn’t enough to worry about in 2020, the Bay Area is in the grip of another drought year, having received only 40 percent of the average annual rainfall. Wait! Don’t run away. There is actually something gardeners can do about this problem: Build...Continue reading→
Thin Excess Fruit Now to Improve This Year’s Crop
Alameda Sun, Thursday, May 14, 2020 by Marla Koss In a time of food insecurity, what could be more inviting than a tree covered in fruit? The again, sometimes the gods can be too kind. Overly generous fruit loads have a way of breaking branches and yielding small, poor-quality fruit if not managed in a...Continue reading→
Lavender Shortbread
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Lavender is a drought tolerant plant that can grow in poor soil and full sun, so it grows in abundance in the Bay Area. There are 450 different varieties of lavender, all edible, but one more than the others. The most common lavender used in cooking are varieties of English...Continue reading→
How to Make Seed Tape
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Seed tape is a biodegradable tape that helps with plant spacing in the garden. It is beneficial for planting small seeds that normally require thinning (a gardeners dreaded task) like carrots, lettuces, herbs, and greens (collards, kale, spinach). This can be especially important for children, who have more limited dexterity...Continue reading→
Keeping It All Alive, Tips and Tricks for a Healthy, Productive Vegetable Garden
by Birgitt Evans, ABG Board member and Master Gardener It’s late May and most of the garden has been planted out. The next step is to keep everything alive and growing. There are two parts to this. First, it is important not to let other plants grow over everything and compete with the vegetables for...Continue reading→
The Starts or Seeds are Planted. Now What?
by Linda Carloni, ABG Board member and Master Gardener Make Sure Your Plants are Getting Enough Water As your plants get larger and the weather gets warmer, keep an eagle eye on the water needs of your veggie plants. While you still have seeds sprouting or very small seedlings, the surface of the soil and...Continue reading→