HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa

Aphids can be a scourge in the garden. There are over 4,000 species of aphids in the world, but fortunately only(!) about 250 species are attracted to the plants we grow in our gardens and landscapes.

We often get questions at the help desk from local gardeners who have lost many or sometimes even all their newly planted vegetable seedlings to one malady or another.

It is not unusual to find tomato seedlings for sale in local nurseries and big box stores as early as February or March. Don't make the mistake of rushing to plant them in your garden.

A great way to get a head start on your spring and summer vegetable garden! The seeds of many vegetable plants can be planted indoors several weeks before the usual outdoor planting date.

If you've been frustrated when growing onions because the plants produce flower stalks instead of bulbs, it is time to try again. In our Contra Costa County climate, when onions are started in the fall, it is not unusual for them to flower the following spring.