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UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties

Dandelion week
Article

Weeds: Pros and Cons

April 23rd, 2025
 The simplest definition of a weed is “a plant growing where it’s not wanted.” Most home gardeners prefer to not have weeds growing among their landscape plants and in their vegetable gardens. However, weeds do have many benefits. For instance, they can help to control soil erosion, provide food for…
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Photo by Arizona Pest Management Center, University of Arizona
Article

Check Your Pesticides

January 1st, 2025
 As of Jan 1, 2025, a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids have been banned for nonagricultural outdoor use as they have been linked to a decline in honey bees and other pollinators. Although the pesticides are no longer for sale at garden centers and retail stores, you might have them at your home…
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Photo by Ankith Choudhary via Unsplash.com
Article

Plant for Pollinators

October 1st, 2024
 Pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, and birds play an important role in pollinating your vegetable garden and supporting a healthy ecosystem. However, habitat loss, disease, and pesticide use have contributed to the decline of these species. You can help pollinators by selecting a wide variety…
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Photo by Carolyn Dorsch
Article

Try Growing Nutritious Microgreens

August 1st, 2024
 If you don't have outdoor space or want a fun indoor project, try growing fresh and nutritious microgreens. You can grow these tender and tasty greens year-round and enjoy them in soups, salads, sandwiches, stir fries and more. A minimal amount of space and supplies are needed. And you can harvest your…
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Coastside Cover July 2024
Article

Perfect Pots: Growing Things on a Smaller Scale

July 2nd, 2024
Gardening in containers is great for so many reasons, not the least of which is that almost everyone can have the opportunity to grow something, including food! From the tiniest windowsill to the most expansive acreage, plants in pots can be any size and placed almost anywhere, including established...
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thisobneMay 2024 Cover Coastside
Article

Backyard Biodiversity: Saving the Planet One Garden at a Time

May 2nd, 2024
It's May and spring is busting out all over! After months of gray skies and wet, chilly days, we can rejoice at the sight of each tender shoot, leaf and bud. With the resurgence of life all around us, it may seem as if the state of the natural world may not be so bad after all.
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Coastsidecover MarchApril 2024
Article

Shade Gardens: Learning to Love the Darker Side

April 2nd, 2024
My garden is cursed! All I have is shade and nothing will grow, wailed the neighbor. Living as we do in Sunny California, it may seem downright unfair but almost every garden has some shady spots, and they are often the most troublesome to deal with.
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Coastsidecover March/April 2024
Article

Gardening with Kids: It's Good for Everybody

March 2nd, 2024
Gardening with your kids might be one of the best things you can do for them. Not only is it a great way to spend quality time together, it can also make a big difference in their physical, mental and emotional health.
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CoastsideFeb2024Cover
Article

Starting from Scratch: The Miracle of Seeds

February 9th, 2024
Growing your own plants from seed has a lot of advantages: more variety, less cost and getting a head start on the growing season are just a few. Practicality aside, it's just plain miraculous to grow plants from seeds.
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CoastsideCover Sept 2023
Article

When It Rains: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s Troubled Waters

September 6th, 2023
Last winter's storms were unprecedented. The volume and intensity of rainfall turned creeks and streams into rushing torrents that overflowed their banks and flooded nearby areas. Gutters and drains couldn't handle the flow and turned streets into virtual canals.
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April 2023 coastside mag cover
Article

Summer Tomatoes: What to Do Now for a Successful Season

April 1st, 2023
If you want to enjoy your own fresh, homegrown tomatoes this summer, April is the time to get started. Unless you are a hardcore gardener and start your own from seeds, most likely you will be buying young tomato plants (seedlings) from a nursery or plant sale.
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Thanks for making the Spring Garden Market and Educational Fair a success

Photo by Stuart Dalton
Photo by Stuart Dalton

Thousands of plants found new homes this past Saturday -- tomatoes and other edibles, plants for pollinators and California native plants.

If you missed it, be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter so you'll be ready for next year's sale.  Want to look up info on plants you bought?  Look them up in our online plant library to find out more about them.

Spring Garden Market details

 

Advice to Grow By...Ask Us! 

Do you need help with your garden? Have a pest problem? Curious about what will grow well in your region? Ask a UC Master Gardener: in person, by phone or email. Or, complete a simple form. Click here.

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Upcoming Events

Apr 26 2025

Be Wildfire Safe & Ready

Be Wildfire Safe & ReadyDescription: UC Master Gardeners will staff an education table at the Be Wildfire Safe & Ready event sponsored by the San Mateo County Department of Emergency…
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